Responsible International Engagement and Compliance
International collaboration is essential to Cornell’s academic mission. At the same time, international activities, like all university activities, must be planned and carried out in accordance with Cornell policies, legal requirements, and sponsor expectations.
These requirements are not intended to discourage engagement, but to ensure that activities are transparent, sustainable, and aligned with Cornell’s values. Requirements may differ depending on the nature of the activity; whether it involves funding, gifts, contracts, travel, or affiliations; and whether federal, institutional, or international rules apply. For this reason, the university has built a networked support structure to help colleges, units, and individuals engage globally with confidence.
The university takes a comprehensive approach to ensuring responsible and compliant international engagement, which encompasses sponsored and unsponsored research, international partnerships and programs, foreign gifts and contracts, global teaching, travel, and student mobility.
Key Takeaways
- Seek guidance early. Consultation is a normal part of responsible international engagement and will not negatively affect funding decisions or professional standing.
- Multiple offices can help. You do not need to identify the perfect office—contact whichever feels most relevant, and coordination will happen behind the scenes.
- Transparency is key. Full disclosure of relationships and funded or unfunded support enables Cornell to manage risks and preserve a welcoming climate for international scholars.
Cornell’s Support Network
Cornell’s support applies to a wide range of international engagements. Below are the key categories and what each includes.
1. International Teaching, Learning, and Academic Programs
- Study abroad, exchanges, and dual or joint degree programs
- Short-term international courses, field experiences, and embedded travel
- Offshore or transnational education activities
These activities must be planned and delivered in accordance with academic governance, safety, immigration, export control, and financial policies.
Not sure where to start? Reach out to globaloperations@cornell.edu, and we’ll guide you.
2. Sponsored and Unsponsored Research with an International Dimension
- Federally sponsored research
- Research supported by foreign governments or entities
- In-kind support, visiting researchers, or shared resources
- Unfunded or exploratory collaborations
Expectations for transparency and disclosure apply regardless of whether funding is administered through Cornell, provided directly to an individual, or is non-monetary.
Not sure where to start? For sponsored research of any kind, contact your Grants and Contracts Officer. For other questions, reach out to globaloperations@cornell.edu, and we’ll guide you.
3. International Partnerships and Agreements
- Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) and partnership agreements
- Institutional collaborations with foreign universities, research institutes, NGOs, or governments
- Center- or unit-level international initiatives
- Informal collaborations that may evolve into formal arrangements
Responsible engagement includes ensuring that partnerships are reviewed, approved, documented, and monitored consistently with university policy and applicable laws.
Not sure where to start? Your college or unit’s contract administrator can help.
4. Individual Faculty Activities
- External appointments, affiliations, or advisory roles
- Consulting, professional service, or leadership roles with international entities
- Participation in international boards, committees, or review panels
- Extended stays, sabbaticals, or secondments abroad
- Academic leaves
These activities may have disclosure, conflict of interest, or institutional reporting implications, even when not grant-funded or administered through Cornell.
Not sure where to start? Reach out to globaloperations@cornell.edu, and we’ll guide you.
5. Foreign Gifts and Contracts
- Monetary gifts or donations from foreign entities or individuals
- Contractual agreements funded by foreign governments, institutions, foundations, or companies
- In-kind support or resources provided by foreign sources
- Gifts or contracts supporting academic programs, faculty activities, centers, or other university initiatives, whether tied to sponsored research or not
These activities are subject to university review, approval, and reporting requirements, and may also trigger faculty-specific federal disclosure or reporting obligations, depending on the source, amount, and purpose.