The general procedures for creating an international agreement are as follows:
Exploration and Approval
Identify the Faculty Champion and Explore Opportunities Each agreement requires a TTUHSC faculty champion. The faculty champion is responsible for maintaining contact with the collaborating institution and overseeing collaborative activities. During the beginning stage of the agreement process, the Faculty Champion will identify the opportunities that exist, the interest of both parties, and the constraints that would determine the capability, suitability, and sustainability of the potential host site.
Complete an Agreement Worksheet To begin the process of establishing an agreement, the faculty champion must submit an agreement worksheet to the Office of International Affairs (OIA). OIA will review the initial plans for engagement and provide logistical support. Final approval of the potential collaboration is subject to the approval of the TTUHSC president.
Negotiation and Consensus
Phase 1: Memorandum of Understanding
Review Template Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) If approved, OIA will then send the MOU template to the collaborating institution for review. The collaborating institution will review the template and provide TTUHSC with any additional information necessary to complete the template document (e.g., official name, acronym, complete names and titles of the institution's official signatories). The primary signatory must be the institution's President or a direct counterpart to the President of TTUHSC. Any secondary signature as required by the partner institution may also be included. Please note that the template should not be signed.
Print Finalized MOU Once the collaborating institution approves the template, OIA will prepare an original MOU in duplicate for the signature(s) of both parties.
Secure Signatures OIA will send the original MOU in duplicate by express mail to the collaborating institution for signature(s). Once the collaborating institution has signed the duplicate originals, they should be returned to OIA. OIA will route the documents through the TTUHSC contracting system and secure the signature of the TTUHSC President.
Distribute Signed MOUs OIA will send one original, fully signed MOU to the collaborating institution. The other will remain on file in the Office of International Affairs.
Phase 2: Program Agreement
Negotiate and Draft Program Agreement After an MOU is executed, it will serve as the umbrella document for later collaborative activities between TTUHSC and the collaborating institution. As specific projects or programs for individual schools are developed, separate Program Agreements will be required. TTUHSC and the collaborating institution must agree on all terms for the Program Agreement, including each party's rights and responsibilities. If additional Program Agreements are added to the MOU at a later date, an agreement worksheet referencing the appropriate MOU must be submitted to OIA.
Print Finalized Program Agreement and Secure Signatures Once the Program Agreement has been finalized and approved by the appropriate TTUHSC and collaborating institution authorities, OIA will prepare an original Program Agreement in duplicate for the parties' signatures. This step includes routing the Program Agreement through the TTUHSC contracting system.
Distribute Signed Program Agreement As with the MOU, OIA will archive the original and distribute copies of the Program Agreement as stated above.
Review and Renewal
To renew an agreement at the end of its term, the faculty champion must submit a new agreement worksheet. Any changes or new developments in the collaboration must be noted here. The process for renewal follows the same procedure as that for establishing a new agreement.
