Office of University Interdisciplinary Programs

North Carolina State University is committed to world-leading excellence in interdisciplinary teaching, training, research, extension and innovation, all carried out to address the challenges of the state and the world. To align with NC State’s vision and mission, OUIP promotes and fosters the following core values:

1. Integration of Knowledge and Expertise: OUIP defines interdisciplinarity as the integration of knowledge, expertise and methodologies from multiple disciplines to address complex societal problems. This approach reflects the university’s commitment to fostering collaboration between diverse academic fields across all of our colleges and schools. 
2. Problem-Oriented Research and Innovation: OUIP adopts a strategic approach to research and innovation focused on solving real-world problems. By bringing together experts from different disciplines, OUIP aims to develop comprehensive solutions to global challenges in areas such as sustainability, health, energy and education.
3. Broad Community-Centered Collaboration: NC State was founded to help solve problems facing the people of North Carolina. OUIP continues this legacy and is committed to listening to and engaging the public and stakeholders of North Carolina and beyond to produce research and train students in response to societal needs and opportunities. 
4. Student-Centered Learning and High-Impact Experiences: OUIP’s definition of interdisciplinarity also emphasizes the importance of providing students with high-impact interdisciplinary learning opportunities and experiences. Through interdisciplinary programs, research projects, and experiential learning initiatives, NC State aims to prepare students to become versatile problem-solvers and leaders in their respective fields.
5. Impact and Innovation: Finally, OUIP defines interdisciplinarity as a catalyst for driving innovation and making a positive impact on society. By encouraging collaboration across disciplines, we seek to generate new knowledge, technologies and solutions that address pressing global challenges and contribute to the advancement of communities locally and globally.

Overall, OUIP’s approach to interdisciplinarity aligns with NC State’s vision of being a preeminent research university that excels in interdisciplinary teaching, collaboration, extension, innovation and addressing complex societal challenges in a rapidly changing world. OUIP models these values through efforts to ease and reward interdisciplinarity across campus (in collaboration with other units in the Provost’s Office) and through the work of its component units.

Interdisciplinary efforts are led from every college on campus as well as from other units, such as the Office of Research and Innovation. A primary goal of OUIP is to reduce the barriers to interdisciplinarity, regardless of where that interdisciplinarity is housed. In addition, a number of interdisciplinary programs are led out of the OUIP. These programs represent the signature capabilities of the institution, abilities that transcend the missions of the institution and all colleges. For example, NC State leads in data science and artificial intelligence. It does so while leveraging the strength in the departments of statistics and mathematics (College of Sciences),  computer science (College of Engineering), and cluster hires in data-driven science, bioinformatics, and the digital transformation of education. But it also connects and helps to synergize efforts in applied data science and AI in every single one of the university’s colleges. The Data Science and AI Academy recognizes and serves these strengths. Other signature capabilities supported by OUIP programs include global one health, molecular innovation, innovation and entrepreneurship, genetics and genomics, climate and sustainability, and leadership. 

Academies at NC State are strategically focused, university-level interdisciplinary units with the potential for and goal of working with all 10 colleges. Academies provide a common ground for faculty, staff, and students of colleges, centers, institutes, and other initiatives to connect and contribute to NC State’s key areas of interdisciplinary strength, providing leadership for North Carolina, the nation, and the world. They take a common challenge or skill and connect it across the entire university, focusing on either central societal challenges (Global One Health Academy and Climate and Sustainability Academy), techniques, or, often, both (e.g., both Data Science and AI Academy and Genetics and Genomics Academy consider both technologies and the challenges that they pose). Academies are responsible for the entire university mission (teaching, graduate training, research, and engagement) in their topic areas. During the inception of the concept of an academy, each of the academies explored mechanics for enacting a unique vision. As they mature, we are moving toward more standardized approaches and best practices. Each academy is overseen by an executive director reporting to the Senior Vice Provost for University Interdisciplinary Programs.

In 2011, NC State launched the Chancellor’s Faculty Excellence Program (CFEP)), an initiative to create interdisciplinary faculty clusters focused on addressing the world’s most pressing challenges. The initiative began as an outgrowth of the university’s strategic plan and aimed at forming interdisciplinary clusters of distinguished scholars and researchers who are leaders in their fields. Currently, the program houses 21 strategic faculty clusters, and examples include Data-Driven Science, Global Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene, Environmental Health Science, Bioinformatics, Forensic Sciences, and Visual Narrative. 

CFEP’s goals include:

• Enhance the research capacity of NC State.
• Strengthen NC State’s ability to conduct high-impact research that addresses significant global challenges.
• Promote interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Encourage cross-disciplinary partnerships that leverage the diverse expertise of faculty across different fields.
• Increase the university’s national and international reputation by attracting and retaining world-class faculty and producing groundbreaking research.
• Secure external funding from federal agencies, industry partners, and other sources to support innovative research projects.
• Provide students with opportunities to engage in cutting-edge research and learn from leading experts in various fields.