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Dear Faculty,

Research centers historically have led communications about center activities beginning with their establishment, resulting in different approaches to timing, communication channels and audiences. To ensure consistent visibility for the establishment of all new centers going forward, the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation will formally announce new research centers when they are authorized. In accordance with this new process, we are announcing a newly established center below, and anticipate announcing another proposed center currently under evaluation in the coming weeks.

We are today announcing that the ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ has established the Center for National Security Initiatives to increase campus engagement on basic and applied research underway in national security focus areas, and to broaden capability into new areas.

The Center for National Security Initiatives (CNSI), housed within the Research & Innovation Office, is an interdisciplinary center that primarily focuses on expanding national security research in disciplines within the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS), the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) and CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ research institutes. CNSI will be led by Director Iain Boyd, professor in Aerospace Engineering Sciences, and Executive Director James Olson.

National security is widely understood to refer to a variety of dimensions that nations must address to provide security, including economic, energy, food and environmental security, as well as resilience to the effects of national disasters. These are areas in which CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ already conducts important research and seeks opportunities to expand its impact on humanity. By further developing capacity for basic and applied research through CNSI, CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ will have greater impact on research and workforce development as well as increased funding opportunities.

CNSI will bridge the gap between high-impact university research and corresponding needs of federal and industry partners by evolving and developing policies and procedures to meet applied, restricted and classified research requirements.

Existing focus areas include: Position, Navigation & Timing; Earth and Space Data Analytics; Hypersonics; Radio Frequency Engineering; Space Domain Awareness; Remote Sensing; Quantum Technologies; Space Weather; Small Satellites; Materials Science and more.

The Center will enhance the university’s national and global reputation as a Tier 1 research university and will directly add value to Colorado’s economy by contributing to research within the aerospace and defense industry, as well as educating and training a cleared workforce.

CNSI developed out of an initiative recommended by CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ’s National Security Working Group and initially funded with start-up support from campus leadership.

Establishment of centers at CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ

CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ centers are single or multidisciplinary units organized to conduct research, scholarship and creative work, education and/or leadership and service activities.

Centers are typically organized around the investigation of a specific theme, issue, project or policy topic, but often encompass interdisciplinary work spanning a number of academic fields. Centers generally have collaborative intent, and an annual operating budget that is, in part, fiscally independent of academic units.

The establishment and reauthorization of centers is administered by the Research & Innovation Office (RIO) on behalf of the university. The dean or director (or their designee) of the parent unit–the college, school, institute, etc. responsible for oversight of a center–recommends the establishment of the proposed center to the Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation. RIO ensures that all proposals for new centers are reviewed and approved by University Counsel and the Office of Budget & Fiscal Planning prior to authorization. Those that do not satisfy the review process will not be approved.

Russ
Russell Moore
Provost

Terri
Terri Fiez
Provost Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation