Creating and Evaluating Interdisciplinary Centers

• Updated: February 2011
• Primary Contact : Marlo Welshons

Interdisciplinary centers may be created to support and advance research, education, or public engagement initiatives.
There are three categories of interdisciplinary centers at the University:

• University-wide Center: includes members from different colleges and/or campuses; is aligned with the University’s strategic priorities; must be authorized by the President and Senior Vice Presidents; and reports to one of the Senior Vice Presidents or his/her designee.
• Intercollegiate Center: includes members from different colleges and/or campuses.
• Collegiate Center: includes mostly members from the same college, although the work could be of an interdisciplinary nature.

Center faculty or staff seeking to create an interdisciplinary center must submit a request to the appropriate dean(s) for approval. If approved, the dean(s) will then seek the appropriate executive approval(s) prior to beginning work (see applicable procedures for the appropriate type of center).

University-wide Center directors must submit an annual report to their designated Senior Vice President, as well as a copy to the Provost and the Provost’s Interdisciplinary Team. All other centers are encouraged to follow the same guidelines for annual reports and established reviews. All center directors must update information annually in the University’s database of centers and institutes (http://www1.umn.edu/twincities/centers/).

Authorization for University-wide and intercollegiate centers  is for a limited period of time, e.g., 5-7 years, specified at the time the center is established. Prior to renewal, a formal review and assessment must be performed.

This policy creates the administrative structure necessary to provide an environment supportive of interdisciplinary efforts and the strategic priorities of the University, its campuses, and collegiate units. Through this policy, uniform methods of creating, ensuring the quality and measuring the effectiveness of interdisciplinary centers and institutes are provided for all collegiate units and faculty engaged in interdisciplinary research, teaching, and public engagement. In addition, the policy delineates the different types of centers and the review and approval processes appropriate for each.

• University-wide Centers: Establishing, Operating and Evaluating
• Collegiate and Intercollegiate Centers: Establishing, Operating and Evaluating

There are no forms associated with this policy.

Collegiate Center

An entity established to support and advance research, education, or public engagement that includes mostly members from the same college.

Intercollegiate Center

An entity established to support and advance research, education, or public engagement that includes members from different colleges and/or campuses.

Interdisciplinary Center

An organizational unit within the University that is formed to promote interdisciplinary studies or initiatives. These centers may also be known as consortia, institutes, initiatives, programs, etc. This policy uses the term "centers" to refer to all of these alternatives.

University-wide Center

An entity authorized by the President and Senior Vice Presidents to support and advance research, education, or public engagement initiatives aligned with key University strategic priorities.

President

Authorize designation of University-wide Center.

Senior Vice Presidents

Authorize designation of University-wide Center.

Provost’s Interdisciplinary Team

Review requests from entities seeking designation as University-wide Center and make recommendations to the Provost; review and  make recommendations to the Provost on external reviews of University-wide Centers.

Deans

Approve the creation of intercollegiate and collegiate centers; conduct periodic reviews of centers under their jurisdiction.

Faculty

Prepare documents to establish a center and perform work of the center.

Center Director

Follow operating guidelines for centers. Facilitate continuous progress toward the academic objectives cited in  the center’s authorization request and demonstrate its ability to offer competitive or educational advantage. Document how it measurably contributes to the University's strategic goals. Provide annual update to University's centers-and-institutes database.

There are no appendices associated with this policy.

There is no FAQ associated with this policy.

• Senate Policy: Reorganization (of campuses, colleges, departments, and degree programs)

Amended:

February 2009 - Provided better definitions and clarity for the policy.

Amended:

June 2007 - Established University-wide Centers and added a procedure for them. Changed procedures to reflect the three types of centers. Changed reporting lines for the policy to Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost.

Amended:

June 2005 - Removed obsolete forms section. Clarified that type 1 and 2 centers don't require EVPP approval, but rather should just contact the VP of Research to get approval for the use of the name to avoid name duplication. Procedure for Establishing Type 1 or Type 2 Centers added.

Amended:

February 2003 - Removed obsolete references in Related Information and Forms sections. Updated Preproposal Procedure to have people submit proposals to the Dean of the Graduate School after having consulted with the relevant college Dean(s).

Effective:

January 2000