Administration

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 with four leaders representing research, education, and senior academic administration.  The Vice President for Research, the Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Education, and the Vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Education are responsible for guiding and supporting interdisciplinary research and education within their portfolios, and for working closely together with the Assistant Vice Provost for Interdisciplinarity who represents the senior administration.  The newest member of the team, beginning January 2008, is the Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs.  Most recently she has lead a series of changes in the procedures for promotion and tenure, including specific procedures for faculty involved in interdisciplinary research and education. The Provost’s Interdisciplinary Team is responsible for creating a system-wide strategy for developing, nurturing, and assessing interdisciplinary programs. The Vice President for Research has developed an office for collaborative research services within his unit, and the Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School has established an office of interdisciplinary initiatives.  Similarly, the Vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Education will oversee the development of integrated research and education opportunities for undergraduates.  These offices work collaboratively with each other and with the interdisciplinary working group.

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