Guidelines

Florida Atlantic University has several dozen active international agreements with universities and educational institutions around the world.  Agreements create access for FAU students and faculty to study, conduct research, or teach in other countries.  Agreements also allow students of our partners to take classes at FAU or (in special circumstances) to enroll for degree seeking purposes.  Other agreements provide for the exchange of services and technical training opportunities.   In sum, many different types of projects can be included in international agreements to meet the parties’ unique needs and interests.

From time to time it may also be valuable for FAU to enter into a general memorandum of understanding or MOU.   A general MOU is a positive statement of interest between two parties to explore partnership activities with another university.  An MOU does not express a binding commitment to any specific activity, but rather a serious intention to explore identified interests.   MOU’s are not encouraged unless there is clear intent to implement an actual project of exchange and/or other academic activities in the near future, where the execution of the MOU will foster that action.   An MOU that contemplates the prospect of student and faculty teaching exchange must be supported by the college(s) interested in exploring this activity.

OIP assists FAU colleges and faculty in the design, creation, execution, and implementation of international agreements.  All agreements must advance a strategic academic goal of the sponsoring FAU college, and be determined to be of value to FAU.  All agreements must adhere to FAU policies in regard to academic credit, overseas and on-campus study, agreement financing, and the periodic balancing of exchanged activities.   Agreements must also follow applicable requirements mandated by the Principles of Accreditation administered by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

MOUs and agreements must be created with the assistance and approval of OIP and must be approved by all relevant FAU college deans, OIP, FAU Legal Affairs, and the Provost’s Office.  OIP coordinates the process and advises faculty and deans on the steps they need to take to create viable projects of value to the college(s) and FAU.  OIP finalizes the MOUs and agreements and forwards them to the Provost for approval.  College support of the MOU or agreement must be provided in writing.   Agreements can only be signed by the President or a member of the Board of Trustees.  Once executed the relevant college(s) sponsoring the agreement will coordinate all academic aspects of the agreement, and OIP will coordinate all administrative aspects of the agreement including allocation of any available and applicable tuition waivers and the periodic balancing of exchange activity.

Below you can find further information on the various types of MOUs and agreements that FAU supports, a checklist on what is needed in a proposal for a new agreement, and model templates that you can download and use as you initiate discussions.  Early contact with the OIP Director is strongly encouraged.