Global Partnerships

• If you are thinking about an international agreement, please read the guidelines before initiating an agreement. Contact Adem Althor [email protected], x4730, Executive Director of Global Engagement if you have a question about the process.
• Make sure you have your Dean's support
• Chose a template, complete and submit it. You will receive an email with the draft agreement as an attachment, and a link to the routing and approval form.
• Agreements take time to finalize not only here at Oakland but with partner institutions. It is a good idea to start a year in advance.

MOU
General document signed when exploring possibilities for collaboration.

American Semester Abroad Program (ASAP)
Incoming non-degree seeking international students who spend one or two semesters at OU.  

Articulation
Incoming international students, pursuing a degree objective (entirely or partially) at OU, and who will receive a degree from OU. 

1. Exploration phase or developing a specific program If discussions with a potential partner are in an exploratory stage an MOU can be signed. If specific programinmg is proposed, an additional agreement must be signed to reflect the proposed programming. Some partners like and/or require an MOU first as an intention to cooperate, however one of the above agreements can be signed first if the MOU is not needed.

2. College-to-College or University-wide College-to-College agreements are those that focus on one college or even one or a few departments within a college and the corresponding college or department(s) at the overseas institution. University-wide agreements are much broader and should be evaluated by Global Engagement for their viability for Oakland as a whole.

3. Degree objective or not Agreements can have a degree or a non-degree objective.

4. Incoming international students. International students come to OU as non-degree seeking students (exchange, ASAP, ESL). They also come as degree seeking students, via an articulation agreement to complete their degree here at OU; or for an entire degree program at OU. In all cases they must follow admissions standards, comply with the English proficiency policy, pay published tuition rates and purchase the OU health insurance policy.

5. Exchange: If you are contemplating an exchange, as a first step please reach out to Alex Zimmerman, director of International Education, at [email protected]. In an exchange:
   1. tuition is typically waived for both sides. Please Note: full tuition waivers are
      restricted to non-degree seeking students in the exchange category.
   2. students who are coming to OU on a tuition waiver still need to cover room/board, and health insurance. In addition, students are advised to budget approximately
      $2000/semester for books and incidentals. Consider if students at the potential exchange partner will have access to a minimum of $8,000/semester.
   3. Numbers must be kept in balance over time and therefore costs and demand on both sides of a proposed exchange must be carefully considered. An out of balance exchange results in a significant deficit.
   4. undergraduate students can only be exchanged with other undergraduate students.
      Graduate students can only be exchanged with graduate students.
   5. options must be evaluated for the number of viable courses (in many cases this means the number of courses in English) open to an outgoing OU student how they will count at OU. It is especially important for students to receive major credit on an exchange.
   6. A potential exchange destination must be evaluated by Global Engagement for risk and safety (see #12) including housing and local transportation.
   7. A potential exchange must have outgoing demand, if there is no demonstrable outgoing demand it is not an exchange. Consider the ASAP agreement type.

6. Feasible or not It is important to consider the feasibility of a proposed program or idea. Is it likely there will be demand from students at OU and the partner school? Does this  program compete directly with or draw students from an existing OU exchange or agreement? Why would students enroll in what is being proposed? Can they get a full schedule of courses? Can they afford to go?

7. College/Department Point Person A point person is needed for each agreement.

8. Approvals. All agreements are reviewed by and will need to be approved by: Dean; Global Engagement; Provost Office; Registrar; Admissions; Financial (other units/approvers will be added if needed)

9. Template/Translations In all cases OU prefers to use its template and it will mean a faster approval process. Documents not in English must be translated into English prior to starting the agreement process.

10. Length of agreements. Agreements are generally signed for 5 years. However for new exchange agreements the length is 3 years.

11. Renewing agreements. Global Engagement will keep a database of agreements and prompt the department contact person 6 months prior to expiration for a review. At this time, it is important to consider the goal expressed in the agreement. For example: How many students participated in the program? If it is an exchange, is it in balance? Have students obtained their degrees? Has there been a successful research or faculty collaboration? How has Oakland's reputation grown in the partner institution/country? Renewing agreements will, in large part, depend on the success of the prior agreement.

12. The U.S. Department of State has a 4 level travel advisory on travel.state.gov. Level 1 is "Exercise Normal Precautions" Level 2 is "Exercise Increased Caution." Level 3 is "Reconsider Travel" and Level 4 is "Do not travel" Oakland University will not organize programs for students in countries listed in the level 3 or 4 category.