Approval Process

1. Review and Action in International Studies and Programs

All proposed international institutional linkage agreements must be reviewed in the International Studies and Programs' (ISP) Dean's Office. This process covers the items listed hereunder.

Rationale for having a signed agreement
Inclusion of necessary provisions (See Guidelines).
Appropriate signatories, including Dean of ISP
Consultation with the relevant area studies center director
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 members or international scholars working at MSU
Determination whether the agreement requires review by the Office of the General Counsel, Office of the Registrar, and/or Office of Contracts and Grants
Review by the University's Advisory/Consultative Committee (A/CC) once the agreement is completed

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 with legal ramifications or potential liabilities. The review process for international agreements, which is delineated below, must be followed.

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 involved. This will be determined by ISP, in consultation with OGC.
Agreements which could pose potential liability issues for MSU and do not fit the aforementioned"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

The Office of Contracts and Grants must review any agreement that involves financial transactions and obligations between MSU and other parties.

4. Review by the University's Advisory/Consultative Committee

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 and international institutions. A summary of the review and approval process is provided below:

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 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 International Agreement Subcommittee of the A/CC will review agreements approximately one week prior to the regularly scheduled full A/CC meeting and make a recommendation at its full committee meeting. Hence appropriate planning is necessary to allow enough time to prepare the agreement and have it reviewed by all necessary parties prior to consideration by the A/CC.

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 Agreement Subcommittee meeting. This information should be presented on the A/CC information form.
The A/CC advises the Dean of ISP whether an agreement should be pursued.

5. Obtaining Necessary Signatures

Following approval by the ISP A/CC and ISP Dean, the proposing MSU unit should prepare original bond paper copies of the agreement for each of the signatories.
The proposing MSU unit should obtain all MSU department and college signatures on each of the original documents of the Agreement prior to forwarding them 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. 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.

7. Return of Signed Agreements

After the documents have been 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 Agreement Database and subsequently filed within ISP.

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