Charter

CHINA INSTITUTE OF THE COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES, CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE

In keeping with the guidelines and procedures outlined in Organization and Administration of Centers (AA 150-60 of August 15, 2017) and the directives of the College of Humanities, the CSUN China Institute shall be named, organized, and administered as follows:

I. Name

The name of this organization shall be Center for California State University Northridge (CSUN), China Institute (CI). 

II. Purpose and Functions

The purpose of the CSUN China Institute hereafter referred to as CI, is to:  to build and enhance the connections between CSUN and academic institutions in China, promote research, scholarship and better understanding of China and the relation between the United States and China, and support the academic collaboration between China and CSUN. In complement to and in collaboration with the overall CSUN support of international students through CSUN’s Student Affairs, the China Institute will provide cross-cultural guidance to students from the Greater China Region studying at CSUN to enrich their experience and help them achieve academic success, and to provide information and support to CSUN students and alumni who are interested in studying in China.  

III. Membership (if applicable)

Membership is open to CSUN faculty and staff as well as community partners interested in the work of the China Institute.  The director of CI will work with the dean of Humanities to manage recruitment of new members and communication with members. The director of CI, working with the dean of Humanities, will develop an approach to maintaining and keeping current contact information for members in compliance with CSUN information security practices.

IV. Organization of the Center 

A. Supervising University Unit

The CSUN China Institute shall operate under the administrative oversight of College of Humanities with the dean of that college having final responsibility (for all China Institute financial accounts in the General Fund, Trust, the University Corporation, and the CSUN Foundation) for the administration and financial management of the China Institute in keeping with CSU and CSUN policies and procedures

B. Organizational Structure

The CSUN China Institute shall be managed by:

1. Director

   The Director shall be appointed by the dean of the College of Humanities in consultation with the CSUN Provost.  The Director shall be directly responsible to the Dean.  Additional administrative and management positions may be established as needed by the Director in consultation with the Advisory Board and with the approval of the Dean. 

2. Advisory Board

   As a University-level institute, the China Institute will have an Advisory Committee with membership that represents the full university.  The role of the Advisory Committee is to provide ongoing communication between the China Institute and the CSUN colleges, divisions, and units linked to its work and its administration.  The Advisory Committee also provides guidance to the director and the dean of Humanities. The Advisory Committee would meet at least once per semester.  Members are appointed annually and serve for renewable one-year terms.  The membership of the China Institute Advisory Committee will be as follows:

1. The director of the China Institute
2. The dean of the College of Humanities (or designee)
3. One faculty member appointed by the deans of each college (including the library)
4. One member appointed by the VPs for Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, University Advancement, and the University Corporation
5. One member appointed by the University’s Senior International Officer

 C. Administration

1. Administration: Director

   Under the oversight of the Dean of the College, the Director shall be responsible for the general operation and administration of the Center. Responsibility for the direct operation of a specific program may be delegated, as may other responsibilities of the Director as necessary.

   The Director shall be responsible for allocating funds, staffing programs, administrative operations, and for arranging for space, equipment, and other resources and facilities required to support and promote the work of the Center. All decisions concerning staffing and expenditures made by the Director must have approval of the College Dean. The Director is also responsible for the preparation of the Center’s annual report, as required by University policy.

   The Center must operate in conformity with all CSU and CSUN policies. The Director must put processes in place to ensure that all employees, faculty, staff, students, and volunteers working as part of the Center/Institute understand and conform with CSU and CSUN policies, including policies related to Protected and/or Level 1 Data. If Center activities include any access, storage, and/or transmission of Level 1 Confidential Information or Protected Data, the Director must obtain a CSUN Information Security Risk Assessment.

2. Administration: Advisory Board

   The Advisory Board shall serve as a scholarly and administrative resource. In particular, China Institute will have two faculty advisors for Chinese Students and Scholars Association at CSUN.

3. Administration: Dean

   The Dean of the College will be responsible for reviewing and approving all Center activities and published material.  This review and approval process shall ensure that activities and published material of the Center contributes to the fulfillment of the CSU and CSUN missions, are consistent with acceptable standards of scholarship, the charter of the Center and goals of the College, and otherwise conform to applicable laws, regulations, and policies of the University.

V. Finances

A. Sources of Funds 

Since the China Institute is a University-level institute with service responsibilities across the University, the China Institute is supported in part by the University. The College of Humanities will provide support for the director’s time and yearly allocation for basic operating expenses. The remaining resources for the China Institute’s operation will come from the following sources:

1. Expenses for projects covered by collaborating colleges/departments/divisions/units in keeping with the yearly plan.
2. Fees charged for events and activities as approved by the dean of Humanities
3. Fundraising (done with the approval of the dean of Humanities and in close collaboration with University Advancement)
4. Grant and contract funds in keeping with CSUN policies and practices.

B. Operations 

In consultation with the College Dean, the Director will be responsible for all financial operations of the Center and for maintaining its financial soundness.

C. Management of Resources

The use of resources shall be subject to review and must be approved by the Dean.

VI. Annual Report

A.  Proposed Activities

Each year by a date established by the Dean of the College, the Director shall submit to the Dean of the College an annual narrative and financial report that conforms to the established format and University policy.  The Director will then meet with the Dean to review all proposed activities, publicity, plans, advisory board changes, and budget projections for proposed Center projects.  The Dean will review additional activities proposed during the academic year, as necessary. The Advisory Board will review the annual report prior to submission, as appropriate.

B. Submission of Annual Report

By September 15 of each year, the Director shall forward to the Provost or their designee a copy of the completed annual report.

C. Contents of Annual Report

The annual report shall include a) financial report of revenues and expenditures in the format provided; and, b) narrative report that includes a summary of activities for the previous year; a list of associated/affiliated faculty; a list of alliances/partnerships with external units and/or agencies; a list of Advisory/Community Board members; a list of grants and contracts applied for and secured; a list of products and outputs, including published work, creative activity, etc.; and, a management plan for the collection, access, storage, and transmission of Level 1 (Confidential) and Level 2 (Internal) data. The summary of activities should provide enough detail of the center’s programs and activities sufficient to make clear the nature of the various projects and the extent of faculty involvement in those activities.

VII. Period of Operation

The Center will be dissolved no later than June 30, 2025, unless this Charter is renewed prior to that date upon application to the Provost. Similarly, all projects and component organizations of the Center shall operate for fixed periods and shall be automatically dissolved at the end of the period unless renewed by the Director, in consultation with the Advisory Board and the Dean.

Submitted by:

Weimin Sun                                                                    Date:  4/5/2020   
Director

Approved:

Jackie Stallcup                                                                 Date:  4/06/2020   
Dean

Presented to Provost’s Council on ________________________________

Approved: 

______________________________________________   Date:  __________
Provost

Approved: 

______________________________________________   Date:  __________
President