FAQs
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions Scholars at Risk receives from threatened scholars, potential member institutions, and the media.
Please contact us if you have a question that is not listed below.
Q: What is the Scholars at Risk Network (SAR)?
Q: How does SAR assist threatened scholars?
Q: Who is considered a “scholar at risk?”
Q: Where do scholars report being at risk?
Q: How can scholars apply for assistance?
Q: How can higher education institutions get involved?
Q: How can individuals get involved?
Q: Does SAR offer volunteer opportunities?
Q: To whom may I address press inquiries?
Q: What is the Scholars at Risk Network (SAR)?
A: Scholars at Risk (SAR) is an international network of higher education institutions and individuals dedicated to protecting threatened scholars, preventing attacks on higher education, and promoting academic freedom and related values worldwide.
Q: What is academic freedom?
A: Academic freedom can be difficult to define precisely. It is generally recognized as the freedom of academics:
• to teach and discuss
• to carry out research and publish the results and make them known
• to freely express opinions about the academic institution or system in which one works
• to participate in professional or representative academic bodies
• not to be censored
SAR uses the following definition in Promoting Core Higher Education Values:
The “freedom of teaching and discussion, freedom in carrying out research and disseminating and publishing the results thereof, freedom to express freely opinions about the academic institution or system in which one works, freedom from institutional censorship and freedom to participate in professional or representative academic bodies.” This definition was agreed unanimously by UNESCO – the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – in 1997.
Q: How does SAR assist threatened scholars?
A: SAR’s Protection Services supports threatened scholars and practitioners by working with the wider SAR network to arrange temporary research and teaching positions at higher education institutions around the world. These visits are intended as short-term positions of academic refuge and range in duration from 6 months to 2 years. During their engagement, scholars may teach, research, publish, and share their expertise through speaking events, workshops, and conferences. At the end of a placement, we work with scholars to identify additional opportunities, through the network and/or through scholars’ own efforts. We also provide advisory, referral, and career support services.
For scholars whose applications we are not able to accept, we aim to suggest other resources, organizations, and opportunities that may be useful.
Explore alternative resources available to scholars »
We invite SAR members, scholars, and practitioners to learn more about the types of protection services offered by the SAR team and ask members to consider hosting by learning more about scholars currently seeking academic positions.
Q: Who is considered a “scholar at risk?”
A: Broadly speaking, at-risk scholars include professors, researchers, doctoral students, institutional leaders, and other members of higher education communities who are threatened and/or attacked because of the content of their work, their status as academics, or their peaceful exercise of the right to freedom of expression or freedom of association. Threatened scholars often report a number of threats including harassment, surveillance, denial of access or permissions, confiscation of notes and computers files, professional or personal slander or defamation, physical or sexual intimidation, arbitrary dismissal, internal or external exile, arrest on false charges, detention without trial, trial and imprisonment, torture, disappearance, and extrajudicial killing. SAR has also been in contact with university communities facing ideological pressure and censorship, imposition of national ideology and ideological revisionism, closing of schools and universities, suppression of strikes/protests, restrictions on travel, restrictions on information exchange, and discriminatory restrictions on academic resources. Scholars may also report the targeting of the wider higher education community and institutions in their country as a part of ongoing, active conflict or repressive tactics. To learn more about threats facing higher education communities around the world, read SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project and our annual Free to Think reports.
Note that SAR has specific eligibility criteria for scholars seeking placement assistance, which can be found in the Applicant Guide.
Q: Where do SAR scholars come from?
A: In the 2024-2025 academic year, SAR assisted over 400 scholars, providing a wide range of direct services, including arranging 215 academic positions for at-risk scholars and practitioners from 20 countries around the world. A majority of these scholars come from Afghanistan, Iran, Türkiye, the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), Ethiopia, and Ukraine.
Q: How can scholars apply for assistance?
A: A scholar experiencing threats to their life, liberty, or academic career, or a scholar who has been forced to leave their country because of such threats, is invited to review SAR’s Protection Services eligibility criteria and complete the application for placement assistance. Please note that meeting all eligibility requirements does not guarantee placement support. Due to limited opportunities, we are unable to accept all qualified applicants. Each application is carefully reviewed in relation to current opportunities within the SAR network. Priority is given to individuals whose academic profile, discipline, and research background align most closely with available network opportunities, and for whom we believe we have the strongest chance of creating a placement. This approach ensures a fair and respectful process for all individuals seeking assistance.
Learn more about SAR’s Protection Services »
Q: How can higher education institutions get involved?
A: Universities, colleges, and other higher education institutions are invited to join the SAR Network. Members enjoy a variety of opportunities for engagement in SAR’s work, including hosting threatened scholars, inviting SAR scholars to speak on campus, holding student advocacy seminars, collaborating on research initiatives, and more. Visit SAR’s “Get Involved” page to learn more about these opportunities and joining the Network.
Q: How can individuals get involved?
A: Scholars, students, human rights professionals, activists, and other interested individuals can get involved through SAR’s advocacy campaigns, research and monitoring work, events, workshops, and conferences. Visit our “Get Involved” page to learn more about these activities. Individuals are also invited to join the network as an individual member/donor by visiting SAR’s “Give Today” page and making a donation to support SAR’s work in helping threatened colleagues around the world.
Q: Does SAR offer volunteer opportunities?
A: SAR will post volunteer and internship opportunities as they are made available on the “Career Opportunities” page. Those interested in specific research projects or scholar-mentorship opportunities are encouraged to contact SAR directly at scholarsatrisk@nyu.edu.
Q: To whom may I address press inquiries?
A: SAR welcomes media and press inquiries. If you would like further information about SAR or wish to arrange an interview, please contact SARcommunications@nyu.edu.