MOAs refer to general, non-binding institutional level agreements that formalize a relationship between UConn and a collaborating institution(s). MOAs are intended to be supplemented with specific implementing agreements regarding particular collaborations. This template is intentionally non-committal in regards to university funds, staff, facilities, or other resources. MOAs may reference a college, school, or center, setting forth general plans for collaboration. MOAs can be used to establish a broad research relationship with the goal of exploring potential collaborations or when specific collaborative research exists and both institutions want to document their commitment to collaborate with one another with the intent of seeking funding and subsequently entering into more specific legally binding funded research agreements (funded research agreements are negotiated through the Office of the Vice President for Research).

Global Partnerships & Outreach will determine the appropriate institutional authority to sign the MOA based on the content and the scope of the intended activity.

Exchange: An Exchange refers to an agreement in which UConn and the collaborating institution commit to a 1:1 balanced bilateral exchange of students. Under this arrangement, students take credit-bearing courses—which each institutions agrees to accept and award credit for according to their respective policies—towards degree completion. These agreements layout specific responsibilities of each institution towards each other and the students who participate in the exchange. The commitments made in such agreements include but are not limited to financial terms, insurance, liability, privacy, housing, academic equivalencies, non-discrimination and integrity.

Short-term Mobility: UConn may contract with a collaborating institution to provide services for students going on short-term or intersession programs. Such academic programs may be credit bearing or non-credit and must be proposed to and approved by the Education Abroad Advisory Board. These agreements layout specific responsibilities of each institution towards each other and the students who participate in the exchange. The commitments made in such agreements include but are not limited to financial terms, insurance, liability, privacy, housing, academic equivalencies, non-discrimination and integrity.

Student Research/Non-Credit Mobility: A Student Research or Non-Credit Mobility agreement is one in which UConn and a partner institution commit to hosting students for short term research or internship purposes. Students are responsible for all their own costs, and the host institution generally provides some form of mentorship along with visa sponsorship. Students do not take credit bearing courses at the host institution during this time, and therefore do not transfer any credits back to their home institution. These agreements layout specific responsibilities of each institution towards each other and the students who participate in the exchange. The agreement provisions may include financial terms, insurance, liability, privacy, housing, non-discrimination and intellectual property. These agreements are typically department specific as they require department faculty commit time towards mentoring visiting students.

Under rare instances, with the express consent of the Graduate School and faculty advisors, a student may explore a dual graduate degree with existing global partner. These agreements are quite rare, as fulfilling all requirements of both UConn and the partner’s graduate degree program are extremely difficult for a student to complete in the allotted timeframe.

A faculty mobility agreement is one in which UConn and a partner institution commit to hosting faculty and scholars for short-term research visits or sabbatical semesters. The faculty are responsible for all their own expenses, and are paid by their home institution. The host institution generally provides visa sponsorship, office space, library access and other amenities to facilitate a productive research visit. Visiting faculty/scholars may be asked to present a few research lectures and participate in departmental events. These agreements layout specific responsibilities of each institution towards each other and the faculty/scholars who participate in the exchange. The agreement provisions may include, but are not limited to, financial terms, insurance, liability, privacy, housing, non-discrimination and intellectual property. Faculty mobility agreements are typically department or school specific, as they require departments commit office space and potentially additional resources depending on the arrangement.

UConn Global Affairs works with UConn Schools/Colleges and other relevant UConn stakeholders to leverage our human capital to provide custom training programs and services for partner institutions. Capacity Building and Training Program Agreements detail specific deliverables, responsibilities and roles of the parties involved. Programs range from non-credit training programs for students and professionals to services such as curriculum development.

A Visiting Student Partnership Agreement is entered into when UConn is willing to accept a pre-determined number of students from a partner institution as cohort based non-degree enrollments. The partner institution enters into an agreement with UConn to send up to a set number of students in predetermined fields of study for one semester or academic year. The maximum number of students is determined through prior agreement with each participating UConn academic department. Students interested in participating must be nominated by their home institution. The final admission decision is made by the UConn department. All international non-degree students must meet a program-dependent criteria and abide by guidelines set forth in the agreement and program application. The partner institution agrees to accept UConn credit towards completion of the student’s degree requirements.