The primary academic activities of the University are conducted by departments, schools, and colleges. Research centers and institutes should be created only when there is a strong case to be made for why the academic mission of the University cannot be achieved within existing structures.

The four following aspects of University policy regarding research centers and institutes are covered below:

• Approval for the creation of a center
• Faculty and staff appointments
• Budgets
• Reviews

Approval for the Creation of a Research Center or Institute

The creation and naming of a new research center or institute may have implications for other units, budgets, and those outside the University. For this reason, the following approval process should be followed whenever a new research center or institute is contemplated. For research centers or institutes which do not seek central support:

The Office of the Provost must approve the name of any new research center or institute. Deans should send a letter of request to the Vice Provost for Research, along with the following information:

1. Name of the new center (or institute).
2. The center's mission statement
3. A list of the principal faculty members involved, including director(s) and participating researchers.
4. A short summary of the center's preliminary research agenda, including brief initial project descriptions.

If no support is being requested from the central administration, a dean may authorize the creation of a research center, but the name must be approved by the Provost's Office.

For research centers or institutes which seek central support:

To request approval of a research center or institute which seeks support from the central administration, the Dean should provide:

1. Name of the new center (or institute).
2. The center's mission statement.
3. A list of the principal faculty members involved, including director(s) and participating researchers.
4. A short summary of the center's preliminary research agenda, including brief initial project descriptions, if available.
5. A description of the center's organizational structure.
6. A description of the center's initial and potential external funding sources.
7. A detailed description of the funds requested centrally and a summary of the internal sources of support and space.

In the case of generic research centers defined by funding agencies, such as NIH-named centers or clinical centers, the Dean's Office should submit a "letter of intent to create a center" 60 days in advance of the official center creation. If the Office of the Provost does not raise any concern within 30 days of receiving the letter of intent, the dean may proceed with creation of the research center without further authorization. In the case of NIH centers where the institution retains the option of choosing the center faculty and name, approval is required as outlined above.

Faculty and Staff Appointments

State budgets or other centrally allocated funds are not to be used to support staff for research centers and institutes. Exceptions to this policy require the approval of the Provost. All faculty appointments associated with a center or institute, regardless of the source of support, require a primary departmental appointment. There will be no exceptions to this policy.

Budgets

A center may have one or more budgets to support its operation. The establishment of a budget other than a state budget in support of a center requires the approval of the relevant Dean. Budgets involving state or other centrally allocated resources require the approval of the Provost.

Reviews

Centers should be discontinued when they no longer serve the purpose for which they were created. Every center should be reviewed on the occasion of a change in the director, and in any event, no less often than once every ten years. The continuation of the center is to be an issue in every review.