Our team supports our faculty, researchers and students to ensure compliance with export and sanctions regulations. While studying or working at Mason, you are most likely to encounter export controls through:
- Sponsored agreements
- Work with foreign colleagues and organizations
- International Travel
- International Shipments
- Research Security
More information on each of these areas is available below. The good news is that much of the research we conduct and information we share at Mason is Fundamental Research, Educational Information, or is publicly available and is therefore not subject to the export control regulations:
- Fundamental Research –Research in science, engineering, or mathematics, the results of which ordinarily are published and shared broadly within the research community, and for which the researchers have not accepted restrictions for proprietary or national security reasons. A fundamental research exception/exclusion/exemption is a determination that your research is not export-controlled.
- Educational Information – Information commonly taught for instruction in courses and associated with general scientific, mathematical, or engineering principles.
- Publicly Available – Information generally accessible to the public, such as information in libraries, bookstores, open seminars, and published patent information. This information is considered in the public domain.
Staff can reach out at any time to [email protected] for a review of their work and activities. To help ensure compliance, we offer training and outreach on export and sanctions regulations and enroll staff in the appropriate courses based on their role and work. Additionally, throughout this page and our guidance, there are several terms referenced, including “U.S. person” and “foreign person.” To understand these terms further, please review our Key Terms and Resource page.
Sponsored Agreements
We work closely with the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) to review RFPs, proposals, award documents and other agreements that may have comprehensively sanctioned, export controlled or controlled unclassified information (CUI) language and requirements.
If the terms and conditions of an RFP, solicitation, or an award from a sponsor contain certain restrictions or limitations, there is a strong likelihood that the additional steps will need to be taken. Indicators to watch for include:
- Do the terms prohibit the involvement of foreign nationals? Are project participants limited to U.S. persons?
- Do the terms contain any publication restriction or limitation language? This can include the right of the sponsor to review all proposed publications beforehand.
- Has the sponsor stated that the fundamental research exclusion otherwise available to universities does not apply?
- Do the terms state that the items, information or technology involved is export controlled?
- Do the terms indicate that there will be access to Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)?
As necessary, we will work with PIs to complete Technology Control Plans (TCPs), Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), Safeguarding Plans or U.S. Government License requests.
Working with foreign colleagues or organizations
See our Working with Foreign Colleagues and Organizations page or reach out to [email protected] if you plan to collaborate with non-U.S. persons i.e. foreign colleagues (here or abroad) including:
- Presenting or discussing unpublished research at conferences and meetings where foreign national scholars may be in attendance
- Engaging in research collaborations with foreign nationals and technical exchange programs
- Planning visits or tours of labs by foreign scholars, delegations, students or visitors
- Hosting a foreign researcher
- Conducting fieldwork outside of the United States
You can also contact the Research Security Office at [email protected] or see the Research Security and International Collaborations site for more information regarding new federal mandates aimed at protecting research at U.S. academic institutions.
International Travel
If you plan to travel internationally including for Mason business or with a Mason laptop or equipment, please see the International Travel page for more information.
If travel is to a Sanctioned Country see the Sanctioned Countries and Regions Page.
Purchasing and International Shipments
If you need to purchase, ship or hand carry items, equipment software, data or information internationally see the Purchasing page and International Shipments page for more information.
Research Security
You can contact the research security office at [email protected] or see the Research Security and International Collaborations site for more information regarding new federal mandates aimed at protecting research at U.S. academic institutions.
Why this matters
The consequences for export control violations are very serious for both the University and the researcher. Penalties apply to even single violations, and multiple violations from the same transaction can easily result in substantial penalties including:
- Fines up to $1.1 million per violation
- Imprisonment up to 20 years for individual researchers
- Termination of export privileges on both the individual and institution
- Suspension/debarment from federal government contracting
- Loss of federal funding
When in doubt – please contact [email protected] for assistance in determining your export-related responsibilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact Us:
If you have questions regarding exports and sanctions compliance, think that your work or project may involve export controls, or suspect an export violation, please contact [email protected].