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| Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) - Sophia College and University of Valparaiso USA |
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STUDENT/FACULTY EXCHANGE AGREEMENT
Between
Valparaiso University & Sophia College for Women, Mumbai, India |
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| In order to establish academic cooperation and exchanges, Valparaiso University (hereafter,Valpo) and Sophia College for Women (Sophia) hereby enter into agreements in regards to the following: |
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| Sophia shall be responsible for selecting and recommending its students for admission to Valpo to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees. |
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| At the undergraduate level, the fields will include those that are viewed as most desirable for Sophia College. For example, the chosen fields can include, but are not limited to, the following: BS in Chemistry, Biology, Psychology, Business Administration, Computer Science, Communication, Economics, Political Science, and Engineering. Articulation agreements will be developed for all these degrees so that students complete a stipulated number of credits and courses at Sophia that will be transferred to Valpo so that the students may complete their degrees at Valpo. Sophia will also recommend students for admission to selected Valpo graduate programs including, but not limited to the following: Masters in Business Administration, Digital Media, Information Technology Management, Psychology, International Commerce and Policy, International Economics and Finance, Arts and Entertainment Management, English Communication and Engineering Management. Several programs currently under development will also be of interest to Sophia College students. These include, Masters in Health Administration, Health Policy and Computational Science. If there is interest at Sophia College, Valpo will also develop gateway programs with Sophia so that part of the masters work can be completed at Sophia. (See joint and twinning programs below) |
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| Based on Sophia’s recommendations, Valpo will issue letters of acceptance and other immigration documents in accordance with Valpo’s admission requirements for undergraduate and graduate students. Valpo will waive the application fee for Sophia students entering Valpo’s programs (it may be collected on Sophia’s side for administrative purposes). Degree candidates from Sophia are responsible for all tuition, room and board, and other related expenses while pursing a degree at Valpo. |
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| To be accepted into Valpo, Sophia students must have completed the stipulated coursework or degree with a satisfactory grade. They must also demonstrate evidence of English proficiency. To do so, they may submit either a TOEFL score over 550 (paper-based tests), 213 (computer-based tests) or 80 iBT, or its equivalent. The TOEFL requirement will be waived for those Sophia students who are highly recommended by Sophia for their proficiency in English. In such cases, students may be asked to undergo an English language assessment upon their arrival at Valpo. Applicants needing additional or remedial work in English may be assigned supplemental instruction, or, if greater remediation seems necessary, they will be referred to INTERLINK for intensive English language coursework. |
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| Merit scholarships for undergraduate programs of up to $11,000 are available to international students from partner institutions. The level of the scholarship will depend on the academic qualifications of the student. |
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| To be accepted into the Master’s program, degree candidates recommended by Sophia must have successfully completed an undergraduate degree program at a nationally accredited institution. Valpo will accept the successful completion of a three-year degree from Sophia as sufficient for entrance into the master’s programs. If grades are satisfactory, the students will not be required to undertake a 16th year bridge program. Sophia students must also demonstrate evidence of English proficiency. To do so, they may submit either a TOEFL score over 550 (paper-based tests), 213 (computer-based tests), 80 iBT, or its equivalent. The TOEFL requirement will be waived for Sophia students who are highly recommended by Sophia for their proficiency in English. In such cases, students may be asked to undergo an English language assessment upon their arrival at Valpo. Applicants needing additional or remedial work in English may be assigned supplemental instruction, or, if greater remediation seems necessary, they will be referred to INTERLINK for intensive English language coursework. For some courses, the GRE/GMAT may be preferred or required (GRE is not required for degrees like International Commerce and Policy, International Economics and Finance, Arts and Entertainment, Digital Media, Sports Administration, and Masters in Nursing Education). There is no financial aid available for the graduate programs although campus employment of up to 20 hours per week is permitted for international students by the U.S. government (both graduate and undergraduate) and can be easily found on campus. In rare instances, some aid is available for graduate interns on campus. |
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| At both undergraduate and graduate level, Valpo and Sophia will explore possible joint and twinning programs that benefit Sophiastudents. |
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Examples include:
- At the undergraduate level, Sophia students who have completed two or more years in several science or humanities majors can finish their degree with two years at Valpo.
- Undergraduate students in fields such as business administration, political science, English, Mass Media, and Economics can complete two years at Sophia and two years at Valpo for a degree from Valpo.
- Valpo and Sophia may also develop articulation agreements in certain specified fields where the students can receive a Valpo degree with two summers’ worth of classes plus two semesters at Valpo, thus making it possible to finish the degree in 12 to 14 months.
- At the graduate level, Sophia students working on a master’s level in specific areas (e.g., computer science, media, commerce, economics, management) may transfer up to nine credits of approved coursework toward the IT Management, International Commerce and Policy, International Economics and Finance, Digital Media, or other Valpo master’s program, as deemed appropriate. Sophia and Valpo may also develop a specific “Gateway” program where some Valpo courses are taught at the Sophia campus and can transferred for up to nine credits to a Valpo masters program.
- At the certificate level and postgraduate diploma level, students completing selected certificates and postgraduate diplomas at Sophia may be eligible to apply coursework toward a master’s program at Valpo.
- At both the graduate and undergraduate levels, the partner institutions can develop co-sponsored short and long-term certificate and graduate-degree programs that serve student populations at both institutions.
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| In return for sending a minimum of 12 students to Valpo, Sophia may choose to send visiting faculty or staff (henceforth called visiting scholars) to Valpo for a semester or for a portion of the summer or for a special summer program hosted by Valpo if justified by numbers of visiting scholars. Visiting scholars from Sophia will receive assistance from Valpo in arranging housing and in conducting research; they will be given access to Valpo’s library services; and, they will permitted to observe classes. Depending on the number of students recommended by Sophia that have joined and stayed at Valpo for at least one year, visiting scholars from Sophia may have to cover all, none, or some portion of international travel, room and board, health care, and other expenses while visiting Valpo. If funds set aside are sufficient, Valpo will cover all the expenses. |
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| Valpo and Sophia will explore other possible exchanges such as mutual visits by teachers and administrators and enlisting undergraduate and graduate students from Sophia to enroll in Valpo’s summer-orientation camp for international students. Details of such exchanges will be worked out at a later date when/as needed. |
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| Visitors to both schools must observe local laws and regulations. Violation of laws of the host country or regulations of the host university shall subject the visiting students/scholars to immediate withdraw of his/her immigration and academic sponsorship and/or to immediate expulsion from the host country without refund of tuition or program fees. |
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| Except to the extent of their negligence or intentional misconduct, neither Valpo nor Sophia, nor persons acting on their behalf, will be responsible to the other for any injury to or death of persons, or damage to or destruction of property, or for any other loss, damage, or injury of any kind whatsoever resulting from their performance of their respective duties and obligations under this Memorandum of Understanding. To the extent permitted by law, Valpo and Sophia agree to indemnify the other and persons acting on their behalf, against all damages, claims, losses, actions, suits and expenses arising from or related to their acts or omissions with respect to this Memorandum of Understanding. |
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| This agreement shall take effect immediately when signed by the Provost of Valpo and the Principal of Sophia. The agreement will be in effect for three years from the date of signing, subject to revision or modification by written agreement, and thereafter until either party terminates the agreement. The implementation of this agreement shall be guided by this agreement and by the results of mutual consultation after the agreement is signed and in writing. |
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