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Center and Institute Policy - October 2010

Teachers College Policy on Centers and Institutes


Office of the Provost and Dean of the College


June 1, 2021






I. Introduction

Teachers College (TC) is committed to advancing knowledge in all areas of education, health and psychology. Centers and Institutes, and other entities similar to them though differing in name, promote the creative and innovative work of our faculty and are for the most part located within but not limited by existing academic structures. The success of Centers and Institutes, often characterized by multidisciplinary expertise focused on solving critical problems within the fields and populations we serve, is vitally important to the productivity of Teachers College. In view of that important role and the need for enlightened governance of such a highly valued sector within our academic community, this policy framework provides key operating definitions, criteria and procedures for administering centers and institutes at the College. The majority of this document is specifically relevant to Centers and Institutes, as well as certain projects and other entities with the characteristics of a center, all of which by definition are not permanent features of the College but are set up to respond to immediate needs and opportunities. In addition, while several Institutes that were set up formally under TC’s statutes have a more permanent status, they are still subject to review and oversight by the College as set forth below.



II. Definitions


1. Center – Centers add value to Teachers College as an educational institution by enabling productive combinations of faculty knowledge and skill to come together, often but not always with external funding and additional staff support, for periods of time suitable to their purpose, function, and means of support in order to organize focused efforts to address the pressing needs of our society and the world. Serving in that role to enhance the public service and impact of the College, centers perform various functions, including research, technical assistance, policy analysis and evaluation, community service and outreach, and professional development. Moreover, Centers embrace many fields of study, including but not limited to schools and learning, psychology and behavioral studies, health, nutrition, physical activity, arts and humanities, and media and technology. While a Center must have substantial intellectual and academic purpose, it is not an academic program, an administrative office, or a department. For purposes of this policy and the procedures it outlines, some organized endeavors at Teachers College that are not called centers but share similar characteristics—such as the Reading and Writing Project and the Student Press Initiative—will be included under this policy at the discretion of the Provost.


2. Institute –

a. According to the statutes of Teacher College, Institutes of research and field services may be established, upon the recommendation of the President and with the approval of the Trustees, in any area which is appropriate to the purposes of the College and to which it is desired to devote organized research efforts and special resources. Each Institute shall have a defined area within which it is to work, and projects undertaken shall be confined to this area.

b. Personnel shall be assigned to Institutes upon appointment by the President. Officers of instruction in the Departments may be assigned to temporary duty in the Institutes on a part-time or full-time basis. In like manner, Institute staff members may be assigned to work in Departments. Such assignments shall be made in the same manner as all other staff hires at Teachers College.




2.1 Institutes with Statutory Approval:

Institute for Urban and Minority Education

Institute for Learning Technologies

Institute for International Studies

Institute for Education and the Economy


2.2 Other Uses of Term - There are other uses of the term “Institute” outside the authority in the College’s statutes defining the formal categories of institutes. Examples of these other institutes that exist in name only without statutory authorization are the Hechinger Institute (treated as a center under this policy framework) and the Federal Policy Institute (classified as an alternative-format course and thus part of the instructional program).




III. Criteria and Procedures for Establishing or Continuing a Center or Institute


1. Criteria: This policy framework exists to facilitate Centers and Institutes in locating themselves within the work of the College, identifying their own contributions, distinguishing their contributions from those of others, recognizing synergies and opportunities. In the interests of the College as an educational institution with limited resources, the decision to create a new center or institute must be well justified, and it must have a substantially positive impact on our academic community. Toward that end, the following criteria are set forth in order to determine whether a new center or institute as well as any existing center or institute is warranted, or whether it is instead a project that can be located within an already existing structure.


    1. Does the center or institute link to and advance the work of Teachers College?

    2. Does the center or institute add value to Teachers College? Value can be tangible and intangible, but the sense that we are somehow “more” academically, economically, and professionally because of the center or institute’s presence than we are without it must be considered.

    3. Does the Center or Institute have a coherent agenda through which activities are connected by a timely and relevant theme? Does it serve to reach a particular and worthy goal?

    4. Is the proposed Center or Institute Director a member of the faculty, and is the Director committed and willing to take responsibility for its activities throughout the lifetime of the Center or Institute?

    5. Does the center or institute have funding that will make it self-supporting, and does it have a well organized and credible business plan? This business plan should include a proposed budget and three-year projection of revenue and expenses.

    6. Environmental impact – To what extent will the Center or Institute affect (both positively and negatively) departments and programs in the College?


2. Procedures: The following are the procedures all faculty members must follow if they would like to form a Center or Institute at, or affiliated with, Teachers College. Henceforth, any centers or institutes that do not follow these procedures will not be recognized or allowed to affiliate with Teachers College. Centers or Institutes already formed prior to the establishment of these procedures (Fall 2010) will be subject to the same oversight and evaluation of new Center and Institutes going forward as set forth in this policy.


a. To propose a Center or Institute, faculty will send the Provost of Teachers College a letter of intent, no more than three (3) pages in length, briefly addressing the need for the Center or Institute in relation to the criteria specified in this policy framework.

b. The Provost will confer as necessary with the faculty proposing the Center or Institute and with appropriate department chair(s) and senior administrators.

c. If the Center or Institute appears to be feasible in relation to the criteria, the Provost will request a full proposal and business plan.

d. After receiving the full proposal and business plan, the Provost will confer with the Directors’ Council (see IV.2 below) for comments and advice, as well as with department chairs and senior administrators.

e. The final decision on authorizing a new center or institute will be made by the President of the College with the advice of the Provost. In the case of statutory Institutes, it is necessary for the President to make a recommendation to the Board of Trustee and for the Board to vote positively to endorse the Institute in order for it to exist.


IV. Governance and Ongoing Review


1. Governance: The need for more regular governance of centers and institutes grew out of faculty concerns that the work of Centers and Institutes at Teachers College was often more known outside the institution than within. Moreover, faculty expressed a desire for formalized structures that would allow greater interaction and communication between centers and institutes and their directors, thus promoting opportunities for shared resources and achieving greater equity and economies of scale. In addition, although commonly funded externally, TC Centers and Institutes must adhere to the College’s human resource and other administrative rules and regulations. For these reasons and others, the following policy has codified the relationships between Centers and Institutes and the College and the following reporting relationships have been established.


a. Department-based Centers – For Centers, whose principal faculty members are all members of the same academic department, and whose work remains directly related to the work of that academic department, that center will report to the chair of that department. Academic department chairs meet regularly with the Provost of the College and all questions and concerns of these centers should be channeled through the department chairs.

b. Inter-departmental Centers – For centers, whose principal faculty come from several areas of the College, and as a result the work of which is multidisciplinary in nature, that center will fall under auspices of the Provost of the College.

c. Institutes – All Institutes created under the statutory policy of Teachers College fall under the authority of the Board of Trustees. For reporting purposes and direct oversight, the Director of the Institute will report to the Provost of the College.


2. Centers and Institutes Advisory Council – The Council is an advisory board of Center and Institute directors convened to facilitate communication between centers and institutes as well as advise the Provost on Center and Institute activities, needs and concerns.


a. Membership – The Directors’ Council is made up of 5 faculty members who are current directors of centers or institutes selected by the Provost through the Appointed Committees annual process.

b. Responsibilities – The Provost, or designee will convene the Council at least two times during each academic year to discuss issues within its purview. Each year the Council will also review annual reports from Centers and Institutes, advise the Provost on applications for new centers and institutes, make recommendations to facilitate the strengthening of Center and Institute activities, and recommend further reviews of Centers and Institutes that are having difficulty maintaining their activities within the context of the missions of both the Center/Institute and the College.


3. Annual Reports – If requested, each Center and Institute, regardless of whether it reports to an academic department or directly to the Provost, is required to submit an annual report to the Provost by April 1 each year, detailing the activities and achievements of the center or institute.

a. Information Required:

1. Name of Center or Institute

2. Short Description of Mission/Purpose

3. Director(s) and Participating Faculty

4. Names and Positions of Current Staff / Organizational Chart

5. Physical Location and Contact Information (website if relevant)

6. Brief Description of Achievements within the Past Year and how they are Evaluated for Effectiveness

7. Brief Description of Goals and Objectives for Next Year

8. Current Year Budget (with supporting documentation from Budget Office detailing revenue and expenditures directly related to the center or institute’s activities)

9. Anticipated Sources of Revenue and Budget Projection for the Coming Year

10. A Brief Statement of Current Strengths, Weaknesses, needs and Opportunities of the Center or Institute.


4. Evaluation of Centers and Institutes – Using the Annual Report, each Center and Institute will be carefully evaluated under the terms and criteria of this policy framework. While it is possible that such a review could lead to a decision to dissolve, blend, or reconstitute a center or institute, the primary purpose will be formative. The purpose, therefore, is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the center or institute and to help both the College and the center or institute make informed decisions about the ways in which the center or institute can best advance its mission and contribute to the College.


V. Criteria and Procedures for Terminating a Center or Institute - Although they may be longstanding and continue for indefinite periods of time, all Centers and Institutes, by definition, are not permanent entities of Teachers College. As such, at some point, in order for the College to maintain vitality, their activities will conclude thereby allowing new Centers and Institutes to form and other intellectual activities to thrive.


1. Criteria – The following criteria provide the framework against which the determination will be made as to whether a Center or Institute can continue.


a. Is the goal of the Center or Institute being achieved?

b. Has the originating faculty member stepped down and/or relinquished his or her responsibilities as director with direct day to day oversight of the Center or Institute, and has another faculty member not succeeded him or her in a fully engaged manner?

c. Has the original purpose become obsolete within the current academic and intellectual environment?

d. Has the Center or Institute not maintained financial viability?

e. To the extent that the Center or Institute is using space, funds from the operating budget or other College resources, are there other faculty initiatives and College needs that should be given higher priority in light of scarce resources and newly created opportunities to add value to the College?

f. Can the purpose of the Center or Institute and the personnel involved be better served within a different context within the College, and if so, could its resources (e.g., space, student funding) be reallocated in ways that better serve the needs of the College?


2. Procedures - As stated above, if requested, each Center and Institute submits to the Provost of the College an annual report. If the responses to those surveys in any way meet the criteria for termination, the procedures for termination set forth here will be pursued.


a. The Provost will notify the center or institute director in writing that the center or institute is being considered for termination and a timeframe for which they may respond will be identified.

b. If the Center or Institute director agrees that the entity should be terminated, no further action shall be taken by center or institute, and all resources (space, equipment and so forth) of the center or institute shall be returned to the College. Further, for institutes to be terminated, the Provost will carry the action to the Board of Trustees for consideration and final decision.

c. If the Director of the Center or Institute would like the work of the Center or Institute to continue, the Director will submit a brief statement, no more than five pages, to the Provost and may set up an in-person meeting to discuss this further.

d. The Provost will share the statement with Cabinet, the Advisory Council and the President.

e. Upon consultation with Cabinet and the Directors Council, the Provost will meet with the Center or Institute Director at which time the Director will be notified verbally and in writing the decision.

f. If the Center or Institute is terminated, all resources (space, equipment, budget) will be returned to the College by a date set forth in the letter from the Provost. If the Center or Institute is deemed still viable, it will continue as usual and be evaluated according to the normal established procedures – i.e., annual reports.

g. Irrespective of the outcome of the decision, the faculty member shall not be precluded from submitting an application to form a new center or institute, and if that takes place, the application will be considered faithfully in accordance with the criteria set forth above.

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