International Activities
Recent attention by the US Federal Government on international collaborations, interactions and relationship transparency prompted the publications below. This information provides context to these topics alongside other available resources. Prior to this increased interest, VCU was already reviewing ethics and compliance-based training offerings; all universitywide policies (and the functional and operational programs enforcing such); and interest disclosure requirements related to university activities. Questions or comments are welcome at ucompliance@vcu.edu.
Click here to read a recent letter to the VCU community on International Activities and Collaborations from Gail Hackett, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, and P. Srirama Rao, Ph.D., vice president for research and innovation.
International Affairs Security Workgroup
Goal: Assessing operations and working to prevent undue foreign influence through awareness
Sponsors: Gail Hackett, Ph.D. and P. Srirama Rao, Ph.D.
Members
Dr. Jason Block, program manager policy and regulatory compliance (Integrity and Compliance Office)
Carly Katz, senior director of federal relations (Office of the President)
Caley Dugan, assistant director (Research Integrity and Ethics)
Sarah O'Neil, associate director business resilience (Safety and Risk Management)
Dr. Jill Blondin (co-chair), associate vice provost for global initiatives (Global Education Office)
Nicole Porter (co-chair), director (Export Compliance)
- PSA: Foreign Government-sponsored Talent Recruitment Plans, July 16, 2020
- Briefing on Limiting the CCP’s Ability To Steal U.S. Technologies and Intellectual Property, June 2, 2020
- Enhancing Security and Integrity of US Research Enterprise, June 2020 - Case Studies: take a look at recent events that demonstrate how taking a principled approach to collaboration can continue to support the critical, open and collaborative research enterprise. Reviewing this may provide you and aware of risks and appreciate how compliance in activities can help thwart academic and research espionage.
- Proclamation on the Suspension of Entry as Nonimmigrants of Certain Students and Researchers from the People’s Republic of China, May 29, 2020
- APLU's Science and Security Survey, Released May 27, 2020 University Actions to Address Concerns about Security Threats and Undue Foreign Government Influence on Campus
- Senators Ask FBI and DHS CISA How to Protect COVID-19 Medical Research Data, May 25, 2020
- Steps and Considerations for an Effective Foreign Visitor Review Process - Academic Security and Counter Exploitation Working Group, August 30, 2019
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) Letter - August 2018
- Senate Defense Bill Targets Security and Foreign Influence at Colleges and Universities - American Council on Education, June 2019
- NIH Advisory Committee to the Director, Working Group for Foreign Influences on Research Integrity Report - December 2018
- China's Influence & American Interests: Promoting Constructive Vigilance - Hoover Institution, Stanford University, November 2018
- U.S.-China Academic Engagement and American National Security, Suggested Strategies for American Colleges and Universities - Wilson Center, November 2018
- Statement of the National Science Board on Security and Science - October 2018
- A Preliminary Study of PRC Political Influence and Interference Activities in American Higher Education - Wilson Center, September 2018
- Is Innovation China’s Next Great Leap Forward? - Issues in Science and Technology, Summer 2018
- Department of Education, International Affairs Office
- Department of Education, International Strategy
The Global Education Office supports VCU’s international programs, and activities, and facilitates new collaborations throughout the world. GEO supports global activities at the university through embracing matters of curriculum, education abroad, international research and scholarship, university engagement, and the recruitment, retention and meaningful engagement of international students and scholars on campus.
VCU is engaged in a wide range of academic programs and activities abroad, and the level of engagement continues to grow as the university fulfills the charge of Quest for Distinction to graduate students who are prepared to engage in the 21st century global environment.
The global environment at VCU attracts students, scholars, faculty and staff from around the world and as such it is important that the university complies with all applicable immigration and export control laws and processes to protect the safety and security of the United States and the university community; and also to ensure that outstanding students and scholars are able to come to VCU from all parts of the world lawfully and with minimum inconvenience through diligent coordination and collaboration.
Immigration Services supports VCU’s global mission by providing visa assistance and related counseling and legal services to the university community.
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