Creating an MOU

MOU stands for “Memorandum of Understanding.” An MOU is a non-binding statement of intention between two parties—in this case, between UMD and an international partner. MOUs are very general documents, indicating that the leaders of the two institutions support cooperation between them. An MOU does NOT commit either party to any specific obligation. Instead, it calls for separate, detailed, binding agreements for each collaborative program, and sets some general conditions that will apply to any specific program that is created under its umbrella.

There are many reasons that you may want to propose an MOU between UMD and an international institution with which you work regularly. For example, many external funding agencies require an MOU between the institutions of researchers who are making a joint application for a grant, to demonstrate that the two institutions support the proposal.

Likewise, UMD’s international partners will often ask for a general MOU either ahead of, or in conjunction with, the creation of a specific program of collaboration, such as a formal student exchange program or a joint degree program. UMD in fact prefers that MOUs be linked to some specific planned collaboration, either in the immediate or near future.

1. Contact Joe Scholten, associate director, Office of International Affairs, for guidance.
2. Contact your unit supervisor and your dean or division head to get their preliminary approval for your proposal.
3. Once you have these, work with OIA to draft the actual document.  OIA has a template, which was crafted in collaboration with the Provost’s Office and the UMD Office of Legal Affairs, both of which must approve any UMD agreements. If your partner will accept the language of this UMD template, then approval proceeds more quickly on our side.
4. Share the draft document(s) with your proposed partner, for their input and for the approval of their legal office. If the partner makes changes to the agreement, consult with your campus stakeholders, OIA, and the UMD Office of Legal Affairs. 
5. Repeat Step 5 as often as needed to get to a final text that all parties can accept.

Send the final document and the original proposal form to OIA, which will route it for needed formal approvals and signature. 

All international MOUs require the formal approval of the Office of Legal Affairs, the Office of International Affairs, and the associate provost for academic planning and programs, in addition to that of your unit head and your dean or division head.  If the president is the UMD signatory, the provost must give formal approval first.

The only UMD officials who have legal signatory authority for institution-to-institution agreements (such as general MOUs or student exchange agreements) or agreements involving university-level resources and commitments (such as joint degree programs or major research collaborations) are the provost and the president. Normally, the provost is the UMD signatory. Other university officers can add their signature for ceremonial purposes, with the approval of the Provost’s office. 

Moving from initial discussions to final signature by the provost or president can take several months, particularly if your partner institution asks for special conditions or customized language. The completion of an international MOU based on the UMD template typically takes four to six weeks.

The current UMD international MOU template has a term of five years.

Yes!  The UMD international MOU template includes language about renewing the agreement.  If you want to renew an MOU, contact OIA Associate Director Joe Scholten.

A map and searchable spreadsheet of UMD academic agreements with international partners can be found here.