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Establishing a Center Process for Approval of
Centers Overview
As
PSU develops new initiatives and responds to new opportunities, there is a need
to create a variety of entities in addition to the traditional departments,
schools, and colleges. PSU has been authorized by OUS to approve new centers
and institutes as an institution. There has also been discussion of various
other names for new entities, including laboratories, partnerships, and
academies. This document uses “centers” throughout to refer to such entities
regardless of the specific word used as part of the entity’s title.
This
document defines the process for the approval of centers. The Constitution of
the Portland State University Faculty grants the Faculty the authority to take: …action upon the establishment, abolition,
or major alteration of the structure or educational function of departments or
of programs which include more than one department or instructional unit of the
University.
Thus,
the Faculty Senate must ultimately approve any center that involves
establishment or major alteration of the structure or educational function of
departments.
Some
centers, however, will not require approval of the Faculty Senate because they
do not establish new departments and/or programs or do not result in major alteration
of the structure or educational function of departments. These centers will be
approved by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs after review by
participating faculty and appropriate administrators as indicated in the
procedure outlined in the next section.
Process
Faculty
proposing the establishment of a center should complete a “Proposal for the
Establishment of a Center.” The proposal form is provided at the end of this
document.
The
proposal is then forwarded as indicated below.
1.
Academic department(s) of faculty proposing the center.
2.
Upon approval of the faculty in these department(s), the proposal is forwarded
to the corresponding department chair(s) for approval.
3.
Upon approval by the chair(s), the proposal is forward to corresponding dean(s)
for approval.
4.
Upon approval of the dean(s), the proposal is forwarded to the Vice Provost for
Research and Dean of Graduate Studies.
5.
The Vice Provost discusses the proposal with the Provost and coordinates its
dissemination to CADS Plus for their discussion and recommendations.
If
recommended for review, the Provost forwards the proposal to the Educational
Policy Committee (EPC) of the Faculty Senate to determine if it results in any
major alteration of the structure or educational function of the department(s)
involved.
6. If the EPC determines that the center does not
result in any major alteration of the structure or educational function of the
department(s), the proposal is returned to the Provost (proceed to step 8).
If the EPC determines that the proposal should have the
approval of the Faculty Senate, the EPC will review the proposal, and will
forward the proposal with its recommendation to the Faculty Senate for
consideration.
7. If the Faculty Senate approves the center, the proposal
is forwarded to the Provost.
8. After consideration by the Provost and possible
consultation with other Vice Presidents, the Provost may either approve or
disapprove the proposal. If it was determined by the EPC that the center does
not require the approval by the Faculty Senate, the Provost’s approval is the
final step needed for the establishment of the center. For all other proposals,
upon approval by the Provost and concurrence of the President, the center is
established.
Note: The Vice Provost for Research and Dean of
Graduate Studies will coordinate the review of all centers on a five-year
cycle. Priority over the next three
years will be given to the review of centers established before these
guidelines were approved. All reviews of
centers will be forwarded to the EPC for step 6 determination (above). Centers that have evolved to alter the
educational function of a department will require the Faculty Senate approval,
as described in step 6 through 8 of the approval process.
The review criteria should be based on updated responses to
the proposal application questions, with particular attention to questions 5,
7, and 9. The questions regarding new
courses, certificates or programs will be of special interest, as will changes
in oversight and budget.
PROPOSAL FOR THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF A CENTER
1. What is the name of the proposed center? Provide a
brief history or justification for it.
2. Does the center establish or make major alteration
to the structure or educational function of any existing departments or
programs?
3. How does the proposed center help PSU to achieve
its mission?
4. What are the objectives and planned outcomes for
the proposed center?
5. What significant activities will take place within
the proposed center?
6. Indicate the expected percentage of time and
resources that will be allocated to each activity. Please include, if appropriate:
a. Courses to be offered . . . . _______ % b. Research performed . . . . _______ % c. Community partnerships built . . . _______
% d. Other (specify) . . . . . _______ % 100 %
7. Why is a new center needed to achieve these
outcomes and to host these activities?
a. What other units are already undertaking similar
activities? b. Why is a separate
identity and/or structure key to success in meeting the objectives and planned
outcomes?
8. What is the structure of the proposed center?
a. Will it be housed in
an existing department, school, or college? b. Will it become a separate administrative unit? c. Will it have its own support staff? (describe)
d. How will the faculty become affiliated with the
center?
e. Will faculty FTE be assigned to the center>
f. What is the likely faculty composition (%
tenure-track, % fixed-term) g. According to what rules will faculty be evaluated for
PP&T? 9. Who will have administrative oversight for the
proposed center? a. Chair, Dean, Others? b. How will the Director be selected? c. To whom will the person in charge report?
10. When will the center be established and what is
the period of time envisioned for the center to operate? Describe how the
center may evolve or expand?
11. What resources are needed for the proposed
center? From where will these resources come? What revenue will the proposed
center generate?
a. Budget: Show all anticipated sources of revenue
and expenditures. b. Space: Describe in the detail where the center will be
situated. c. Staff: Describe all anticipated workers at all levels.
12. List the faculty proposing the center and their
department affiliations.
13. Administrative recommendations required.
Faculty:
____________________________________________
Faculty:
____________________________________________
Faculty:
____________________________________________
Department
Chair: ____________________________________
Dean(s):
______________________________________________
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