The United States Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC") amended the Cuban Assets Control Regulations on January 28, 2011. A new general license authorizes accredited U.S. graduate and undergraduate degree-granting academic institutions to engage in Cuba travel-related transactions incident to certain educational activities. To be eligible, faculty, staff or students must meet the qualifications outlined on page 5075 of the Rules and Regulations related to Educational Activities under the General Cuba license. Full details are available at: http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Documents/fr76_5072.pdf

 
To meet the qualifications, the Cuba travel must be related to:

1. Participation in a structured educational program in Cuba as part of a course offered for credit by Cornell University. 
2. Noncommercial academic research in Cuba specifically related to Cuba and for the purpose of obtaining a graduate degree. 
3. Participation in a formal course of study at a Cuban academic institution, provided the formal course of study in Cuba will be accepted for credit toward the student’s graduate or undergraduate degree.
4. Teaching at a Cuban academic institution by an individual regularly employed in a teaching capacity at Cornell University, provided the teaching activities are related to an academic program at the Cuban institution and provided that the duration of the teaching will be no shorter than 10 weeks. 
5. Sponsorship, including the payment of a stipend or salary, of a Cuban scholar to teach or engage in other scholarly activity at Cornell University (in addition to those transactions authorized by the general license contained in § 515.571). 
6. The organization of, and preparation for, activities described in # 1-5 above by members of the faculty and staff of Cornell University. 

Authorization Letters are required from the Office of the Vice Provost for International Relations

To obtain an authorization letter:

• Send an email to Linda Schmidt in the Office of the Vice Provost for International Relations, (Lms10@cornell.edu) that contains the following information:  
• Your full name and NetID
• Your status (faculty, staff, undergraduate student, or graduate student)
• Cut and paste the paragraph from the 6 qualifying activities above that your travel is related to.
• A brief description of your intended business in Cuba.  You may send attachments.

You will be notified when the authorization letter is signed and is ready to pick up.

Carry this letter with you during your travel to Cuba to show upon request.

Reporting

Travelers should read the “Records and recordkeeping” and “Reports to be furnished on demand” requirements set forth under the General Cuba license (31 C.F.R. §501.601 and §501.602, http://law.justia.com/us/cfr/title31/31-3.1.1.1.2.3.1.1.html). The Office of the Vice Provost for International Relations does not require an activity report.

Questions

Please contact Linda Schmidt in the Office of the Vice Provost for International Relations, 115 Day Hall. Email: lms10@cornell.edu, Phone: 255-7993, Fax: 254-8325.