Position Description

Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

The Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs is the Chief Academic Officer of the university and reports directly to the Chancellor. The Provost is a member of the Chancellor’s Administrative Staff and serves as the ranking university officer on campus in the Chancellor’s absence.

As the Chief Academic Officer, the Provost is supported by the Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, and is reported to directly by the following colleges, programs, and offices: College of Arts and Communication; College of Business and Economics; College of Education; College of Letters and Sciences; School of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education; Academic Support Services; Instructional, Communication and Information Technology; University Library; Admissions Office; Registrar’s Office; Academic Advising and Exploration Center; International Education and Programs; Institutional Research; Honors Program; and the Undergraduate Research Program.

The Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs is the academic leader of the university and is responsible for:

• Ensuring and enhancing the quality of undergraduate and graduate education.
• Support optimization of student learning and success through oversight of academic assessment initiatives, and monitor student success manifest in matriculation, retention, credits to degree, advising and graduation data.
• Oversee and promote expansion of co-curricular learning opportunities (e.g., international programs, study abroad, internships and experiential learning, student organizations, and undergraduate research).
• Monitor and promote student success in special student populations, including remedial and honors programming.
• Collaborate with other institutional divisions (e.g., Student Affairs) in ways that expand opportunities, and advance student learning and promote student success.
• Planning, developing, coordinating, and evaluating academic programs in ways that assure academic quality.
• Manage review of instructional and non-instructional programs that support the academic mission of the university.
• Coordinate planning and approval of new and the elimination of unproductive academic programs.
• Prepare and submit accountability and accreditation information as necessary.
• Manage cooperative, articulation and inter-institutional agreements relevant to academic programs.
• Overseeing the appointment, review, and professional development of unclassified staff.
• Oversee recruitment, hiring, evaluation, and reappointment of faculty and academic staff.
• Make recommendations to the Chancellor regarding reappointment, promotion and tenure decisions of faculty as well as the reappointment, indefinite appointment, and promotion of academic staff.
• Work with Faculty and Academic Staff Assembly in interpreting policy and resolving complaints, grievances, appeals and litigations relevant to faculty and academic staff personnel rules.
• Oversee collection and submission of faculty and staff vacation, absence, sick leave, outside interest and activities, and federal financial disclosure reports to UW System.
• Promote instructional improvement and scholarly/creative achievement among faculty and staff through on-campus programming and participation in UW System faculty development opportunities.
• Oversee awarding of sabbaticals, fellowships, Fulbright opportunities, faculty and academic staff development grants, and other intramural grant opportunities.
• Promote faculty and staff excellence through management of campus-wide awards relevant to instruction, scholarly/creative achievement, service, and academic advising.
• Oversee new staff orientation, and development of administrative skills of faculty and staff where relevant (e.g., department chair development).
• Review staff that are in direct reporting relationships to the Provost.
• Ensuring progress in the accomplishment of the institution’s affirmative action initiatives.
• Further implementation of the UW-W Diversity Plan and recommendations of the Equity Scorecard Project.
• Support vigorous affirmative action decisions in relation to recruiting, search and screen, and hiring initiatives among unclassified staff.
• Promote and support instructional and non-instructional opportunities and programming that advance multicultural, disadvantaged, and disabled student populations.
• Planning, acquiring, and allocating resources in ways that fulfill the accomplishment of the mission and strategic plan of the university.
• Participate in enrollment management decisions.
• Manage divisional staffing plans and allocations, budget development, incremental and base budget increases and reductions, as well as salary and merit considerations.
• Support Instructional, Communication and Information Technology in planning and effectively deploying technology.
• Supervise requests for and dispersement of special funding opportunities made available by UW System (e.g., faculty and staff development, laboratory/classroom modernization, etc.), as well as institution-initiated application of special course and technology fees.
• Co-chair, with the Chancellor, the Strategic Planning and Budget Committee.
• Representing the institution within the UW System and before agencies and constituencies outside the System.
• Serve as the Chancellor’s representative at UW System meetings and external events as necessary.
• Correspond with UW System and other external agencies as necessary in all aforementioned responsibilities.