Guidance to Faculty and Principal Investigators Regarding International Activities
- May I write letters of recommendation for students and colleagues (e.g. students seeking employment or admission to a graduate program, or colleagues seeking appointments or promotions outside of MIT), even to foreign universities or employers?
- What should I do if contacted by the media to comment on a particular situation?
May I write letters of recommendation for students and colleagues (e.g. students seeking employment or admission to a graduate program, or colleagues seeking appointments or promotions outside of MIT), even to foreign universities or employers?
Yes. Providing a recommendation letter for a student or colleague at the individual’s request is allowed, whether for a U.S. or foreign entity and whether you receive the request directly from the individual or indirectly from the entity as part of the individual’s application process. In addition, if you are providing these types of recommendations in the ordinary course of academic practice at the request of students or colleagues with whom you have worked — and not in exchange for compensation, for other benefit, or as part of a formal engagement you may have individually entered into with a foreign government or institution — then we are not aware of any federal grant disclosure requirements for that activity at this time. If you have specific questions, especially if you are conducting talent recruitment for a foreign government or institution, please contact the research-compliance-help@mit.edu mailbox to discuss your individual situation.
February 19, 2021
What should I do if contacted by the media to comment on a particular situation?
If you receive a media inquiry regarding an Institute matter outside your area of professional expertise, then you should contact the media relations team at expertrequests@mit.edu, and/or contact Kimberly Allen, Director of Media Relations, at allenkc@mit.edu for advice and coordination.
February 19, 2021