How did we get all of these Centers for Things?
June 29, 2023 5:09 AM Subscribe
Where did we get the naming formula Center for X for an organization that deals with activity/thing X?
Wikipedia lists hundreds of organizations called Center for Whatever: non-profits, government agencies or research institutes and many other forms. It sounds kind of clunky to me: we're not sure what our organization is, but it definitely deals with X - let's call it Center for X and be done with it. Do we have somebody to blame for coming up with this idea?
Wikipedia lists hundreds of organizations called Center for Whatever: non-profits, government agencies or research institutes and many other forms. It sounds kind of clunky to me: we're not sure what our organization is, but it definitely deals with X - let's call it Center for X and be done with it. Do we have somebody to blame for coming up with this idea?
I think it's a practical evolution and it came from the organizational structures of large universities.
They already have departments, labs, schools, etc. Most of those things are not broadly organized around work on a specific topic, they have either a much broader focus (all of chemistry), or a much narrower one (this lab that mostly works on a small handful of cancer genes in mouse models).
So we want a thing that can have members from a lot of different places. It should be a unit that can get grants, have space, hire administrators. It's not a professional society, it's not a club. It has to ride on top of an existing org structure, so that people can join it, even if they are housed in different departments etc. Institutes are generally independent and autonomous, centers are usually housed with another org, or group of orgs.
And what you end up with is the nebulous 'center'. You'll find these things exist in many different ways. Some have big fancy buildings with offices for all the top people. Some mostly exist as a paper trail. What else would you call it? 'Enterprise' sounds too commercial. I am aware of a few things that could sort of be centers but are just called 'group's, but they aren't usually looking for any recognition outside of their university.
I know all centers aren't spawned of universities, but I think the original ones were, and what they share with the other sorts is the need to ride on top of other names and structures, so there is a real need for a word that isn't already taken and doesn't imply much else about the group. (No references, it's early, I may come back with some later)
posted by SaltySalticid at 5:35 AM on June 29, 2023 [11 favorites]
They already have departments, labs, schools, etc. Most of those things are not broadly organized around work on a specific topic, they have either a much broader focus (all of chemistry), or a much narrower one (this lab that mostly works on a small handful of cancer genes in mouse models).
So we want a thing that can have members from a lot of different places. It should be a unit that can get grants, have space, hire administrators. It's not a professional society, it's not a club. It has to ride on top of an existing org structure, so that people can join it, even if they are housed in different departments etc. Institutes are generally independent and autonomous, centers are usually housed with another org, or group of orgs.
And what you end up with is the nebulous 'center'. You'll find these things exist in many different ways. Some have big fancy buildings with offices for all the top people. Some mostly exist as a paper trail. What else would you call it? 'Enterprise' sounds too commercial. I am aware of a few things that could sort of be centers but are just called 'group's, but they aren't usually looking for any recognition outside of their university.
I know all centers aren't spawned of universities, but I think the original ones were, and what they share with the other sorts is the need to ride on top of other names and structures, so there is a real need for a word that isn't already taken and doesn't imply much else about the group. (No references, it's early, I may come back with some later)
posted by SaltySalticid at 5:35 AM on June 29, 2023 [11 favorites]
It's a perfectly cromulent word.
OED:
OED:
c. Originally U.S. A building, group of buildings, or organization devoted to a particular activity, concern, etc.posted by zamboni at 5:52 AM on June 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
Recorded earliest in shopping centre n. Frequently with modifying word; for more established compounds, as arts centre, health centre, sports centre, etc., see the first element.
1884 Sunday Sentinel (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) 28 Dec. 10/1 A great shopping center, such as Macy's.
1920 Washington Post 14 Nov. ii. 19/4 The 117,000 persons who visited the center [i.e. the Community Service building] during the past year.
1944 Times 1 Aug. 5/6 The Peckham Health Centre..is a recreational and cultural community centre which seeks to promote the good health of its members... If more such centres are created after the war it is to be expected that [etc.].
1974 Howard Jrnl. 14 37 One aspect of a larger collective project being undertaken by members of the Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies on ‘mugging’.
2010 J. Wendt Nice Work 214 Half a million students have visited the centre to hear the survivors' stories.
we're not sure what our organization is, but it definitely deals with X
I think you're underestimating how many centers started this way.
posted by kevinbelt at 6:50 AM on June 29, 2023 [2 favorites]
I think you're underestimating how many centers started this way.
posted by kevinbelt at 6:50 AM on June 29, 2023 [2 favorites]
I think you're underestimating how many centers started this way.
Agreed -- calling your new organization the Center for XYZ gives you a generic but respectable name, and doesn't box you in, in terms of allowing the organization to eventually focus on advocacy, or research, or hosting lectures, or buying and managing assets, or something else. As long as you maintain that connection to XYZ, your "Center" can adapt to whatever the current focus is.
posted by Dip Flash at 7:00 AM on June 29, 2023 [2 favorites]
Agreed -- calling your new organization the Center for XYZ gives you a generic but respectable name, and doesn't box you in, in terms of allowing the organization to eventually focus on advocacy, or research, or hosting lectures, or buying and managing assets, or something else. As long as you maintain that connection to XYZ, your "Center" can adapt to whatever the current focus is.
posted by Dip Flash at 7:00 AM on June 29, 2023 [2 favorites]
In my academic experience 'Institutes' are more independent, externally focused and better funded than 'Centers'. An 'Institute' generally funds/supports original research, often has degree programs, especially at the grad level, their own funding and provide their own jobs. Many academic schools of thought are perpetuated/sustained through Institutes. Institutes are generally higher prestige than centers, and are functionally 'think tanks'.
'Centers' are affiliated with existing departments, and provide a venue for interdisciplinary collaboration, generally focused on a specific subject or issue. They may create research, but the focus is often more applied and less theoretical. Subject focused can often be called "Area Studies Centers" and this will be things like "Center for Latin American Studies" which will house academics from History, Economics, Political Science and Spanish Language departments. An issue center will be something like a "Center for Early Childhood Education" which is housed entirely in the College of Ed but collaborates with government agencies, other colleges of Ed and school districts to secure government funding to apply domain knowledge to the issue. Many of their staff won't be college professors, or involved in regular college operations.
Some examples might help: Becker Friedman Institute for Economics at the University of Chicago is the heart and soul of western modern economics. Previous Nobel and Clark Medal winners were primarily housed in the School of Economics, but that implied teaching. So the current crew seek more of these trophies are mostly found at the Institute where they push Becker & Friedman's work forward. In contrast the Leo Strauss Center is essentially a library looking backward at his collected works and any 'research' is unlikely to win further prestigious awards.
Issue Centers have proliferated as American governments both need experts but want to avoid the appearance of expanding government bureaucracy. It is one of the driving forces behind the massive increase in 'administration' at universities. Of course this is generally not as effective or as efficient as directly administering the policy implementation. This does have the benefit of providing direct funding to higher education, which is needed as the same governments cut funding.
posted by zenon at 8:29 AM on June 29, 2023 [2 favorites]
'Centers' are affiliated with existing departments, and provide a venue for interdisciplinary collaboration, generally focused on a specific subject or issue. They may create research, but the focus is often more applied and less theoretical. Subject focused can often be called "Area Studies Centers" and this will be things like "Center for Latin American Studies" which will house academics from History, Economics, Political Science and Spanish Language departments. An issue center will be something like a "Center for Early Childhood Education" which is housed entirely in the College of Ed but collaborates with government agencies, other colleges of Ed and school districts to secure government funding to apply domain knowledge to the issue. Many of their staff won't be college professors, or involved in regular college operations.
Some examples might help: Becker Friedman Institute for Economics at the University of Chicago is the heart and soul of western modern economics. Previous Nobel and Clark Medal winners were primarily housed in the School of Economics, but that implied teaching. So the current crew seek more of these trophies are mostly found at the Institute where they push Becker & Friedman's work forward. In contrast the Leo Strauss Center is essentially a library looking backward at his collected works and any 'research' is unlikely to win further prestigious awards.
Issue Centers have proliferated as American governments both need experts but want to avoid the appearance of expanding government bureaucracy. It is one of the driving forces behind the massive increase in 'administration' at universities. Of course this is generally not as effective or as efficient as directly administering the policy implementation. This does have the benefit of providing direct funding to higher education, which is needed as the same governments cut funding.
posted by zenon at 8:29 AM on June 29, 2023 [2 favorites]
Not sure what the legal situation is where you live but where i live (Austria), anyone can use the Term Zentrum (centre), perhaps that is the case in your country too?
Funny enough, in Austria Institut (Institute) is also not legally protected. So anyone can call themselves (hi Paul Simon) or their organisation or whatever an Institut. Which is why we have an incredible range and number of Institute.
posted by 15L06 at 8:29 AM on June 29, 2023
Funny enough, in Austria Institut (Institute) is also not legally protected. So anyone can call themselves (hi Paul Simon) or their organisation or whatever an Institut. Which is why we have an incredible range and number of Institute.
posted by 15L06 at 8:29 AM on June 29, 2023
Almost forgot a key difference: the staff at these institutions are generally not bound by the same contracts as the staff at centers. Center staff are often just regular university employees, while institutes are considered separate and are able to offer far better terms on both pay and responsibilities.
posted by zenon at 8:34 AM on June 29, 2023
posted by zenon at 8:34 AM on June 29, 2023
There's a Center for Shopping in Sanford, Maine.
I think marketing people are extremely susceptible to fads.
posted by theora55 at 9:29 AM on June 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
I think marketing people are extremely susceptible to fads.
posted by theora55 at 9:29 AM on June 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
I work at a university (though not in donor relations, grant administration, etc). To some extent, it seems like if a donor or group of donors want to give a lot of money to fund research in a given area, establishing a center for the study of [topic] is a way to do it. Some donors think that’s preferable to other ways to donate, like creating an endowed professorship or chair. It implies a bigger commitment on behalf of the university to a field of study and some think that it becomes an easier mechanism to solicit further donations - if, five years from now, a donor wants to support research on XYZ, they might be more inclined to donate to an established center for the study of XYZ. And it’s a way for a university to demonstrate their expertise in that area.
posted by kat518 at 9:59 AM on June 29, 2023
posted by kat518 at 9:59 AM on June 29, 2023
Speaking as someone who created and directed a center at a university, I agree with what’s been said above about the motivations and general thinking from the academic perspective.
posted by StrawberryPie at 2:05 PM on June 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by StrawberryPie at 2:05 PM on June 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
As a guess, Center seems like a less pretentious-sounding alternative to Institute?
posted by eviemath at 5:16 AM on June 29, 2023 [1 favorite]