OP 34.31: Academic Partnerships

[NEW OP–initial posting 11/3/26]

Texas Tech University Double T

Operating Policy and Procedure

OP 34.31: Academic Partnerships

DATE: November 3, 2026

PURPOSE: The purpose of this Operating Policy/Procedure (OP) is to establish the institutional framework, governance, coordination, and oversight of academic partnerships at Texas Tech University (TTU) in a manner that:

1. Aligns with TTU’s strategic priorities for enrollment, academic innovation, and external engagement;

2. Ensures compliance with applicable federal and state regulations, including those of the U.S. Department of Education, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), and other applicable accrediting or regulatory bodies;

3. Promotes consistency, transparency, and efficiency in the development and execution of academic partnership agreements; and

4. Establishes a centralized framework for coordination, documentation, and institutional awareness of all academic partnerships.

REVIEW: This OP will be reviewed in September of each year. The Academic Partnerships Office leadership will coordinate substantive revisions with relevant stakeholders and will forward such revisions to the Provost and Senior Vice President (PSVP) for approval.

POLICY/PROCEDURE

This OP establishes the institutional responsibilities and coordination requirements for academic partnerships at TTU. Academic partnerships may vary in scope and complexity but generally include formal agreements between TTU and external or internal entities that support academic programming, student mobility, instructional delivery, or related academic activities.

1. Academic Partnerships – General Framework

a. TTU has charged the Academic Partnerships Office within the Office of the Provost with responsibility for coordinating, facilitating, maintaining, and providing institutional oversight of academic partnerships.

b. All academic partnerships, regardless of type, must follow the procedures outlined in this OP and must be submitted for institutional coordination, review, and documentation in accordance with this OP; OP 72.02, Contract Management Procedures; and OP 72.04, Contract Administration.

c. Academic partnerships may involve preliminary exploratory documentation as well as formal institutional agreements that establish academic, operational, legal, or financial obligations between the parties.

d. Initiating departments, colleges, or administrative units are responsible for proposing academic partnerships and ensuring academic alignment and compliance with the agreement terms; however, all partnerships must be coordinated through the Office of the Provost (Academic Partnerships).

e. The Academic Partnerships Office may establish and maintain institutional procedures, guidance, and intake mechanisms for the initiation and review of academic partnerships.

2. Scope of Academic Partnerships

This OP applies to, but is not limited to, the following types of academic partnerships:

a. Undergraduate partnerships, including transfer agreements, articulation agreements, aligned pathways, co-enrollment programs, and similar arrangements;

b. Graduate partnerships, including accelerated programs, dual-degree programs, and collaborative academic offerings;

c. Online and distance education partnerships that support academic program delivery;

d. Learning Placement Agreements such as internships and practicums;

e. Internal academic agreements between TTU colleges, schools, or administrative units that formalize academic collaboration;

f. Other academic collaborations involving instruction, curriculum alignment, or student academic progression; and

g. International academic partnerships, which are also governed by OP 34.28, International Partnership Agreements for Students, Faculty, and Researchers, and are coordinated through International Affairs. Such partnerships are also subject to institutional coordination and documentation requirements outlined in this OP and require review by the Office of General Counsel (OGC) per TTU System Regulation 07.03. OGC review should be coordinated by Procurement Services.

3. Types of Academic Partnership Agreements

a. Letters of Intent (LoIs), Interdepartmental Memos, or Similar Preliminary Documents

Non-binding documents that express mutual interest in exploring potential collaboration or partnership activities.

b. Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs)

Formal institutional agreements that define the roles, responsibilities, expectations, or obligations of the parties involved. In accordance with Regents’ Rules, 07.12.1(c), MOUs constitute binding contractual agreements and require institutional review by Procurement Services.

c. Academic or Programmatic Agreements

Formal agreements outlining academic pathways, instructional delivery, curriculum alignment, student progression models, co-enrollment arrangements, or other collaborative academic activities.

d. Agreements Requiring Additional Review

Agreements involving financial obligations, exchange of funds, data sharing, research activities, on-site instruction, or other legal commitments require review by Procurement Services, OGC, Office of the Vice President for Research & Innovation, or other institutional offices in accordance with TTU System Regulations, TTU OPs, and applicable laws.

4. Governance and Roles

a. Office of the Provost (Academic Partnerships Office)

The Office of the Provost, through the Academic Partnerships Office:

(1) Serves as the central coordinating body for all academic partnerships;

(2) Provides guidance on agreement types, templates, and processes;

(3) Maintains the institutional inventory and administrative repository of academic partnership agreements; and

(4) Ensures consistency and alignment across partnership types.

b. International Affairs

(1) Maintains responsibility for all international academic partnerships in accordance with OP 34.28, International Partnership Agreements for Students, Faculty, and Researchers; and

(2) Coordinates with the Office of the Provost (Academic Partnerships Office) to ensure institutional awareness and documentation of international agreements.

c. Colleges and Departments

(1) Initiate and develop academic partnerships;

(2) Ensure academic integrity, curriculum alignment, and program quality; and

(3) Coordinate with the Office of the Provost (Academic Partnerships Office) for review and approval processes.

d. Procurement Services and Office of General Counsel (OGC)

(1) Review, negotiate, and execute agreements;

(2) Ensure compliance with TTU System Regulations, TTU Operating Policies, and applicable laws;

(3) Serve as the contract repository for executed agreements;

(4) Maintain a resource of contract templates to help expedite the process for departments; and

(5) Coordinate the reviews of other collaborating offices, OGC, and the other contracted party.

e. Other Collaborating Offices

Depending on the nature of the agreement, additional review may be required from Enrollment Management, the Graduate School, Office of the Registrar, Student Financial Aid & Scholarships, Student Business Services, Information Technology, or other departments or offices as needed.

5. Institutional Review and Coordination

Academic partnerships must follow institutional review and approval procedures established and maintained by the Office of the Provost in coordination with relevant institutional offices.

Procedures may vary based on the scope, complexity, and risk profile of the partnership and may include review by the previously mentioned collaborating offices.

Current procedures, workflows, templates, and guidance documents will be maintained separately by the Academic Partnerships Office.

6. Signature Authority

Academic partnership agreements must be executed in accordance with applicable TTU Operating Policies, TTU System Regulations, Regents’ Rules, and institutional signature authority requirements. Signature authority may vary depending on the scope, complexity, financial impact, or institutional significance of the agreement. The Academic Partnerships Office may maintain additional guidance regarding signature routing, approval processes, and institutional review requirements.

7. Templates and Standardization

Academic partnerships should utilize institutionally approved templates, terminology, and standards whenever possible. Supporting guidance, templates, definitions, and related procedures may be maintained separately by the Academic Partnerships Office.

8. Duration of Agreements

a. In accordance with the Texas Tech University System Regents’ Rules § 07.12.3.d and TTU System Regulation 07.03, Contracting, academic partnership agreements, including any renewal or extension options, shall not exceed a total term of five (5) years unless the agreement permits termination without cause upon notice of 180 days or less, or otherwise receives approval from the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents, as applicable.

b. Agreements should include provisions for termination, renewal, and review as appropriate.

9. Renewals and Modifications

Renewals and substantive modifications of academic partnership agreements remain subject to institutional review requirements as determined by Academic Partnerships, Procurement Services, and other applicable offices.

10. Relationship to Other Policies

a. International partnerships are governed by OP 34.28, International Partnership Agreements for Students, Faculty, and Researchers.

b. Study abroad programs are governed by OP 34.20, Study Abroad Programs.

c. Contracting and legal review are governed by TTU System Regulation 07.03.

d. Additional policies may apply depending on the nature of the partnership.

11. Compliance

All academic partnerships must comply with applicable:

TTU Operating Policies and Procedures;
TTU System Regulations;
Accrediting body requirements (e.g., SACSCOC);
Texas Executive Order GA-48; and
State and federal laws and regulations.

12. Exceptions

Exceptions to this OP must be approved in writing by the Provost and Senior Vice President (PSVP) or designee in consultation with relevant institutional offices.

13. Institutional Repository and Recordkeeping

a. The Office of the Provost, through the Academic Partnerships Office, shall maintain a centralized institutional inventory and administrative repository of academic partnership agreements and related documentation for coordination, planning, reporting, and accreditation purposes. This repository supplements, and does not replace, the official contract repository maintained by Procurement Services pursuant to TTU policy.

b. All TTU colleges, schools, departments, and administrative units shall initiate and coordinate academic partnership agreements through the Academic Partnerships Office during institutional review. Upon execution, agreements shall be maintained by Procurement Services in the official contract repository and by the Academic Partnerships Office for institutional coordination, reporting, accreditation, and planning purposes.

c. The centralized repository will support institutional compliance, accreditation, reporting, strategic planning, and institutional awareness of academic partnership activities.

d. The Academic Partnerships Office may establish and maintain supporting procedures, submission requirements, and guidance related to institutional recordkeeping and repository management.

e. Additional institutional offices, including Procurement Services, International Affairs, colleges, departments, or other relevant units, may maintain copies of agreements as appropriate to support their operational, legal, or administrative functions.

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OP 34.31: Academic Partnerships

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