As a result of recently announced travel restrictions at a major university and stories of restricted student study abroad at another university, SPME is seeking information from network members on policies and procedures that encourage, discourage or prohibit faculty scholarly activity opportunities in Israel, Gaza, the West Bank and neighboring countries. As the ICC and other groups are studying how students are affected, no group is studying how faculty might be effected by these policies and so we are gathering data from our Network.

SPME is concerned that faculty opportunities to study/research and conduct sabbatical activity in Israel, Gaza and The West Bank and neighboring countries may be discouraged or restricted by risk management and liability considerations issued by university attorneys which are hampered by US State Department Travel Warning Advisory status.

SPME is concerned that some universities may be impeding the free flow of academic collaboration amongst American and other colleagues by succumbing to concerns which in essence impede academic freedom and collaboration amongst professors and students which actually can aid in conflict resolution.

If your institution is restricting or denying scholarly professional opportunities or putting obstacles in the way or discouraging such activity, please advise SPME at . It is important when relaying this issue to cite the policy and procedures which are in effect and any incident where scholarly professional activity has been either discouraged, obstructed or denied on the basis university developed policy. Please also indicate what appeals were made to overturn the policy.

Thank you.