International Collaboration Policy

Policy Number: GE-2400-02

Policy Title:  International Collaboration Policy

Vice Chancellor/Associate Vice Chancellor: Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Effective Date: July 1, 2019

Contact: Vice Provost for Global Engagement

Policy Statement: An International Agreement is required for all International Collaborations. All proposals for International Agreements follow a uniform submission and review process. Faculty and staff members seeking to develop an International Collaboration must submit a proposal approved by their unit and college (or equivalent) for an International Agreement to the Office of Global Engagement. The Office of Global Engagement is responsible for coordinating review and approval of lnternational Agreements and submission to OBFS for the comptroller's signature.

International Agreements are designed to establish a formal foundation for a relationship between UIC (or its constituent units) and entities outside the U.S. and its overseas territories. This International Collaboration Policy governs all International Agreements. The defined term of International Agreement specifically excludes (i) documents that fall under the purview of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research ( e.g., sponsored project activities, research grants and contracts, and material transfer agreements) and (ii) individual faculty or staff project agreements (e.g., publications).

Reason for Policy: The purpose of this policy is to ensure that UIC administrators, faculty, staff and their units create mutually beneficial International Collaborations that are feasible and further UIC as a whole. As a leading public research university located in a global city, UIC collaborates with and serves institutions, organizations and citizens in Chicago and around the world through its research, education and service. UIC seeks to be an international leader in teaching, research, scholarship and innovation in order to address the challenges and opportunities of the 21 st century. Productive and effective International Collaborations are vital to UIC's core mission. This policy facilitates the commitment of resources by all parties to support academic programs, student and faculty exchanges, research collaborations, technical assistance, professional development and similar cooperative activities. This policy will promote consistency, sustainability and best practices, and ensure clarity of expectations among all involved.

In the past, units have submitted paperwork to temporarily change the "control" of a course when staffing is being provided by a non-controlling unit. This practice has been discontinued. If staffing is shared or provided by a non-controlling department, teaching effort is reflected in certain faculty-based reports. This allows the department providing the instruction to claim the credit hours, negating the need to change "control" of the course on a temporary basis.

Minority Impact Statement: The policy will not have a disproportionate or unique impact upon UIC's minority students, staff or faculty.

Who Should Read the Policy:  All UIC faculty and staff members.

Definitions:

  • International Agreement is any document that (i) describes an International Collaboration and (ii) purports to create, or memorializes an intent to create in the future, legally enforceable obligation(s) between The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, on behalf of UIC, and any entity established outside the United States and its overseas territories. The defined term of International Agreement covers various types and names of documents including, but not limited to, memorandum of agreement, memorandum of understanding, letter of intent, exchange addendum, and placement agreement. The defined term of International Agreement specifically excludes (i) documents that fall under the purview of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (e.g., sponsored project activities, research grants and contracts, and material transfer agreements) and (ii) individual faculty or staff project agreements (e.g., publications).
  • International Collaboration is any relationship between UIC (or any unit therein) and any entity that is established outside the United States and its overseas territories that involves a commitment of resources to support the relationship. Examples of International Collaborations include, but are not limited to, academic programs, student and faculty exchanges, placements abroad, unfunded research relationships, technical assistance, and professional development and services.

Procedures: The Office of International Affairs (OIA) within the Office of Global Engagement will create an online International Agreement Proposal process. This will include an online submission form and an online review process.

Related Laws, Regulations, Statutes, and Policies:

Forms: The Proposal Form is available through the OIA website.

Policy History: The UlC internationalization and Global Engagement Task Force Report of June 29, 2018 recommended the creation of an International Partnership Policy and an online proposal and review process [Strategy I, Goal B, Items 1 & 2]. The International Advisory Council unanimously approved the International Collaboration Policy on February 27, 2019. The Committee on Policy approved the policy on March 14, 2019.