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Approval

  1. Review and Action in International Studies and Programs

    All proposed international institutional linkage agreements must be reviewed in the Dean’s Office of International Studies and Programs (ISP). Dr. Debra L. Peterson, Assistant to the Dean, coordinates the international linkages process. The ISP review will involve the following areas:

    1. Rationale for having a signed agreement.

    2. Inclusion of necessary provisions. (See Guidelines).

    3. Appropriate signatories, including Dean of ISP.

    4. Consultation with the relevant area studies center director.

    5. Review by the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS), the Office of Study Abroad (OSA), and the Registrar’s Office, if the agreement involves an exchange of students, faculty or international scholars working at MSU.

    6. Determination whether the agreement needs review by the Office of the General Counsel and/or the Office of Contracts and Grants.

    7. Review by the University's Advisory/Consultative Committee (A/CC) to ISP once the agreement is finalized.

  2. Review by the MSU Office of the General Counsel

    Generally, the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) must review in advance all contracts and agreements that could bind MSU or involve potential legal liabilities. The following process for obtaining review of international agreements by the OGC must be followed:

    1. Agreements that fit the "model format" developed between ISP and the Office of the General Counsel do not require OGC review. They will be considered to be "pre-approved" because no legal, financial, or other obligations are created. This will be determined by ISP, in consultation with OGC

    2. Agreements that involve the potential liability of MSU and do not fit the "model format" must be reviewed by the OGC. Agreements involving patient care always require OGC review.

  3. Review by the MSU Office of Contracts and Grants

    Any agreement that involves financial transactions and obligations between MSU and other parties must be reviewed by the MSU Office of Contracts and Grants.

  4. Review by the University’s Advisory/Consultative Committee to ISP

    The Advisory/Consultative Committee (A/CC) on International Studies and Programs, with elected representatives from every college, advises the Dean of ISP on all contracts and agreements that involve MSU or any of its constituent parts with an international institution. A summary of the review and approval process is provided below:

    1. Following the necessary review by ISP, General Counsel and/or Contracts and Grants, the ISP Dean’s Office will forward all new international linkage agreements to the ISP A/CC for review. International linkage agreement renewals or subsequent agreements (originating from a previously approved agreement) must be reviewed by the ISP Dean’s Office and, if necessary, the Offices of General Counsel and/or Contracts and Grants.

      The Linkage Subcommittee of the A/CC will consider agreements approximately one week prior to the regularly scheduled full A/CC meeting. The Subcommittee will make a recommendation at its full committee meeting. Appropriate planning, therefore, is necessary to allow enough time to prepare the agreement and to have it reviewed by all necessary parties prior to consideration by the A/CC.

    2. Proponents of linkage agreements should plan to present a brief summary of the rationale, benefits, and substance of activities to be involved in the Agreement at the A/CC Linkage Subcommittee meeting. This information should be presented on the A/CC information form.

    3. The A/CC advises the Dean of ISP whether an agreement should be pursued.

  5. Obtaining Necessary Signatures

    1. Following approval by the ISP A/CC and ISP Dean, the proposing MSU unit should prepare at least three original bond paper copies of the agreement (more copies may be needed if your partner institution requires more than one original).

    2. The proposing MSU unit should obtain all MSU department and college signatures on each of the three (or more) original documents of the Agreement prior to forwarding to the Dean of ISP for signatures (the Dean’s signature and that of the President, if requested). The only required signature is that of the Dean of International Studies and Programs. Some of our international partners, however, may wish to include the President’s signature, and his signature may be added, if desired. Once all MSU signatures have been obtained, the Agreement documents will be returned to the contact person of the sponsoring MSU unit. It is the responsibility of the unit to forward the MSU signed documents to the partner institution for appropriate signatures.

  6. Return of Signed Agreements

    When the documents are fully executed (reviewed, approved, and signed by the relevant parties at MSU and the international partner institution), the sponsoring MSU unit should return one original to the ISP Dean’s Office, retain one original for the department/ college files and forward one (or more) original(s) to the international partner.

    Once returned to ISP, the Agreement will be entered into the International Linkages Database and placed on file within ISP.

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