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): ______________________________________________