As part of its mission, Grand Valley has established several nonacademic institutes, centers, and offices to serve specialized needs. The scope of these institutes, centers, and offices range from the Padnos International Center and the Regional Math/Science Center with substantial budgets and staff of its own, to others like the Business and Ethics Center which primarily serves as a contact point between the local community and Grand Valley faculty. Each of these institutes, centers and offices represent not only themselves but also the University in their activities. Because of this representation each institute, center, and office needs to be formally approved by the University.  However, because of the size and scope of institutes, centers, and offices no one procedure is applicable in all cases.

Academic Centers strengthen and enrich research, instruction, and outreach conducted by the faculty and staff. They advance the mission of the University by cooperating with external organizations, including private, nonprofit, or corporate sponsors; educational institutions; and federal or state agencies. In order to avoid duplication, each center should have distinctive purposes, activities, and/or stakeholders, and it should make its facilities available for collaborative activities as appropriate. 
Academic Centers are established, reorganized, or discontinued at the discretion of the Provost, following review by the Centers Evaluation Committee (SG 1.03.B) and consultation with the Chair of the University Academic Senate (UAS). The Chair will report to the Senate when such proposals are made (SG 1.01). Such review and consultation will determine what additional steps are needed before approval is given, which may include further review by the administration and the UAS. 

DEFINITIONS 
An Academic Center is a non-degree-granting education organization, housed within the Division of Academic Affairs, that facilitates research, instruction, or outreach. An Academic Center is defined by its mission and scope, not its title, and may be designated as a Center, Institute, Laboratory, or similar entity. Academic Centers are of two broad types: University Centers and College Centers. A University Center’s oversight and budget originate from central administration, and it involves faculty from multiple colleges. A College Center’s oversight and budget originate within a single college, and it typically involves faculty from multiple units within that college. 

April 24, 2034 - Updated Policy Statement and added Definitions; changed title from "Procedure for the Establishment of Non-Academic Institutes, Centers and Offices" to "Policy on Establishing, Reviewing, and Discontinuing Academic Centers"

January 7, 2019 Retitled  FH 2.04 M to SG 2.06