SPECIAL REPORT INTERNATIONAL STUDIES COUNCIL

Transcription

1 SPECIAL REPORT of the INTERNATIONAL STUDIES COUNCIL concerning AN EXCHANGE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS, USA AND THE UNIVERSIDAD DE MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY (Approved by the Rules Committee, acting on behalf of the Faculty Senate, May 15, 2013) Presented at the 729 th Regular Meeting of the Faculty Senate September 12, 2013 COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP Neal Abraham Tayeb El-Hibri Jack Ahern Stephen Forrest Yetunde Ajao Song Gao Michael Alderman Sangeeta Kamat Margaret Allard M. Christine King, Chair Sonia Alvarez Tim Lang Bradley Bolin Holly Lawrence Irena Bozin Ernest May Elizabeth Brabec Jose Ornelas Thomas Brashear-Alejandro Maria Papapietro Carolyn Cave Howard Peelle Michael Coblyn Jenny Spencer Jennifer Donais Peter Stern Gonen Dori-Hacohen Xuejia Wang Lisa Wexler

2 At its meeting of December 3, 2013, the International Studies Council voted unanimously to recommend to the full Faculty Senate the proposed agreement between the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the Universidad de Montevideo, Uruguay. The Council based its positive recommendation on the following features in the agreement: 1. The exchange agreement provides opportunities for UMA graduate and undergraduate students to study abroad at the Universidad de Montevideo and for graduate and undergraduate students from the Universidad de Montevideo, Uruguay to study at UMA. 2. The exchange agreement provides opportunities for a rich cultural experience. For the period of their registration at the host institution, students participating in the exchange will have all of the privileges enjoyed by regular students of the host institution to the extent permitted by law. 3. The exchange agreement protects intellectual property. The participating institutions wish to jointly benefit, within the policies, procedures and regulations in effect in their countries and institutions, from scientific results and information acquired within the collaborative implementation of this agreement. Thus, the participating institutions may collaborate to write common publications in national or international journals. Unless otherwise required by law, institutional policy, or contract, information and scientific research not jointly published can be conveyed to a third party only by agreement of both institutions. The participating institutions recognize the need to protect their background information in science, technology and the humanities within the framework of joint research programs. Finding: UMASS Amherst students will be well served academically and culturally during their enrollment at the Universidad de Montevideo, Uruguay. Likewise, we anticipate that the students who come to UMASS Amherst from the Universidad de Montevideo, Uruguay will enrich our campus community by their presence. MOVED: That the Faculty Senate approve the Exchange Agreement between the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA, and the Universidad de Montevideo, Uruguay, as presented in Sen. Doc. No

3 AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNIVERSIDAD DE MONTEVIDEO AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST The purpose of this agreement is to establish an academic exchange of students and faculty between the Universidad de Montevideo - Uruguay (hereafter referred to as UM) and the University of Massachusetts Amherst (hereafter referred to as UMA). Other forms of collaboration and exchange, including doctoral students, administrators and business leaders from both countries are also encouraged. Both institutions share a commitment to promoting and expanding international understanding, development, and friendship, as well as to stimulating and supporting educational, professional and intercultural activities and projects among their respective students, faculty and staff. 1. Definitions 1.1. Home and Host Institutions. The term home institution refers to the college or university where a student is a full-time, degree-seeking student. The term host institution refers to the college or university a student plans to visit Academic Year. An academic year shall consist of a fall semester and a spring semester. 2. Student Exchange 2.1. The exchange is open to undergraduate and graduate students in Economics, Business, Communication, Humanities, Engineering and Legal Studies. In addition to regular course offerings in English and Spanish, UM offers an international semester in English within the four-year International Business BA UMA and UM will host up to four (4) students for a semester (at UM: March- July or August-December / at UMA: late August-December or January-May) UMA students can also take a credit-bearing internship in a company located in Uruguay Students participating in this exchange are required to be regular degree students registered at their home institution. They will enroll as non-degree students at the host institution for the period of one semester or an academic year Graduate students must be enrolled in a Masters or PhD program at their home institution If UM undergraduate students are to participate in the exchange, an equal number of UMA undergraduates will have to have attended UM for at least one semester prior to UM undergraduates attending UMA The number of undergraduate students to be exchanged each year will be agreed upon no later than November 1 of each year preceding the next academic year. The actual number of students will be renegotiated each year based on the current exchange balances The selection procedure by which reciprocal exchange students are nominated is the responsibility of the home institution. Each institution reserves the right to require candidates to complete the admission documents required by each institution and to reject any exchange candidate on the basis of regular academic selection criteria. Undergraduate students must have completed at least two years of full-time study at the home institution prior to the beginning of the exchange period, with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a four-point scale. Graduate student applications to UMA must be reviewed and approved by the academic department to which the application is made The conditional acceptance of a student for the exchange program is subject to his/her success in obtaining the necessary immigration and travel clearance. Both UM and UMA will assist students in obtaining the required visas/residence permits, but the responsibility for obtaining such visas rests solely with the students themselves Students are required to maintain the equivalent of a full-time course load at the host institution (9 US credits/semester for graduate students/12 US credits for undergraduate students) Students who are accepted for a full academic year must continue to be in good standing upon completion of their first semester at the host institution, in accordance with the host institution s academic

4 requirements for its regularly enrolled students. In the event that a student fails to maintain good standing, the host institution may ask him/her to return to his/her home institution All Students participating in this exchange program will pay tuition and fees at their home universities. During the term of this agreement UM agrees to waive tuition and registration fees for all incoming UMA students, while UMA agrees to waive tuition and the curriculum fee for incoming UM graduate students and tuition and mandatory registration fees (excluding the Basic Health Fee) for incoming UM undergraduate students. All students are responsible for their travel and living expenses, and all other miscellaneous costs during the exchange UM graduate participants in the exchange program are responsible for the remaining mandatory academic/administrative fees, such as the Graduate Senate Tax, the Graduate Service Fee and any other mandatory academic/administrative fees imposed subsequent to the signing of this document Students must provide proof of health insurance covering illnesses, hospitalization, maternity, accidents, repatriation for the period of their stay abroad. Presently, UM students must purchase the health insurance (Basic Health Fee and Student Health Benefit Plan) required by and made available through UMA to cover medical contingencies while in the United States UMA students are covered by the University of Massachusetts insurance plan for approved education abroad programs. In addition, they are required to maintain their own health insurance in the U.S UM and UMA agree to make every effort to provide accommodation for the exchange students if housing applications are submitted by each institution s established deadlines. Students will pay all residence fees for the dormitories or other residences in which they are accommodated The International Offices at UMA and at UMU will serve as the initial contact points for entering students and will assist exchange students in obtaining accommodation as well as facilitate the admission procedure The host institution will provide, for a fee where necessary, on-site orientation to both the host institution and to the local community Upon written request from the student, the host institution will provide the home institution with an adequate record of the participant s academic performance (a transcript) within two (2) months of the end of the relevant term. Courses completed by students at either institution will be treated as equivalent by the home institution according to each institution s policies. Grading will be applied according to the system used by each host institution. The conversion of grades from one system to the other will be determined by the exchange student s home institution. It shall be the sole responsibility of the home institution to determine how many credit units the student may actually receive for courses taken at the host institution In the event of cancellation of this Agreement both universities shall provide all normal support services as outlined herein for then-participating exchange students until the end of their exchange period For the period of their registration at the host institution, students participating in the exchange will have all of the privileges enjoyed by regular students of the host institution to the extent permitted by law. They will be required to conform to the same regulations and rules as the students of the host institution Violation of host country laws by a student will result in immediate dismissal from the program, which may further subject the student to the loss of visa status. Students dismissed from the program will forfeit all fees paid to home or host institution, will lose all anticipated academic credit, and will be entitled to no reimbursement or compensation of any kind At all times the host institution shall take reasonable steps to insure student safety, and will consult with the home institution with respect to any potentially dangerous situation. In the event that either institution determines that student safety cannot be reasonably assured, the host institution will assist the student(s) in temporarily relocating to a safer environment, or in departing the country, if necessary. 3. Duration 3.1. This agreement shall become effective beginning September 1, 2013, and will remain in effect for five (5) years. At the completion of the initial five-year period the institutions may renew this Agreement for a mutually agreed period. Any such renewal shall be in writing and signed by an authorised representative of each university and may include amendments to the terms and conditions of this Agreement This Agreement may be terminated by either party in the form of a written notice submitted at least eight (8) months prior to the academic year in which the termination is to become effective. This Agreement may be amended or modified at any time by mutual consent through further written agreements. Any further agreements will be considered codicils to this agreement.

5 4. Contingency 4.1. Both universities subscribe to the policy of equal opportunity and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, veteran s status, disability, or sexual preference. UM and UMA shall abide by these principles in the administration of this agreement The parties agree that, if by reason of strike or other labor disputes, civil disorders, severe weather, acts of nature, or other causes beyond an institution s control (hereafter a Force Majeure ), that institution shall not be liable to the other for any failure, delay, or interruption in performing its obligations hereunder and such non-performance shall not be considered a breach of this Agreement If, due to Force Majeure, it becomes impossible to implement the obligations set forth in this Agreement, it shall be suspended temporarily until the disadvantages are overcome. 4.3 All notices and demands required or permitted under any provisions of this agreement must be made in writing, signed by the party giving notice and shall be served, either personally or by registered or certified mail, or by overnight or expedited delivery, to the receiving party s coordinating office, as set forth in Section 5 of this Agreement. 4.4 This Agreement and amendments (if any) constitute the entire agreement between UM and UMA in relation to student exchanges after the commencement of this Agreement. The only enforceable obligations and liabilities of the parties in that regard are those that arise out of this Agreement. Any prior representations, correspondence, promises, verbal or written agreements, prior understandings or representations of any kind relating to the subject matter herein are superseded by this Agreement. 5. Coordination UMA and UM designate the following individuals to coordinate the student exchange program: For UM: For UMA: Universidad de Montevideo International Programs Office Prudencio de Pena Thatcher Road, OFC Montevideo, Uruguay Amherst, MA Tel : Tel: (011) Fax : Fax: (011) Signatures : Signed on behalf of The Universidad de Montevideo: Dr. Santiago Pérez del Castillo Rector date Signed on behalf of University of Massachusetts: Dr. Kumble R. Subbaswamy Chancellor date