The intent of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is to formalize agreement to a set of principles rather than to serve as a business agreement or contract. A format similar to the MOA may be used, but without certain of the business elements of a contract. The format used in this example is that of a set of resolutions.

SAMPLE

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

Between

THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
UNIVERSITY OF [A],
[B] STATE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
[B] STATE UNIVERSITY,
[C] STATE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
[C] STATE UNIVERSITY,
and the
[D] RESEARCH STATION
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Regarding
A MID-REGIONAL [COMMODITY] RESEARCH CONSORTIUM

*************

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

for

A Mid-Regional [Commodity] Research Consortium

WHEREAS, production of [commodity] in the mid-regional area has been a viable agricultural industry for 50 years; and,

WHEREAS, recent trends in the production of [commodity] have been toward optimized yields with minimized inputs; and,

WHEREAS, the industry has benefitted from the collective research programs conducted by the State Agricultural Experiment Stations in [A], [B], and [C], and the [D] Research Station, USDA/ARS; and,

WHEREAS, the numbers of scientists in the Mid-Regional Area with expertise in the production of [commodity] have declined during the past decade through attrition and personnel realignments resulting from financial exigencies in these states; and,

WHEREAS, discussions betwen the state and federal scientists, administrators and key producers in the region led to the development of a long-range plan and proposal for establishment of A Mid-Regional [Commodity] Research Consortium.

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:

  1. Institutional Commitment (...state the goal(s) and affirm each institution's commitment to their achievement...)

  2. Patent Rights.

  3. Publications.

  4. Liability and Indemnification.

  5. Nondiscrimination.

  6. Effective Date and Termination.

  7. Amendments.

Approvals:

For the University of [A]:

[Authorized Official/Date]
Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of [A]/Date

For the [B] State University:

[Authorized Official/Date]
Director, [B] State Agricultural Experiment Station/Date

For the [C] State University:

[Authorized Official/Date]
Director, [C] State Agricultural Experiment Station/Date

For the U.S. Department of Agriculture:

[Authorized Official/Date]
Laboratory Director, USDA/ARS [D] Research Station/Date