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Establishing Centers, Institutes, and Specialized Testing or Service Laboratories (A-71)

Original Implementation: Unpublished
Last Revision: April 21, 2009

Centers, institutes, and specialized testing or service laboratories (hereafter referred to as “centers”) at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFASU) engage in educational, research, scholarly, service, outreach, and/or faculty development activities.  Centers at SFASU are subject to all policies and procedures of the university, as well as to applicable state and federal laws and regulations.

  1. A center may be established within an academic department or division, college, or the university and may be interdisciplinary.
  2. A formal proposal shall be required for the establishment and official recognition of a center.  Procedures and guidelines for proposals must be approved by the provost and vice president for academic affairs and shall be published by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP).
  3. A center proposal must include, at a minimum, a description of the mission of the center, its goals and objectives, and how the center shall be structured and funded or otherwise supported by the university.
  4. Proposals shall be reviewed by the director of research and sponsored programs and recommended for approval by participating department chairs/directors, academic deans and the appropriate vice president.  Recommendations for formal recognition of centers shall be forwarded to the president for approval.
  5. Centers may be named by the Board of Regents for persons who have made outstanding contributions to the university.
  6. Centers existing at the time of the adoption of this policy are required to submit a formal proposal, consistent with this policy’s guidelines, to remain recognized by the university.
  7. A center may not participate in activities that do not, in their entirety, support the mission of the university, including the use of a center’s or the university’s name.
  8. Centers shall submit annual updates to the appropriate dean and/or vice president (VP) in a format prescribed by the dean or VP.
  9. A center shall be disbanded within five years, unless a request for review and continuation is approved by the authorizing dean and/or VP. The review process shall include, at a minimum, criteria that assess the effectiveness of the center in meeting its mission, goals, and objectives.
  10. ORSP shall maintain an inventory of centers and their status.

 

Cross Reference: Guidelines and Procedures for Establishing Centers; Policy D-22, Naming Guidelines

Responsible for Implementation: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Contact for Revision: Director, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

Forms: Annual Report for Recognized Centers, Institutes, and Specialized Testing or Service Laboratories; Recommendation to Establish, Continue or Dissolve a Center, Institute, and Specialized Testing or Service Laboratory