Because of the increasing complexity and interdisciplinary nature of many instructional, research, and extension programs, traditional academic departments may not have sufficient diversity in their faculty or adequate facilities and resources to allow such programs to reach their full potential. Under these circumstances, it will be the policy of Auburn University to establish Centers and Institutes to facilitate the management and development of these programs, providing they also fulfill the following criteria.

1. The Center or Institute is consistent with the University's mission and priorities.
   
   
2. The program represents a well-defined area of instruction, research, or extension involving faculty and resources from more than one discipline, department, college, or school.
   
   
3. The University has existing strengths and resources in the programs including a critical mass of faculty and a demonstrated commitment on the part of the involved faculty and administration to actively participate in the Center or Institute.
   
   
4. The Center or Institute will enhance instruction, research, or extension programs in colleges and schools and provide more effective administration of programs.
   
   
5. Establishment of a Center or Institute will provide the program greater visibility and increased potential for extramural funding.
   
   
6. The difference between Centers and Institutes will be a matter of degree--that is to say, Institutes will be very large programs involving a number of departments, colleges, and/or schools. The Center designation will always be used for interdisciplinary or interdepartmental programs in a single college or school.

Administration of Centers and Institutes

     Each Center or Institute will have a Director who is responsible for the day to day administration of the program. Such arrangements may vary from a part-time director who receives release time from other University responsibilities to a full-time director whose primary responsibility is the administration
of the Center or Institute.

     While all Centers and Institutes will ultimately be the responsibility of either the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Vice President for Research, or Vice President for Extension, it is essential that the academic deans be directly involved in the administration of Centers and Institutes. This involvement is important because all such programs will have an impact on resource allocations in colleges and schools and will require special attention to the appointment and evaluation of participating faculty. For these reasons, all Centers and Institutes involving more than one college or school shall have an Administrative Board that includes the deans from the participating colleges and schools, as well as appropriate department heads and faculty members. The director of the Center or Institute will report to this Administrative Board which, in turn, will report to the appropriate vice president. When Centers involve interdisciplinary or interdepartmental programs within a single college or school, the director will report to the dean of that college or school.

     All Centers and Institutes should undergo external review at least every five years to assess quality and effectiveness of programs.

Procedure for Establishing Centers and Institutes

     After detailed review and consultation with appropriate faculty and administrators, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Vice President for Research or the Vice President for Extension may separately or jointly recommend to the President of the University the establishment of a Center or Institute.

     When, in the opinion of the President, a program of instruction, research, or extension fulfills the criteria set forth in this Policy Statement, he may authorize the establishment of such Centers and Institutes. It will be the President's responsibility, at regular intervals, to report to the Board of Trustees, as a matter of information, on the establishment of Centers and Institutes.

ADOPTED: 3/26/90