School-based centers are the heart of interdisciplinary research and education at Duke University. The more than sixty interdisciplinary centers within the nine schools at Duke facilitate new and diverse activities that would not otherwise occur. To ensure that centers are truly interdisciplinary and in their efforts and scope, and develop around rich, novel, intellectual and programmatic frameworks, as well as sustainable funding models, the following process has been developed to propose and approve school-based centers.
Once faculty have thoroughly discussed creating a new interdisciplinary center among themselves and with all appropriate deans, the next step is to submit a proposal to formally establish the center. The primary elements of the proposal are the prospectus and bylaws (details and examples are in the pages on the left). The proposal should be submitted to the relevant dean. Centers are normally approved for a five-year period.
Contact the Office of the Vice Provost for Interdisciplinary Studies for more information.