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Center Renewal/Continuation Guidelines

As provided in the original documents establishing the program of Centers at Wake Forest, an evaluation occurs during a Center’s fifth year to determine whether further financial support is warranted. Guidelines for renewal applications are below and apply to both classes of center. Where the required content differs by center type, the guidance for each is noted.

General Guidelines and Timeline

At the beginning of a Center’s fifth year of operations (August–September), the Center may internally decide whether to apply for institutional renewal. If it chooses to apply, a letter of intent should be submitted to the Vice Provost for Research, Scholarly Inquiry and Creative Activity (VPRSICA).

The maximum request for institutional renewal is one-half the amount of the initial award, distributed annually as the Center sees fit for up to five years, with a maximum of $200,000 per fiscal year. Each Center is allowed a single renewal application for continued Provost’s Office funding.

Term Limit on Provost’s Office Funding

Provost’s Office support for a Center is limited to the initial five-year term and a single renewal of up to five additional years. Centers will not be renewed for Provost’s Office funding beyond this ten-year period, except in exceptional circumstances as determined by the Provost. A Center may, of course, continue to operate and provide programming beyond the term of Provost’s Office funding through other sources of support.

Renewal Application

If approved by the VPRSICA as the Provost’s designate, the Center director should submit a renewal application containing the following elements by October 15 of the initial 5th year of funding.

A. Progress Report

Summarize Center activities over the previous four-plus years. The use of illustrations (graphs, charts) to represent data and trends is strongly encouraged. Give particular attention to the items below that apply to the Center’s class; not all items apply to all Centers.

For Interdisciplinary Research & Scholarship Centers

For Engagement & Impact Centers

B. Planning Document

Describe the Center’s future goals along with detailed and plausible plans to achieve them, based on experience to date. The planning document should include the following.

  1. Abstract. Typically 250–500 words, in non-technical language, reviewing the major points of the future objectives, plans, evaluation, and dissemination, and describing the end products of the proposed work.
  2. Summary / Problem Statement. Speak to the significance, relevance, timeliness, and benefits of the proposed goals. Provide a one-page description of the merit of the proposed work — intellectual merit for Research & Scholarship Centers, or impact and reach for Engagement & Impact Centers — as well as the broader benefits if the plans succeed, and how faculty, students, and the wider community will benefit.
  3. Objectives, Aims, Measurables, and Expected Outcomes. Typically a one-page numbered list of the topics or questions to be addressed (Research) or the measurable outcomes to be achieved (Impact), framed in operational language with specific near- and longer-term endpoints.

Sections 4–6 are limited to a combined total of 12 pages and should describe plans to: further develop innovative scholarship (Research) or programs and impact (Impact); obtain external funding and build sustainability; develop accomplished faculty, students, and participants; and increase institutional reputation.

  1. Introduction / Background. Describe the revised Center mission or focus, as appropriate.
  2. Methods, Activities, and Action Plans. Describe how the goals, projects, or themes will be addressed, the qualifications of those who will carry them out, and any revised operational guidelines for the Center. Plans for faculty and student development may be included.
  3. Evaluation, Future Funding, and Dissemination. Identify the metrics or evaluative techniques that will determine whether and to what extent the Center has accomplished its purpose, describe how results will be reported and used, and present plans for external funding and financial sustainability.
  4. Curriculum Vitae. A two-page CV for each primary (core) Center faculty member or leader, to a maximum of eight.
  5. Budget. A detailed budget year by year with cumulative totals, not exceeding one-half the original award and spread over a one-to-five-year period as the Center wishes. The budget should cover faculty, staff, students, supplies, equipment, and space as needed, and must comply with academic-year salary and additional-compensation policies posted on the ORSP website. Describe plans for resources beyond Provost-provided funding (service fees, University budget, endowment, indirect costs).
  6. Letters of Support / Collaboration / Partnership. Where renewal plans overlap with departments or schools, or rely on community or external partners, include a letter from each collaborator detailing the collaboration and support.
  7. Submission. Please submit to the Vice Provost for Research, Scholarly Inquiry and Creative Activity.

Review Process

  1. Renewal proposals are due as specified above. 
  2. The VPRSICA will schedule a meeting of the RAC to review the proposal. The final application must be submitted to the RAC at least two weeks prior to that meeting.
  3. The Center director will be invited to the RAC review meeting for a 45-minute presentation, followed by closed-door discussion.
  4. The RAC chair will provide a report addressing the review criteria, along with an overall recommendation, to the VPRSICA within two weeks. The committee may recommend renewal (up to one-half of the original award, per the Center’s request), a smaller amount or shorter time frame, or discontinuation. 
  5. The VPRSICA will present the application and the RAC review to the Provost for consideration.
  6. The Provost may consult with the provost’s office lead for budget and finance, the Dean’s Council and possibly request external review prior to making the final funding decision.