INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE REPORT

Principles to Guide the Development of ADEC International Partnerships and Associations

Potential international partners or associates represent an extremely diverse group of institutions and/or entities within institutions and within countries. Their needs and interests, as well as their individual or collective ability to work with ADEC, covers a wide spectrum. This diversity represents both opportunities and challenges. The following principles will guide ADEC as it facilitates international education via the use of distance education technologies:

1. As a consortium, ADEC is its members. ADEC was created as a consortium to do what individual members are less able to do alone.

2. ADEC is governed by a Board of Directors who are elected from its member institutions. The Board employs a staff to manage the activities of the consortium.

3. ADEC may enter into agreements with international education and training entities in situations which the consortium can accomplish the goals with greater efficiency or efficacy than could an individual member institution. Contacts and conversations that may lead to agreements may be initiated by ADEC, by a consortia member, or an international, or commercial entity. In all cases, authorization to enter into agreements must have the approval of the ADEC Board of Directors.

4. ADEC's role in such agreements is that of facilitator and/or management of the overall agreement. ADEC relies upon member institutions to implement the objectives of the agreement.

5. In such cases where ADEC enters into an agreement with an international entity and where there are costs to be incurred by ADEC, ADEC shall charge the international entity for those direct costs and an indirect charge to recover ADEC costs.

6. All international agreements, including financial obligations, shall be detailed in Memorandum of Understanding or other appropriate formal documents. Full disclosure and fairness will be the foundation of any agreement.

Further, it is recommended that the ADEC Board of Directors establish a Standing Committee on International Affairs. This standing committee would have at least two functions: a) periodic review of the "principles" noted herein and recommended changes as warranted by time and experience; and b) annually report to the Board on the status of ADEC's international activities and commitments.

It is recommended that the ADEC Board of Directors adopt the six principles of operation with international colleagues/partners, and the recommendation to establish a Standing Committee on International Affairs.

September 19, 2001