International Visitor and Delegation Policy Guidelines

International Visitor and Delegation Policy Guidelines

International Activities Policy Committee

            The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) acknowledges that hosting international visitors can be a productive method of fostering international partnerships and collaboration. However, the objective of the ACES Global Connect (AGC) policy is to prioritize hosting short-term international visitors and delegations so that the resources and visitor support services provided by AGC and the ACES faculty and staff can be allocated to best serve the interests of the University of Illinois and the residents of the State of Illinois. This policy guideline refers only to short-term (one week or less) international visitors. It does not refer to long-term international visitors (such as visiting faculty, visiting scientists, post-doctoral researchers, graduate students, exchange students and others) since those arrangements are made by departments, individual faculty, or the University Admissions Office. To further clarify, this policy is not intended to restrict in any way the number or type of international visitors that are supported by individual faculty and their departments.

            Prior to any involvement by the AGC office, short-term international visitors (or a faculty member on their behalf) must complete the AGC international visitor informational form. The information provided in the form will allow the AGC staff to evaluate the visit objectives and prioritize the visit so that the visitors and interests of the University of Illinois and the residents of Illinois can be best served.

Funding is not available from the College of ACES or from AGC for international visitor expenses, including incidental expenses, travel and hotel expenses. Fees to cover administrative charges for hosting visitors will be allocated on a prioritization schedule below.  These may be waived depending on purpose of the visit.

Funding is not available from the College of ACES or from AGC to cover the travel, lodging, and incidental expenses associated with international visitors.  A hosting fee is applied to cover administrative costs.  However, the hosting fee may be waived on a priority basis for representatives of:

1)      universities or organizations with which the College has an established

memorandum of agreement;

2)        universities or organizations under consideration for strategic partnerships; and

3)       universities or other nonprofit organizations with which the College shares mutual interest.  The hosting fee will not be waived for groups organized by for-profit entities.

The objective and desire of ACES Global Connect office is to be able to host all international visitors. It is possible, based on available staff time and preceding requests, that only short term visitors in the highest priorities be accommodated.

To help evaluate the continued impact expected from international visitors and to measure the success of those activities, the ACES International Activities Policy Committee will review the information provided on international visitors yearly, and modify the “Visitor Policy” as needed to reflect the current interests of the University of Illinois and the State of Illinois.

International visit success would be categorized as any inter-institutional post-visit activity of direct benefit to the University of Illinois, such as:

(i)                           formal Memorandums of Agreement signed, with or without cooperative arrangements for faculty and/or student exchanges;

(ii)                         administrative, faculty, staff or student exchanges;

(iii)                       inter-institutional cooperative research projects or programs;

(iv)                       inter-institutional grant applications and funding involving faculty from both institutions or research activities by faculty from either institution undertaken at both institutions;

(v)                         inter-institutional supported conferences, symposia, workshops and major, invited presentations;

(vi)                       inter-institutional activities related to extension/outreach programs; and

(vii)                     inter-institutional teaching activities, including formal courses, student internship programs, and study abroad programs.