CENTERS, LABS, INSTITUTES, AND MUSEUMS
University centers, institutes, museums, and laboratories coordinate intra- and inter-institutional research, public service, and educational training activities that supplement and extend the University's mission. In some cases these units are established to provide the infrastructure needed to coordinate and support statewide activities across the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE). General administration and oversight of UNLV centers, institutes, museums, and laboratories falls within the Division of Research and Graduate Studies, with reporting through the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost.
The Council for Centers, Institutes, Museums and Laboratories is an advisory body that reports to the Vice President for Research. The Council, whose members are directors of active centers and labs, is empowered to conduct the initial review and recommendation of new proposals, to request modifications to proposals to ensure adherence to approved criteria, to request and review annual reports, and to make recommendations to the vice president for research on the continuation of existing research units. The Council is also available to provide ongoing assistance both before and after a unit's formal approval.
Recommendations from the Council are forwarded to the Vice President for Research, who, in turn, makes a recommendation to the Executive Vice President and Provost. Requests for new centers, institutes, museums and laboratories are then forwarded for processing through the Chancellor's Office and the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents. After a new unit is approved by the Board of Regents, the day-to-day operational administration and oversight typically is through an academic department, school, or college.
Definitions
Research Center or Institute: An organizational unit focusing primarily on research and scholarly activity where services are typically unrelated to internal administrative operations. A center or institute furthers research among a team of faculty/staff researchers and usually involves formal collaborations among more than one department, school, or college. It also provides a formalized link between the academic community and the professional community and is intended to facilitate efforts to obtain extramural funding in specific areas. Generally speaking, the terms “center” and “institute” are used interchangeably, although an institute will typically also engage in public service outreach activities.
Service Center: An organizational unit focusing primarily on training, client services, performing contracted work with external agencies, and public service activities. A service center provides an outreach link between the academic community and the local community in its area(s) of focus.
Museum / Archive: A unit open to the public and devoted to the acquisition, research, and display of objects or materials of lasting interest or value. It is organized on a permanent basis for educational and research purposes and owns or uses tangible objects, whether animate or inanimate; cares for these objects; and exhibits or otherwise makes them available to the public.
Laboratory: A non-departmental organization that establishes and maintains facilities for research in several departments, sometimes with the help of a full-time research staff. (A laboratory in which substantially all participating faculty members are from the same academic department is a departmental laboratory and is not a designated research unit.)
Policy and Forms
New Units: Individuals or groups wishing to submit a proposal for the establishment of a new unit should meet first with Joe Lombardo, the Chair of the Council on Centers, Institutes, Museums and Labs (Lombardo@nscee.edu), to review the information required, the proposal format and desired content, the approval process, and anticipated timelines.
The policy and forms may be downloaded here: (DOC)(PDF)
The written proposal and forms must be submitted for processing to the Office of the Vice President for Research (nancy.flagg@unlv.edu)
Changes to Existing Units: To request a change to an existing unit, download the NSHE form here and submit to the Office of the Vice President for Research (nancy.flagg@unlv.edu).
