Administration
Policies relating to interdisciplinary research and education include:
Creating and Evaluating Interdisciplinary Centers (University-wide Policy)
The University of Minnesota is focused increasingly on developing and nurturing interdisciplinary research and education. Since 2003, the University has encouraged collaboration through the President’s Interdisciplinary Initiatives, the President’s 21st Century Interdisciplinary Conference Series, and incentives to colleges to develop the highest level of interdisciplinary and cross college initiatives.
During the University’s strategic positioning process, the importance of central oversight interdisciplinary work was highlighted. As a result, the University is sharpening its focus on interdisciplinary initiatives system-wide. Senior Vice President and Provost E. Thomas Sullivan established the Provost’s Interdisciplinary Team in 2006 that now includes the Vice President for Research, the Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School, the Vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Education, and the Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs.
Specific responsibilities of the team include:
- Overseeing planning, development, and implementation of major interdisciplinary initiatives
- Conducting reviews of existing major interdisciplinary initiatives
- Encouraging affiliations to foster new interdisciplinary programs
- Monitoring interdisciplinary activities system-wide
- Developing institutional policies and procedures
- Developing priorities for fundraising
- Monitoring central investments in interdisciplinary activities