Research Security Overview
Any international visit lasting less than two weeks is considered a short-term visit and should follow the procedures laid out below.
Short-term visitors arrive to campus for a variety of reasons: to give a lecture, to conduct independent research, to conduct a site visit, etc. They would be considered a guest. Currently, Mississippi State University (MSU) does not have a formal policy governing short-term visits. However, all academic colleges, research centers, and research institutes should follow these procedures until the formal requirement is implemented. To authorize an international visitor for longer than two weeks, use the Official Visitor Agreement process.
Export Controls & Restricted Party Screenings
Permitted and Prohibited Activities
Short term visitors on business visa (B1)/tourist visa (B2), or the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), or other appropriate visa are allowed to visit campus.
They may discuss contracts and research plans with a department, attend conferences or symposia, give public lectures and presentations, attend short term training, conduct independent research, and be given tours of a department, research center, or research institute. They should not be given any privileges reserved for faculty and staff.
Short term visitors are prohibited from acquiring keys or badge access to buildings or research spaces, MSU emails, MSU identification cards, or other accesses or services generally reserved for faculty and staff. Hosted visitors must be accompanied at all times inside MSU research facilities, and hosting departments are responsible for recording the dates, times, and locations of the hosted visitor’s site visits to their research facilities. The hosting department is responsible for reviewing these permitted and prohibited activities with the visitor.
Honoraria
Within academia, it is a customary practice to give a visiting scholar a nominal monetary gift, generally at a time when the individual has come to campus to engage in “usual academic activity or activities” during which they share their expertise.