Letter of Leadership Commitment – Export Control Compliance
Northwestern’s global partnerships and collaborations are critically important to our research and teaching. We are committed to an open academic and research environment while following federal export controls and international compliance regulations. Export control laws are in place to advance the national security, economic interests, and foreign policy objectives of the United States and may impact some of our activities.
Northwestern faculty, staff and students are responsible for understanding and complying with federal export control regulations. The Export Controls & International Compliance (ECIC) team assists the campus and research community in complying with export control laws. Violation consequences can be severe, including criminal and civil penalties.
How do you know if export controls impact your activities? There are red flags that indicate your activity may be export controlled, including, but not limited to, the following:
- Agreement or contracts with a publication or foreign person restrictions.
- Equipment has an end-user agreement restricting use to U.S. persons or is labeled export-controlled or ITAR.
- Shipment is going outside the United States, or you are hand-carrying an item abroad.
- Activities or work (even virtually) with individuals or entities in heavily sanctioned or embargoed countries (i.e., presenting for a conference, teaching online courses, or providing any service to individuals in heavily sanctioned countries).
The Office for Research dedicates resources to helping the Northwestern community navigate and comply with export control regulations. The Export Controls & International Compliance program maintains a website with policy, guidance, and FAQs. Please contact Amy Weber, ECIC senior director, for assistance (telephone: 847-467-0090; exportcontrols@northwestern.edu or amy.weber@northwestern.edu) Amy can also provide training and guidance for you and your departments, units, or teams upon request.
Thank you for your partnership and attention to this critical topic.
Milan Mrksich, Ph.D.
Vice President for Research
Henry Wade Rogers Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Professor of Chemistry, Cell and Developmental Biology