Affiliation Agreements
Required for non-paid internships requiring student liability insurance.
Requirements
An affiliation agreement is a written contract that lays out the legal expectations of both our campus and the site when a student is interning or training at a site for course credit and the site requires student liability insurance for the student.
Asking as to whether or not the site requires student liability insurance is critical when planning your internship. Learn more about this insurance.
Process
Standard Affiliation Agreement
If there an agreement in place for a particular site and discipline, the student can begin their experiential learning opportunity.
If there is not an agreement in place, does the experiential learning opportunity site require liability insurance?
- If no, student can begin experiential learning opportunity.
- If yes:
- The department affiliation agreement coordinator sends standard agreement, exhibits and transmittal to the site.
- The site then accepts and returns signed standard agreement to administration and finance.
- Upon receipt of countersigned agreement, administration and finance will execute and then order insurance. Once insurance is issued and sent to the site, the student can begin their experiential learning opportunity.
Non-Standard Affiliation Agreement
If there an agreement in place for a particular site and discipline, the student can begin their experiential learning opportunity.
If there is not an agreement in place. does the experiential learning opportunity site require liability insurance?
- If no, student can begin experiential learning opportunity.
- If yes:
- The department affiliation agreement coordinator sends standard agreement, exhibits and transmittal to the site.
- The site should request changes to the standard agreement with administration and finance. Administration and finance is notified and will coordinate with the Office of General Counsel and the site to reach a mutual agreement.
- Upon receipt of countersigned agreement, administration and finance will execute and then order insurance. Once insurance is issued and sent to the site, the student can begin their experiential learning opportunity.
Roles
- Purchasing & Management Services — Maintains a record of all agreements and serves as a resource to programs. Management services consults with the Office of General Counsel as necessary to ensure all non-standard agreements meet state contract law.
- Office of General Counsel — Issues standard agreements for clinical and non-clinical placements. Approves all agreement modifications.
- Affiliation Agreement Coordinator — Although responsibilities may vary across academic programs, the coordinator serves as the intermediary between the site contact, student, and the campus to ensure all necessary agreements are in place prior to the internship. Typically, the coordinator initiates the agreement and sends to the site. The coordinator consults with Regional Procurement Services if modifications are requested to the affiliation agreement.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the student liability insurance and what does it cover?
The State University of New York has partnered with Ironshore Indemnity, Inc. to provide student liability insurance for eligible students. The purpose of the student liability policy is to cover State University of New York enrolled students participating in a clinical or non-clinical training program at an outside facility or at SUNY facilities. In order for the clinical or non-clinical training program to be included under the policy, all of the following criteria must be met:
- The student must receive academic credit or be meeting a course or program requirement
- The training must be supervised by the training site and a faculty member
- There is an affiliation agreement in place between SUNY and the training program site
- The affiliation site must require insurance. The program must be approved by the company for coverage under the policy
This liability insurance policy will cover students who are named as a party of legal action arising from their participation in a program that meets the criteria described above. The policy will pay those sums that the student becomes legally obligated to pay as a result of “bodily injury” or “property damages” covered by the policy including associated legal expenses. This coverage does not indemnify the clinical/non-clinical training site, location or host entity. This policy does not insure any licensed professionals acting in that capacity.
- Why is an affiliation agreement important?
- Do I need an affiliation agreement?
- How do I know if there is already an agreement in place?
- The site doesn’t want to sign the agreement I sent without changes, what do I do?
- How long does it take to execute a Non-Standard agreement?
- How will I know when the agreement is executed and the insurance is on file?
- How can I make this process more efficient?
- They are asking for proof of our insurance before my student can start the internship. How do I get it?
- A student wants to intern with College Auxiliary Services. Do I need an affiliation agreement?
- How long is an agreement in effect?