Definitions WHAT IS A SERVICE CENTER? An operating unit within the University that provides: goods or services to customers, principally within university for a fee. 一个 WHAT IS A RECHARGE CENTER? Recharge centers at universities, (also known as specialized service centers), operate as in-house enterprises that provide goods or services to individuals or other operating units. These centers function as a non-profit businesses, funding operations through fees from users. WHAT IS A CORE FACILITY? Research core facilities operate as service centers, but are specifically research-oriented. They may include microscopy facilities, high-speed computing facilities, magnetic resonance facilities, and other centers with specialized research equipment. These cores may be supported by a single department, a program, or by the institution as a whole. Core facilities can be defined as centralized shared resources that provide access to instruments, technologies, services, as well as expert consultation and other services to scientific and clinical investigators. The typical core facility is a discrete unit within an institution and has dedicated personnel, equipment, and space for operations. In general, core facilities recover their cost of providing service in the form of user fees that are charged to an investigator's funds, often NIH or other federal grants. R Each core is organized to provide user services that facilitate research activity; the recharge cost center model offers an efficient mechanism for recovering direct costs associated with providing these services. User fees are “charged back” to an investigator’s grant or contract fund. Scientific services offered by cores to the research community typically include specialized products, expertise, state-of-the-art equipment and/or technology. By definition, cores are not dedicated to the work of a single research group or department, but should maintain equitable access to all investigators and be open for new business. Successful operation requires actively involved scientific and managing directors who interact with researchers and staff across a range of disciplines.
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