Centers and Institutes
Richard Best
Associate Director
SPARCS
Reasons for Updated
Policy
New Regulation governing Centers and
Institutes was issued by UNC Office of
the President effective July 1, 2004.
Current NCSU policy was created in
1993 and last updated in 1995.
New UNC Regulation
//intranet.northcarolina.edu/docs/legal/policymanual/400.5[r].pdf
UNC OP maintains responsibility for “Inter-
Institutional Centers only.
Assigns responsibility for “Institutional Centers and
Institutes” to respective UNC campuses.
Requires that each campus develop its own policy
governing the planning, establishment and review of
Institutional Centers and Institutes.
Institutional policy must be approved by Board of
Trustees
Directive of Vice
Chancellor
Maintain priorities from UNC and NCSU
policies that Centers and Institutes be
multidisciplinary, have a strong graduate
education component, and self-sustaining
funding through partnerships with private and
corporate sponsors, other universities, and
federal and state agencies.
Directives of Vice
Chancellor
Maintain the requirement for
comprehensive written report to be
submitted by Center and Institute each
biennium.
Reinstitute the formal, scheduled review
and assessment of each Center and
Institute once every 5 years.
Policy Work Group
Dr. Sarah Rajala, Engineering
Dr. Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Textiles
Ms. Patty Davis, Textiles
Ms. Larisa Oktyabrsky, SPARCS
Ms. Debbie Hunt, SPARCS
Mr. Richard Best, SPARCS
Objectives
Modify the existing policies and
procedures in compliance with new
UNC Policy.
Don’t reinvent the wheel.
Keep what works.
Fix what doesn’t.
Highlights
Definitions of Centers and Institutes remain
essentially the same
Processes for creation, planning, and
requesting authorization to plan and establish
remain the same with final authority vested in
the Board of Trustees
Roles of key players and committees clarified,
but largely intact.
Highlights
Membership Center guidelines clarified.
New sample Membership Agreement
New sample By-Laws
Indirect Cost rates for membership
centers remain unchanged.
Definition of “Enhancement Projects”
has been tightened.
Dues Funded Projects
Dues-Funded projects are funded from
the combined fund of membership
agreement fees paid by the members,
and require IAB approval. Dues-Funded
projects to be funded for the next year
are approved at the annual meeting of
the IAB and should be reported to all
members, college(s) and SPARCS.
Supplemental Projects
When Center members want to provide additional funds
specifically to enhance or accelerate a current dues-
funded project they may do so as a supplemental
project. No further IAB approval is required.
Sometimes, not all project proposals considered
worthwhile by the IAB may be funded from the available
pool of dues funds. At their annual meeting, the IAB
may also approve a list of projects that may be initiated
by the Center director, without further IAB approval, if
and when supplemental funds are provided by a new or
an existing member for that purpose. Following the
annual meeting, a list of these projects is reported to
the members, college (s) and SPARCS.
Biennial Reporting
Includes all existing programmatic and
financial reporting elements.
Adds additional data including total
expenditures.
Strongly recommends that Centers and
Institutes have a designated OUC to
facilitate financial reporting.
Proposed
Implementation
Will begin after ratification of BOT
Meetings with Center Directors by College
Provide detailed explanation of policy,
reporting requirements and assessment
Some may choose to drop Center
designation
Schedule formal review
Amend membership agreements and Bylaws
if needed
Consortia & Laboratories
Formerly included in NCSU Policies and
Procedures for CILs
UNC Regulation requiring BOT policy
approval is only for Centers and
Institutes
Separate procedures proposed for
Consortia and Labs also based on
previous Policies and Procedures
2005 Update for UNC
Under the new UNC OP Regulation, A list of
institutional centers and institutes, their
primary designation (research, public service,
instructional), and a link to their
corresponding website will be submitted to
the Vice President for Research every two
years for inclusion in the update of the
University’s Long-Range Plan.
SPARCS will be collecting this information
late this winter.