1. All contractual agreements made between any academic department and an outside agency should be processed through the Dean’s office that oversees that academic department. Procedural or content related questions about contacts should be addressed to the Office of Legal Affairs within the Board of Regents.  The Dean’s office will then recommend all contractual agreements within the college to the Vice President for Academic Affairs or his designee. Final approval for all contractual agreements and consortial relationships is given by the President.

2. All contractual agreements will be regularly reviewed by the department responsible for entering into the contract. This evaluation must occur during the contract renewal process.  Evaluation must consist of:

1. Educational services and programs offered through contractual agreement with another institution or organization must support the purpose of the institution as well as the mission and purpose of the department.
2. The department must maintain the quality of  programs /courses offered  through the contract and ensure ongoing compliance with Southern Association of Commission of Schools Criteria.
3. All educational services and programs offered through a contractual  agreement with another institution or organization must be in compliance with policies established by the Office of Legal Affairs within the Board of Regents (http://www.usg.edu/admin/legal/memos.html ).

3. In case of Study Abroad programs, the International Programs Committee will oversee the contractual relationships between the Sate University of West Georgia and foreign institutions.  The committee’s recommendations for contractual agreements and consortial relationships will then be forwarded to the Vice President for Academic Affairs, with final approval reserved for the President.  This committee will also ensure ongoing compliance with Southern Association of Schools Criteria as it relates to Study Abroad Programs.

4. All the consortial relationships must be initiated and maintained by the Dean’s office that oversees the academic department entering into the relationship.  The Dean’s office will then recommend all consortial relationships to the Vice President for Academic Affairs who will then recommend any university-wide consortial relationships to the President. All consortial relationships must be regularly evaluated by the department responsible for entering into the relationship using the following guidelines:

1. Educational services and programs offered through consortial relationships with another institution or organization must support the purpose of the institution as well as the mission and the purpose of the department.
2. Educational courses/programs offered through a consortial relationship must be related to the teaching purpose of the institution and comply with Southern Associations of Schools Criteria.
3. All consortial relationships must only be entered into by regionally accredited institutions offering degrees or certificates at the same level as  the University of West Georgia.

5. Original documents of contractual agreements and consortial relationships should be kept by the academic department responsible for entering into the agreement for seven years after the agreement has expired.  Additionally, copies of all current contractual agreements and consortial relationships should be kept in a repository within the office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.