Assistant Provost

Purpose of Position and Scope of Responsibility:

The Assistant Provost is a senior academic administrator who supports the Provost in advancing the academic mission, strategic priorities, and effective operation of the University. As a member of the Provost’s leadership team, the Assistant Provost works collaboratively with the deans, faculty, and administrative leaders to develop, implement, and evaluate academic policies, programs, and initiatives and to promote academic quality, student success, institutional effectiveness, and continuous improvement.

The Assistant Provost assists the Provost in ensuring institutional compliance with applicable accreditation standards, governmental regulations, University policies, and academic requirements. The Assistant Provost serves as the University’s SACSCOC Accreditation Liaison and provides leadership and coordination for institutional accreditation, substantive change, reaffirmation, accreditation reporting, and ongoing institutional readiness.

The Assistant Provost provides direct supervision of the Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Research, overseeing the University's institutional research, assessment, institutional effectiveness, and data-reporting functions. The Assistant Provost works with the Director to ensure that institutional data and assessment findings inform strategic planning, academic decision-making, accreditation compliance, and continuous improvement across the University.

The Assistant Provost also provides leadership for the development and maintenance of the University’s academic partnerships and articulation agreements. Working with the Provost, deans, faculty, Registrar, Admissions, and external partners, the Assistant Provost identifies and develops relationships with colleges, universities, community colleges, and other appropriate organizations that expand educational opportunities for students and advance the University’s strategic enrollment and academic goals.

The Assistant Provost coordinates the development, review, approval, implementation, and renewal of articulation agreements, transfer pathways, memoranda of understanding, and other academic partnership agreements. The position works to ensure that such agreements are academically sound, operationally effective, appropriately documented, and consistent with university policies and applicable accreditation and regulatory requirements.

The Assistant Provost serves as a liaison between academic units and other areas of the University, leads special projects and cross-functional initiatives assigned by the Provost, and represents the Provost at meetings, committees, and external functions as requested.

Principal Accountabilities/Responsibilities:

• Support Academic Administration and Strategic Initiatives
  Assist the Provost in the administration of academic affairs and in implementing the University’s academic priorities, strategic plan, and initiatives designed to strengthen academic quality, enrollment, and student success.
• Assist the Provost with Compliance and Accreditation
  Assist the Provost in ensuring institutional compliance with applicable accreditation standards, governmental regulations, University policies, and academic requirements. Serve as the University’s SACSCOC Accreditation Liaison and coordinate accreditation reporting, substantive change requirements, reaffirmation activities, and other matters related to institutional accreditation.
• Coordinate Academic Policies, Programs, and Processes
  Work with the Provost, deans, faculty, and appropriate committees to develop, review, implement, and assess academic policies and procedures and to facilitate the development, modification, approval, and ongoing evaluation of academic programs.

• Supervise Institutional Effectiveness and Research                 

  Provide direct supervision and administrative oversight of the Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Research. Establish priorities, evaluate performance, and coordinate the University's institutional research, assessment, data reporting, and institutional effectiveness activities. Work collaboratively with the Director to ensure that assessment results and institutional data support strategic planning, accreditation compliance, program evaluation, student achievement, and continuous improvement across the University.

• Provide Leadership and Special Project Support to the Provost
  Lead or coordinate special projects and cross-functional initiatives assigned by the Provost; facilitate collaboration among academic and administrative units; represent the Provost on committees and at meetings as assigned; and perform other leadership responsibilities necessary to advance the University’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Develop and Maintain Academic Partnerships
  Identify, cultivate, and maintain strategic relationships with colleges, universities, community colleges, educational organizations, and other appropriate partners that expand educational opportunities, strengthen academic programs, and support the University’s enrollment and strategic objectives.
• Develop and Manage Articulation Agreements
  Coordinate the development, review, approval, implementation, renewal, and maintenance of articulation agreements, transfer pathways, memoranda of understanding, and other academic partnership agreements in collaboration with appropriate academic and administrative offices.
• Facilitate Transfer and Academic Pathways
  Work with academic programs, the Registrar, Admissions, and partner institutions to develop clear and efficient pathways for transfer students, including course equivalencies, program-to-program agreements, degree-completion pathways, and other arrangements that facilitate student progression toward degree completion.
• Ensure Compliance and Quality of Academic Agreements
  Review academic partnerships and articulation agreements to ensure consistency with university policies, academic standards, accreditation requirements, transfer-credit policies, and applicable governmental regulations. Maintain accurate and current records of agreements and monitor renewal and expiration dates.
• Promote and Evaluate Academic Partnerships
  Collaborate with Admissions, Marketing, academic units, and external partners to promote established pathways and partnership opportunities. Periodically evaluate partnerships and articulation agreements for student participation, effectiveness, academic quality, enrollment impact, and continued alignment with the University’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Performs related accountabilities/responsibilities as required or directed.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee.

Reference: This position description is based in part on the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), The Accreditation Liaison: Guidelines, endorsed June 2000 and edited January 2007, January 2012, and September 2020 and was developed with the assistance of artificial intelligence. 

Physical Requirements:

Work requires little or no physical effort. Lifting or performing other work requiring light physical exertion (up to 30 pounds) is intermittent (not a routine part of the job) and secondary to the job.

Environmental Conditions:

Work is performed under basically normal working conditions as in a standard office environment.