The world continues to change rapidly and globalization is fostering common social, economic, and political agreements among countries. Agreements by governments have created opportunities to enhance educational and research endeavors that, by design, will remove barriers that previously have limited the flow of students, educators, researchers, and professionals across borders. Global access has opened the door to mobility in higher education, encouraging the development of educational standards and mutual mechanisms of recognition. Three years ago an eight-institution consortium comprised of four American and four European institutions of higher learning came together in a partnership to provide opportunities for students and faculty to share the educational and research experience internationally. A partnership of this magnitude was constructed despite barriers that were both administrative and cultural in origin. Through a positive approach, a framework for a transatlantic program of educational and research cooperation was developed. A significant level of mutual cooperation effectively solved the administrative hurdles initially encountered in the realm of research. We believe a model has been created that fosters the development of international programs to benefit faculty, students, and research administrators as they work to effectively interact in the global environment. (Contains 1 table and 1 figure.)