Resources for O'Neill Faculty Hosts
The O'Neill School is proud to host exceptional international researchers and faculty members as visiting scholars to our school and campus. International visiting scholars come to O'Neill to further their research, learn from our faculty, and become part of the wider O'Neill community.
O'Neill faculty can host visiting scholars through the J-1 visa program, which is facilitated through the Department of State, IU's Office of International Services and the O'Neill International Office. Being a faculty host to a J-1 visiting scholar allows you to bring a research partner or advisee from abroad to work with you here in Bloomington. You will be expected to provide academic guidance, resources, and also support the networking efforts of the scholar.
How do I host an international visiting scholar?
First, faculty must complete the Faculty Intake Form requesting to host a visiting scholar - this should be done before making any commitments or arrangements with the scholar. This form must be approved by the Dean's Office in order for you to move forward with inviting a visiting scholar. Please familiarize yourself with the responsibilities and requirements for hosting scholars at O'Neill below.
Next, you and your scholar will work through the J-1 visa process with the O'Neill International Office and IU's Office of International Services. This process typically takes 4-6 months from the time we are put in contact with the scholar to the date they arrive at O'Neill. For that reason - any requests to host international visiting scholars must be made at least 6 months prior to the intended start date at O'Neill.
Please note that research must be the scholar's primary activity during their time at O'Neill, as dictated by J-1 visa category regulations.
Faculty Responsibilities for Hosting Visiting Scholars
Before the scholar arrives
- Conduct an English proficiency interview (~10-15min) via Zoom to confirm English ability as dictated by J-1 federal regulations
- Provide guidance to your visiting scholar leading up to their arrival on topics ranging from housing in Bloomington to resources to make use of while on campus - you can reference this Visiting Scholars FAQ Guide and this Visiting Scholar Housing Guide
- Stay in correspondence with your scholar regarding their arrival date and research plan for their stay
- Plan to be available on-campus to meet with them within a week of their arrival date
While the scholar is here
- As the faculty contact and host for the scholar, faculty must be present on campus to supervise and assist their scholar.
- Meet with your scholar within one week of their arrival on-campus
- Provide timely guidance to your scholar throughout their research period (answer requests, questions, emails, etc.)
- Arrange regular meetings with your scholar throughout their stay to monitor and help advance their research agenda (plan to meet with scholar at minimum once per month)
- Connect your scholar to relevant research resources (faculty research groups, other faculty, etc.)
- Introduce your scholar at a faculty meeting during their visit
- Inform your scholar of any times you will be away from campus