Formation of a New Unit of Research or Public Service

Approval Status

When seeking to form a new unit of research or public service, two options are available: Phase 1 (Temporary Status) and Phase 2 (Permanent Status). Phase 1 approval is slightly abbreviated and is designed to allow the unit time to formalize the intended mission, aspects of unit organization, faculty engagement and long-term funding strategies. Most units will pursue Phase 1 initially. However, if the proposed unit has secured stable funding and the long-term vision of the unit has been determined, the unit may pursue Phase 2 approval.

Phase 1 (Temporary) status is typically granted for a 3-to-5 year period. The proposal is reviewed and approved by the appropriate College Dean or Vice-Chancellor, the Provost, the Urbana Senate, and the Illinois Board of Higher Education as a Reasonable and Moderate Extension (RME).

Phase 2 (Permanent) status. Permanent units are approved through the traditional governance process. The proposal is reviewed and approved by the appropriate College Dean or Vice-Chancellor, the Provost, the Urbana Senate, the Board of Trustees and the Illinois Board of Higher Education for full board review.

Naming Convention Considerations

As a general rule the following terms are used in the following ways:

Centers are typically units of research or public service situated within a college, school or department.

Institutes are typically units of research or public service are situated at the campus-level or span across colleges or schools and involve faculty and staff from a range of academic disciplines. Institutes may house smaller or temporarily approved centers.

Please note, while center and institute are common names for units of this nature, other names may be more appropriate (e.g., laboratory or clinic). If the primary mission of the proposed unit is research or public service in nature, the approval process outlined above should be followed.

A unit wishing to deviate from this general rule must provide a compelling rationale.

Academic Considerations

The mission of many units of research or public service also may include an academic component which suggests offering courses or more formalized programs of study. These types of units may engage in providing coursework and may offer undergraduate or graduate minors. However, these units may not offer majors or degree programs without establishing a partnership with an academic unit. Proposing courses or minors will require the unit to establish a faculty committee to conduct a review of the proposals and, if the unit is situated in a college or school, the college or school curriculum committee will conduct a second-level review. For units outside of a college or school, the Senate Committee on Educational Policy will be engaged to conduct the second-level review.

Proposals

Proposals must follow the Senate Committee on Educational Policy format. Once required signatures are obtained, proposals are submitted to the Office of the Provost for review and formal submission to the Senate Committee on Educational Policy.

As per section 8, C. 4 of the Senate Committee on Educational Policy Bylaws, the Committee shall ‘hold a public hearing to provide active discussion in advance of any proposal to change the status of an academic unit, including the termination, separation, transfer, merger, change in status, or renaming of such unit(s)’.

To propose:

Updated 5/12/2023