Accreditation
Institutes & Centers
Institutes and Centers are established to coordinate, support, and extend a University's research, service, and training activities. Details regarding the establishment, operation, and termination of Institutes and Centers at USF can be found in the Institute and Center Guidelines.
The establishment, operation, and termination of Institutes and Centers are governed by, Florida Board of Governors (BOG) Regulation 10.015 and USF Policy 10-063.
Resources for Establishing and Managing Institutes & Centers
- Institute and Center Guidelines
- USF Institutes and Centers Establishment Form
- Seven-Year Review Form
- Termination Form
- USF Policy 10-063
- BOG Regulation 10-015
ESTABLISHING NEW INSTITUTES OR CENTERS
In order to establish a new University Institute or Center, a proposer completes the *USF Institutes and Centers Establishment Form. The form includes questions on the mission and goals, organizational structure, and projected budget off the Institute or Center. Completed forms are submitted to the Institutional Effectiveness (IE) unit in the Office of Decision Support (ODS), at assessment@usf.edu.
When completing the Establishment Form, there should be alignment between the project budget with the full-time equivalency (FTE) that faculty and staff will dedicate to the Institute or Center, and attention to specific plans to seek funding.
Institutes and Centers are, by design, entrepreneurial. Although USF or one of its units may commit internal resources to help initiate and support these units, external funding will be expected to provide the largest part of the support for such a unit’s operation and activities. Thus, any proposal to initiate a new institute or center must make a compelling case for its establishment and its ability to attract external funding in a manner that the host unit could not otherwise achieve.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR CENTERS AND INSTITUTES
Annual Fiscal Report
All University Institutes and Centers complete an annual report. This annual report includes providing detailed expenditures to the BOG. This process is facilitated by the USF Office of Budget and Financial Analysis (BFA).
Annual Assessment Report (if applicable)
Institutes or Centers that directly support student learning, student success, and/or student achievement are also required by USF's institutional accreditor to report annually on assessment activities. The annual plans and reports must be submitted in an online system, Xitracs. Information on assessment can be found here.
Formal Seven-Year Report
A formal review of all University Institutes and Centers is required by the Florida Board of Governors (BOG) at least every seven years. At USF, the process of completing these reports is facilitated by IE. The director of each Institute and Center must complete the Seven-Year Review Form and submit to IE for review and signatures. IE collects the reports, works to collect all approvals, and submits summaries of all formal seven-year reports to the USF Board of Trustees for approval. These are then submitted to the BOG. At a minimum, all seven-year reports must include the following elements:
- A determination of the Institute or Center's progress against defined goals and objectives within the context of the institute or center's mission, university mission, and the current Board of Governor's Strategic Plan;
- An assessment of the return on investment of State dollars, if applicable;
- The need for continuation of the Institute or Center;
- Possible changes in mission or organizational structure;
- Budget reduction or expansion;
- Date of director's most recent annual evaluation;
- Recommendations for a status change (active, inactive, or terminated) and;
- The date of the last institute or center evaluation/review;
- The date of the next seven year review for each center is included in the I&C inventory.
CHANGING THE NAME OF AN INSTITUTE OR CENTER
In accordance with University of South Florida Policy #10-508, name changes to an established Institute or Center will require submission of the Institute/Center Name Change Request Form.
Upon completing the Name Change Request Form, the Form is submitted to the ODS Institutional Effectiveness unit at assessment@usf.edu. Upon approval, Institutional Effectiveness will route the Form for signatures and communicate the results with other USF offices. Institutional Effectiveness will then submit a Memo to the Board of Governors to change the Institute or Center’s name on the official BOG inventory and update the USF Institute and Center inventory accordingly.
TERMINATING AN INSTITUTE OR CENTER
When a University Institute or Center is disbanded, the college or other unit within which the Institute or Center is located must notify IE and complete the USF Institute and Center Termination Form. IE will provide notification of the termination to the BOG Office of Academic and Student Affairs, which maintains the State of Florida’s central database of approved Institutes and Centers. IE will also update the USF inventory of Institutes and Centers. If a disbanded Institute or Center has been funded by the Legislature, the University must provide documentation to ensure that Legislative intent has been achieved and that the Institute or Center is no longer required.
Contact us
Inquiries regarding the establishment, reporting, changing, and/or termination of Institutes or Centers should be directed to Institutional Effectiveness, at assessment@usf.edu.