There are numerous benefits for SEMO to enter into partnerships with universities around the world. Some of the potential benefits are collaborative research opportunities, increased study abroad destinations, cultural enrichment on our campus, curriculum development and innovation, to name a few. 

International partnerships are most effective when there is a faculty or staff champion to support the partnership and pursue opportunities. We know our faculty members have a great deal of experience in the U.S. and abroad, and we welcome them to pursue partnerships with people and organizations they’d like to work with.

With that in mind, a process has been established that allows faculty and staff to pursue partnerships with overseas institutions. If a SEMO staff member is interested in exploring a partnership with an institution where they have connections, they can follow the process explained below.

All international institutional agreements must follow this process.

Identifying a need or opportunity

A SEMO faculty member, staff member, or administrator can initiate the international partnership agreement process when a need or opportunity is identified. To start the review process, the person seeking to enter into a new agreement must complete the “International Partnership Planning” for,m which is found in myworkflows under the Provost tab. The form includes information about all parties to the agreement, details about the proposed collaboration, goals and objectives of the partnership, and anticipated financial and personnel commitments. Note, the workflow process does include a signature from the faculty member’s college dean.  

Draft Agreement

Following the submission of the International Partnership Planning Form, a meeting will be conducted with the Executive Director of IES to discuss the possibilities. If both parties agree to move forward, IES staff will draft an international partnership agreement based on one of the following templates, depending on the proposed scope of the new partnership:

• Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
• Student exchange agreement
• Amendment to the MOU

In some cases, proposed partner institutions may offer their own draft agreement. If so, the executive director of IES will review the draft to confirm that the document accurately and completely reflects the collaboration described in the planning form and complies with SEMO requirements. IES may suggest changes.

Review and Recommendation

Using the evaluative criteria listed below, the Executive Director of IES will make a recommendation as to whether the agreement should be approved.

Evaluative criteria

• How does this collaboration enhance the unit’s and/or SEMO’s academic offerings?
• Does the collaboration lead to new research or academic content?
• Does this collaboration strengthen the student experience?
• If the agreement proposes a student exchange program, is it likely that SEMO will have students interested in the program?
• What resources are required to collaborate?
• Do faculty, chairs, deans, donors, alumni, or others support this collaboration?

Approval

If the Executive Director for IES approves the proposal, it will be forwarded to the Provost (or VP of Enrollment Management and Student Success in the Provost’s absence) for final review and approval. If the proposal is not approved at any level, the initiator may choose to abandon or rework the proposal, or ask their dean/director to initiate an appeal of the decision.

Final Approval

Final approval of the agreement will be provided by the Provost (or VP of Enrollment Management and Student Success in the Provost’s absence). Fully signed copies of the agreement will be kept at the IES office.