Information About Visiting Scholar Status For Sponsoring Academic Units

Processes, Procedures and Resources for Facilitating Arrangements for Visiting Scholars

As a great public university, the University of Michigan attracts a great many academic visitors each year. Established formal processes help facilitate arrangements to sponsor and host these visitors to participate in campus life and programs while they are here. The procedures and processes vary based on the nature and duration of the visit, the sponsoring unit, and other factors. Effective May 1, 2012, applications for Visiting Scholar status must be submitted through Academic Human Resources. Information about the application process, links to the application form and helpful resources are provided below.

Please note: Rackham Graduate School continues to administer programs for Visiting Research Graduate Students. See: http://www.rackham.umich.edu/help/faculty_and_staff/visiting_graduate_students/

Back to top

Who is a Visiting Scholar?

Departments, programs and other academic units of the University of Michigan may invite faculty researchers, from other universities as Visiting Scholars. This status is reserved for scholars who are invited to pursue a program of research during a limited term of residence. Visiting Scholars may have access to certain limited services and resources outlined below. Current faculty, staff and students of the University of Michigan are not eligible for this status.

Visiting Scholars are individuals who:

  • Have an earned PhD (or equivalent) or other comparable terminal graduate or graduate-professional degree (i.e., JD, MD, MFA, etc.), and hold a faculty or other permanent research position at another accredited university, college, or research organization or

  • Have a Master’s or equivalent intermediate degree and substantial professional experience that the host unit affirms to be equivalent to that expected of a member of the University of Michigan faculty; and

  • Are pursuing a program of research as their primary purpose; and

  • Are formally invited and ‘sponsored’ by a department, program or other University of Michigan academic unit; and

  • Will be in residence for a term of not less than one month and not more than three calendar years.

Visiting Scholar Application Process

Visiting Scholars must be sponsored by an academic unit of the University. Only the sponsoring academic unit may initiate the application for Visiting Scholar status. The sponsoring University department remains the primary contact for the Visiting Scholar and is responsible for administering the relationship throughout the duration of Visiting Scholar status.

Application Process:

Step Responsibility of: Procedure

1

Visiting Scholar

Provide information to sponsoring U-M academic unit sufficient to allow them to prepare the Visiting Scholar Application Form and to assure eligibility for status.

2

Sponsoring academic unit

For visiting international scholars: Obtain DS-2019 request for J-1 exchange visitor by contacting the International Center

3

Sponsoring academic unit

Obtain a UMID number.  Note: Visiting scholar may already have a UMID from prior U-M affiliation.

4

Sponsoring academic unit

Complete the Visiting Scholar application form and submit it to Academic Human Resources.  Click here to  download the Application for Authorization of Visiting Scholar Status.

5

Academic Human Resources

Review the application and submit it to the Office of the Registrar for processing.

6

Academic Human Resources

Email a confirmation letter to the department administrator for the Visiting Scholar’s use in obtaining an Mcard.

7

Sponsoring academic unit

After receiving the confirmation letter from Academic HR, the sponsoring academic unit should write a letter to the visiting scholar describing:

  • The proposed visitor’s activities and responsibilities
  • The start and end dates of the relationship (no more than one year at a time and 3 years cumulatively)
  • Any resources (e.g. access to office space, labs, information technology equipment and privileges, or other facilities; availability of staff support, if any to be provided; and any commitments with respect to assistance with living arrangements
  • The amount and rationale for any and all financial support funding from the sponsoring department/unit or other source and the reason for it

NOTE: Visitors who are to be compensated for services to the University of Michigan of any sort must be appointed as employees through University Human Resource systems, or reimbursed as independent contractors, as appropriate. In either case, such persons are not Visiting Scholars. For more information on compensation processes and procedures, contact your unit Human Resources administrator.

Likewise enrollment for academic credit in University of Michigan undergraduate or graduate degree or certificate programs is also inconsistent with the purposes of Visiting Scholar status.

8

Visiting Scholar

Obtain a University of Michigan photo identification card (Mcard) at one of several ID Issuing Stations on campus.
 

Back to top

International Visiting Scholars

For visiting international scholars, the sponsoring unit must contact the International Center to obtain a DS-2019 request for a J-1 exchange visitor visa. In this case, the DS-2019 request process should be completed through the International Center before submitting the Application for Authorization of Visiting Scholar status form to Academic Human Resources.

Back to top

Obtaining a University of Michigan ID Card (UMID)

Visiting Scholars are issued a University of Michigan photo identification card (Mcard). This card is required of all members of the University community, and must be presented for access to the services and facilities listed below. Visitors may obtain an Mcard at one of several ID Issuing Stations on campus.

Back to top

U-M Uniqname and Information Technology Resources

The University’s Information Technology Services (ITS) department maintains computing accounts, including e-mail and other access to the University’s online resources. A uniqname and password must be assigned for access. Visitors should contact an administrator in their sponsoring unit regarding arrangements for access to appropriate information technology facilities and services. In some cases, access to these services will be arranged within the department; otherwise, individuals may be directed to the ITS Accounts Office.

For a complete glossary of Visiting Scholar and other academic visitor categories, see:
http://hr.umich.edu/acadhr/visitingscholars/glossary.html

The resources below are helpful to refer to in arranging privileges for some types of academic visitors apart from Visiting Scholars.

Office of the Vice President for Research
The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) has central responsibility for nurturing excellence in research, scholarship and creative activity across the University. It has primary responsibility for research policy, oversight of responsible conduct of research education and compliance, and oversight of administration and support of research activity by the faculty. For information about visiting Research Faculty affiliations, see: http://research.umich.edu/policies/research-faculty/   

Standards for Appointment of Visiting Instructional Faculty
Standards for appointment of visiting instructional faculty are described in the Standard Practice Guide. For more information, see: http://spg.umich.edu/pdf/201.34-1.pdf or contact the office of the Deans for the involved Schools and Colleges.

Rackham Graduate School
Rackham Graduate School administers programs for visiting graduate student researchers who are invited to pursue a program of research during a limited term of residence. See: http://www.rackham.umich.edu/help/faculty_and_staff/visiting_graduate_students/  

U-M International Center
The U-M International Center provides essential expertise and a variety of services to assist international students, scholars, faculty and staff at the University of Michigan, as well as American students seeking opportunities to study, work, or travel abroad. For information, see: http://internationalcenter.umich.edu/

Back to top

Other Services

Library
Visiting Scholars have full access to the University Library, including borrowing services. Fees are charged for copying and printing services. For more information, see University Library Services.

Office Space
Office space is extremely limited. Use of an office or access to any support services is wholly at the discretion of the sponsoring University unit.

Laboratory and Other Research Facilities
Access to laboratory or other research facilities requires the advance permission of the sponsoring department, program or other University unit.

Classes
With explicit advance permission of the instructor, visitors may informally attend classes or seminars. No grades, credits, or transcripts will be issued. Visiting Scholars who want to take classes for credit must apply for admission to the Rackham Graduate School as a Non-Candidate for Degree. For more information, see Rackham Admissions.

Housing
Visitors are responsible for providing for their housing arrangements during their stay. The sponsoring unit may provide information or other assistance. University Housing may have space available in its facilities, and maintains listings of rental housing in the Ann Arbor area.

Recreation Facilities
For access to exercise and recreation facilities, visitors may purchase passes to the Central or North Campus Recreation Buildings. For more information, see Recreational Sports.

Parking and Transportation
Campus and city buses are free with the University ID card. On-campus parking is limited, but Visiting Scholars and Students may purchase a parking permit depending on availability and at the discretion of the University’s Parking and Transportation Services.

Health Service
All visitors are expected to have health insurance. The University Health Service (UHS) is a comprehensive outpatient facility that provides a full range of medical services. A fee is charged for each service; some or all of these may be covered by health insurance.

Back to top

Additional Resources

English Language Institute
500 East Washington St.
(734) 764-2413

Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library
920 North University St.
(734) 764-0400

Housing Information Office
1011 Student Activities Building
515 East Jefferson St.
(734) 764-8320

Information Technology Services (ITS) Accounts Office
Michigan Union – Lower Level
530 South State St.
(734) 764-8000

Mcard Center
1000 Student Activities Building
515 East Jefferson St.
(734) 936-2273

Parking and Transportation Services
508 Thompson St.
(734) 764-8291

University Health Service
207 Fletcher St.
(734) 764-8320

Back to top

For More Information

For other questions regarding the Visiting Scholar status at the University of Michigan, please contact Academic Human Resources at (734) 763-8938 or hr-acadhr@umich.edu.

Back to top