Handbook of Operating Procedures

I. POLICY AND GENERAL STATEMENT

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (“University”) welcomes visiting colleagues and students for research training, collaboration, observation, and educational experiences (“Visiting Scholars”). The University also has an obligation to structure such associations so as to protect the interests of the University and the Visiting Scholars.  

Visiting Scholars are defined as individuals who are not compensated by the University and are not enrolled in University educational programs but who are granted access to University property, facilities and/or information systems for a specific period of time for approved collaborative or educational purposes.  There are multiple categories of Visiting Scholars to the University, which are defined on the website of the Office of the Executive Vice President & Chief Academic Officer on the Visiting Scholars Program webpage (“VSP webpage”).

Visiting Scholars’ appointments are offered by the University and not by individual employees. Failure to comply with this policy and the associated procedures found on the VSP webpage may result in disciplinary action and/or personal liability.

Each school must appoint a coordinator(s) whose responsibility is to facilitate all Visiting Scholars programs. All Visiting Scholars must be processed through the coordinator(s); faculty and staff are not permitted to host Visiting Scholars on an ad hoc basis.

Visiting Scholars are not authorized to have University business cards or to be issued University property such as pagers, cell phones and laptop computers or to have any other privileges normally associated with being an employee, including reimbursement for travel to attend conferences.

II. PROCEDURE

The procedures and forms required for bringing Visiting Scholars to the university are found on the VSP webpage. 

Visiting Scholars must comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations and all policies and procedures of the university, including, but not limited to all policies contained in the Handbook of Operating Procedures.  The privileges of all Visiting Scholars at the university are at the pleasure of the university.  The university may, at any time, and in its sole discretion, end a Visiting Scholar’s’ relationship with the university. 

III. CONTACTS

• • Office of the Executive Vice President & Chief Academic Officer
  • 713-500-3062
  • https://www.uth.edu/evpara/contact-us/leadership.htm
  • https://www.uth.edu/academics/
• • Office of Global Health Initiatives
  • 713-500-3533
  • global.health@uth.tmc.edu
  • https://www.uth.edu/global-health
• • Office of International Affairs (questions related to immigration policies and appropriate clearance for Visiting Scholars)
  • 713-500-3176
  • utoiahouston@uth.tmc.edu
  • https://www.uth.edu/international-affairs/

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