URI Center for the Humanities is designed to foster intellectual exchange and independent inquiry, analysis, and interpretation of the humanities in research, teaching, and learning. Its activities include a speaker series, research grants, and fellowships for faculty and graduate students.

These activities are intended to support and make public the research of the University humanities faculty and graduate students as well as create links between that research and undergraduate education in the humanities. This occurs through course development based on the work of faculty fellows as well as specific connections between undergraduate courses and the visiting scholars program.

The Center for the Humanities exists within the College of Arts and Sciences at URI. It was established by Faculty Senate legislation in 1994.