Issued March 1995

At least four different mechanisms have been used in recent years to review interdisciplinary centers. These reviews have made only modest impacts in interdisciplinary center programs because the purpose, goals, and process for the reviews has not been well articulated. There is a need to better define the process for reviews of interdisciplinary centers, to establish criteria for evaluating programs, and to follow up on review team recommendations. This document provides one framework for improving the process and outcomes from interdisciplinary center reviews.

Coordination of Reviews:

Reviews of interdisciplinary centers that are entirely IANR will be the responsibility of the Vice Chancellor for Agriculture and Natural Resources or designee.

Reviews of interdisciplinary centers that do not have an IANR involvement will be the responsibility of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and/or the Vice Chancellor of Agriculture and Natural Resources or the designee(s) as deemed appropriate.

Reviews of interdisciplinary centers that involve both IANR and non-IANR faculty will be the joint responsibility of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and/or the Vice Chancellor of Agriculture and Natural Resources and/or Vice Chancellor for Research or the designee(s) as deemed appropriate.

Reviews of centers associated only with the Nebraska Research Initiative will be the responsibility of the Vice Chancellor for Research or designee.

Reviews of centers that are part of departments (e.g. CALMIT, High Plains Regional Climate Center) will be carried out as a part of the program reviews of the parent unit and will be the responsibility of the administrator coordinating unit reviews.

Review Process:

The responsible administrator(s) will appoint a review team possessing appropriate expertise to evaluate the center's programs. The team may consist of University of Nebraska employees and external experts. Review teams for Nebraska Research Initiative Centers and centers embedded in departments will consist primarily of scientists external to the University of Nebraska.

An "official" charge to the review team will be provided by the administrator(s) responsible for oversight of the center. The charge will contain information about critical issues to be studied and criteria to be used to evaluate the progress of center programs. The purpose and goals for the review will be clearly articulated to the center director and review team.

The review team will review the documentation provided by the center director and will interact with the responsible administrator(s), the center director, selected faculty, affiliated with the center, and center "customers".

An exit briefing will be provided by the review team to the administrator(s) responsible for the oversight of the center, the center directors, and the cognizant vice chancellor(s) or their designee(s).

The review team will provide a formal report of their findings and recommendations to the person(s) appointing the team. Copies will be provided to the administrator(s) responsible for the oversight of the center, the center director, and the cognizant vice chancellor(s).

Follow Up Activities:

The cognizant vice chancellor(s) will submit the results of the reviews to the Academic Planning Committee for review and discussion. Decisions regarding continuation of the center will be transmitted by the cognizant vice chancellor(s) to the center director through the administrator(s) responsible for oversight of the center as deemed appropriate.

The center director will prepare a report outlining the center's response to the recommendations of the review team. The center director will discuss the response with administrator(s) responsible for the oversight of the center and plans will be formulated to implement appropriate recommendations.

The progress on implementation of recommendations will be an item of discussion at each annual planning and budget session that the center director has with the cognizant vice chancellor(s). Barriers to implementation of the recommendations will be identified and attempts made to overcome the barriers.

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