This is notification that on November 30, 2005, the Board of Governors approved a new policy on centers and institutes at Wayne State University.

To address the identified problems in the current review structure, one of the most notable differences between the previous policy and the new policy is the distinction between university and college centers. University centers are defined in the revised policy as a “center that is engaged in academic activities that involve more than one college (school) and that is subject to the direct administrative supervision of the President or designee.” A college center is defined as a “center that is engaged in academic activities that primarily involve one college (school) and that is under the direct administrative supervision of the dean of that college (school).”

Under the new policy, college centers would be reviewed by procedures defined by the Deans to whom they report. One of two review bodies, one overseen by the Vice President for Research (for large, multidisciplinary centers engaged primarily in research activities) and one overseen by the Provost (for all other university centers), would review University centers. These changes should allow for more timely and effective reviews.

The Office of the Vice President for Research will be contacting center directors soon to handle next steps and the new policy will be posted on the center and institute web page (http://www.research.wayne.edu/ci/) in the near future.