New U-M program supports displaced scholars across the globe

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Scholars around the world who have been displaced by natural disaster or war are now eligible for a new University of Michigan program that aims to support their continued research.

The Michigan Virtual Provost Scholars Program, administered by the Office of the Vice Provost for Engaged Learning, provides such scholars with a U-M affiliation and online access to research materials available through the U-M Libraries and Collections, as well as a connection to U-M researchers with similar interests.

“We are excited to be able to offer this program to University of Michigan’s collaborators around the globe, whose ability to advance their research and scholarship has been negatively impacted by war or natural events,” said Valeria Bertacco, vice provost for engaged learning.

“In recent months, scholars from Afghanistan, Ukraine, Russia, the Tigray region of Ethiopia, Tonga, to name a few, have been impacted by displacing events in their country. We hope that the virtual access that this program provides can support and propel forward their collaborations with our faculty, even during the challenging times, and look forward to the ways these scholars will contribute to our intellectual community.”

U-M units and departments interested in hosting a virtual visiting scholar should identify a U-M collaborator and submit an application, which consists of an application form, a recent CV of the scholar, and a letter of support from the unit’s director or department chair. Applications currently are open and accepted on a rolling basis.

Units and departments hosting scholars through the MVPS Program are also eligible to apply for honoraria for the scholar to deliver a virtual lecture.

The MVPS Program is intended to support research scholars in a virtual format. Accordingly, visa sponsorship, stipend payments, and office space are not provided.

Scholars will receive a U-M uniqname, which will allow access to the library system, the university’s virtual collections and select software tools, including email. Sponsorship terms are for six months, renewable to a maximum of one year.

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