A center is a scholarly unit that typically has a single focus or mission and typically is located within a single department, although its faculty may draw at times on the expertise of faculty in other disciplines to support their work. A "one-person operation," in which activity is carried out by an individual faculty member with limited support, usually does not qualify as a center. A center might, however, consist of a group whose activities are strongly shaped by one person.

An institute is typically multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary in nature and involves faculty from different schools or, at least, representatives of different departments and disciplines within a single school. Multidisciplinary enterprises typically involve multiple schools, whereas interdisciplinary enterprises that truly integrate different disciplines may not always do so. Institutes are also more complex than centers, typically. They may be umbrella organizations that contain individually chartered centers with related, but at the same time distinguishable, foci, or they may bring a number of resources and disciplines together to achieve a set of common goals.

The purpose of a center or institute is to enhance the University’s reputation and create synergies among faculty members in a target area. The activities of a center or institute should be focused on accomplishing a specific academic mission in research, education and/or service.