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CHAPTER 5 - SPECIAL PROGRAMS, PUBLICATIONS, AND PROJECTS
Sec. 5.05. Organized Research Units
Organized research units (centers and institutes) are created to enhance the research activities of The University of Texas at Austin. As is the case with all University research, support of graduate education is an important function of research centers. A center may be identified primarily with one discipline; it may be clearly multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary; or it may support research in a wide variety of areas. Some centers are supported largely from appropriated funds; others receive no direct support from appropriated funds, depending entirely on sponsorship by outside agencies and foundations. Whatever the source of support, there should be a clear need for some number of faculty members and researchers to work together in a single administrative unit to carry out a more effective research program.
Approval of a new organized research unit is made by the President of UT Austin, on recommendation of the Executive Vice President and Provost. The director and any associate directors are appointed by the Executive Vice President and Provost. Organized research units report to the Executive Vice President and Provost, to the Vice President for Research or to the Dean of the College through the Executive Vice President and Provost. If the disciplines are contained within a single college or school, the research units ordinarily report through the dean of that college or school, as designated by the President.
All organized research units must submit a report annually to the Vice President for Research giving an account of research or other activities. Each organized research unit is reviewed every six (6) years to ensure consistency with the University’s goals and priorities and the University’s need to sustain a capacity to innovate. An organized research unit may be terminated by the President at any time.
Faculty seeking to establish a new organized research unit should submit a request to the Executive Vice President and Provost who, after reviewing the request, will forward it to the President with a recommendation. The request should carry the endorsement of department chairmen and deans involved. The following information should be included:
(1) The purpose and need for a research unit; (2) the proposed administrative organization; (3) the financial support required and the source of funds; (4) importance of the research unit to graduate education; and (5) any external service functions of the research unit.