CITeR | Center Organization

Center Organization

Organization ? Why the NSF IUCRC Model?

CITeR is organized based on the NSF Industry University Cooperative Research Center model. A highly successful recipe for creation of national academic centers has been developed over the past 25 years by the National Science Foundation IUCRC Program Currently, over 30 highly successful IUCRCs effectively address the research needs of a broad spectrum of specific industry and government sectors. The key to their success is the tight coupling of all their activities to the needs of their affiliates ? a fundamental requirement of all NSF IUCRCs, and a shared goal of the faculty participating in CITeR.

As an IUCRC, CITeR?s organization guarantees this coupling. Each of CITeR?s fee paying affiliates have voting membership on its Affiliate Advisory Board. This group meets twice yearly at Center meetings in the spring and fall to review and evolve the research portfolio of the Center funded by the collective affiliate dollar pool and provide input on policy and other Center matters. Affiliates serve as research project monitors and derive a spectrum of direct research benefits from their affiliation with the Center, as well as the ability to develop professional relationships with and effectively recruit students to their organizations.

History
Initial discussions and planning for CITeR began in the late 1990s. A planning grant was received from the NSF in 2000 and a Planning Conference was held in April 2001 that established the initial research, policies, and membership with which application for IUCRC status was made. CITeR was funded for its first 5 years of operation as an I/UCRC in December of 2001. The Center was renewed after external peer review for a second 5 years of operation in December 2006. The University of Arizona came on as a formal IUCRC Site of CITeR in spring of 2007 after their successful completion of the NSF proposal and peer review process.
Make sure your organization plays a role in CITeR?s future by participating as an Affiliate.