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title: "Center, Institute, and Program Director Appointments and Reappointments"
canonical: "https://facultystaff.clas.uconn.edu/space/CFSKB/28971401222/Center%2C%20Institute%2C%20and%20Program%20Director%20Appointments%E2%80%AFand%20Reappointments"
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**Established:** January 31, 2020  
**Updated:** September 22, 2025 

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The College supports several types of units distinct from departments (herein referred to as units or non-departmentally organized units [NDOUs]). These units differ in structure, mission, and personnel. Some of our centers, institutes, and programs have faculty with formal appointments, some maintain affiliate or courtesy roles, and others operate without dedicated faculty lines. While processes for appointing leaders may vary across these units, they will adhere to core guiding principles of transparency and inclusivity.

## Director Appointments

The director is appointed by the CLAS Dean. Units may recommend candidates, but the final appointment is at the discretion of the Dean.

Unit governance documents, where applicable, should articulate director eligibility, outline desired qualifications, and define the process for appointment and evaluation. Where governance documents do not exist or are not applicable, the established MOU for the NDOU should describe this process. This includes identifying the eligible voting group, establishing the composition of any advisory or selection committee, and describing how faculty and staff may participate in the process. The Dean reserves the right to appoint an external committee member where appropriate.

If no governance documents or formal process exist, the unit will work with the Dean’s Office to establish one that aligns with principles set forth in these guidelines.

## Appointment Process

Prior to launching the formal appointment process, the Dean or Associate Dean overseeing the unit will meet with the faculty and staff (as defined by unit governance) to review expectations and outline the appointment procedure.

All candidates for director, at a minimum, will submit:

- CV.
- Vision for the future of the unit.

Units may request other materials pertinent to their mission, vision, and goals. These materials will be distributed to unit members for review and subsequent feedback.

The evaluative committee will solicit anonymous feedback from eligible members. The Dean’s office will provide a template for this survey, allowing for some modification to address specific criteria described in unit governance documents. Any member of the unit may send an email to or request a confidential meeting with the relevant Associate Dean or the Dean to offer feedback on any candidate.

The committee compiles the feedback and considers it in the formulation of their recommendation. The report should summarize the process, highlight any candidates deemed unacceptable, and present strengths and weaknesses of acceptable candidates. Ranking of acceptable candidates by the committee is not preferred.

Final appointment decisions are made by the Dean, with consideration of the report and the strategic needs of the unit.

## Review and Reappointment Process

If the Dean is open to considering reappointment, the Dean or the Associate Dean overseeing the unit will meet with the director no later than the semester prior to the end of the current term to discuss the possibility of reappointment. If the director wishes to be considered, the Dean will assign an Associate Dean to conduct a formal review.

The Associate Dean will notify unit faculty and staff of the review and reappointment process. The director will submit the following materials:

- A summary of accomplishments during their tenure, including contributions to the unit’s mission.
- A self-assessment of leadership performance.
- A vision for the unit’s future.
- A current CV.

The Associate Dean will distribute the director’s materials to the unit, along with an anonymous survey link to solicit feedback. Individuals may also contact the Associate Dean or Dean directly with confidential comments or concerns.

The Associate Dean compiles feedback for the Dean into a confidential report that includes an executive summary as well as the raw data/responses that were received. The report and the survey data are for the sole use of the Dean and will not be distributed to the unit faculty and staff.

The Dean will review the materials and determine whether to reappoint the director, and if so, the appropriate term length. Reappointment is not guaranteed and will be based on leadership performance, the evolving needs of the unit, and alignment with the College’s priorities. Once a decision is made, the Dean’s Office will inform the unit of the Dean’s recommendation and the official reappointment. If a decision is not made to reappoint the current director, the process for appointing a new director will be initiated.