The Role of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

The provost is the chief academic officer of the College and serves as the president's surrogate in his absence. As the College's steward of academic quality, the provost ensures academic excellence through wise personnel decisions, an understanding of expectations for teaching, learning and scholarship in different fields, and knowledge of the diverse needs of the College's academic Schools.

Reporting directly to the provost are the deans of the five Schools as well as the associate provost and dean of the Graduate School, the executive assistant to the provost, assistant vice president of sponsored programs, the dean of the library, the dean of student advising, the dean of international programs, the director of the honors program, the director of the undergraduate research program, the coordinator of the multicultural recruitment program, the dean of regional education, the director of the Turkish dual-degree program, and the coordinator of the teaching and learning center.

The provost plays a significant and influential role with a broad spectrum of constituent groups across campus. He or she participates with the president and other senior administrators and faculty in institutional strategic planning and policy development. In addition, the provost serves as a key member of a number of internal and external committees, including various labor management committees. The provost will also participate in regularly scheduled meetings of the College Council.

The provost is expected to participate in the system-wide Chief Academic Officer's provost group and to offer counsel to SUNY System Administration on a range of matters. The provost will also have an opportunity to support and lead statewide and national initiatives on academic issues (e.g., assessment, transfer articulation and research support).