Provost Power: Student Admissions Influence?

A provost is a high-level administrator in a college or university who works with other school leaders. They are the chief academic officer of the university and report directly to the president of the institution. Provosts are responsible for the entire educational offering of the university, including faculty, students, academic programs, and curriculums. They also work with colleagues overseeing recruitment, admissions, and retention to ensure strong enrollment numbers and graduation rates each year. While the provost does not directly accept students into a university, they play a crucial role in shaping the academic environment and policies that impact the student body.

The role of a provost

A provost is a senior academic administrator and, at many institutions, the chief academic officer. The role may be combined with being deputy to the chief executive officer, or they may be the CEO of a university, a branch campus of a university, or a college within a university.

The provost also has responsibility for human resources, promoting an inclusive and excellent staff and student community, and fostering intellectual interactions across the university. They often work with deans, vice provosts, department chairs, faculty, and others on campus to support excellence in academic, research, and creative programs and activities.

Provosts are often chosen by a search committee of faculty members and are usually drawn from the 'tenured faculty' or 'professional administrators' with academic credentials.

While the role of a provost is often poorly defined, it is essential to the health and well-being of the institution, its faculty, staff, and students.

The provost's responsibilities

A provost is a senior academic administrator and the second-highest-ranking officer in the administrative hierarchy of a university, reporting directly to the president of the institution. They are responsible for the educational administration and development of school policies to ensure the curriculum and regulations best support students. Provosts are responsible for:

• Meeting with students to understand their needs and advocating for them in meetings with board members to enact new policies.
• Communicating with prospective donors to secure funding for school programs and plans.
• Tracking enrollment to ensure the school meets its targets.
• Preparing students for graduation by recommending courses to professors.
• Overseeing professors to ensure optimal performance and student support.
• Determining the allocation of university funds.
• Screening courses to ensure all students receive a high-quality education.
• Making decisions about tenure and faculty hiring.
• Fostering intellectual interactions across the university.
• Supervising and providing oversight of curricular, instructional, and research affairs.
• Collaborating with other education administrators, like the dean of students and the chief academic officer.
• Ensuring academic excellence for undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students.
• Supporting the enhancement of teaching and learning.
• Allocating space for academic and research programs.
• Establishing academic processes and policies.
• Promoting faculty and student diversity and inclusion.

How a provost is chosen

A provost is a senior academic administrator at a college or university, who is usually chosen by a search committee made up of faculty members. Provosts are almost always chosen from the 'tenured faculty' or 'professional administrators' with academic credentials, either at the institution or from other institutions.

The role of provost is a high-level postsecondary position, which supports the president of a university. Provosts are often one of a university's top leaders and hold a great deal of responsibility. They are often responsible for the entire educational offering of an institution, as well as the supervision and oversight of curricular, instructional, and research affairs.

The role of provost is an important one, with a wide range of duties and responsibilities. Provosts are responsible for:

• Faculty hiring, promotion and tenure
• Academic excellence
• Research enterprises and centres
• Teaching and learning enhancement
• Space allocation for academic and research programs
• Academic processes and policies
• Faculty and student diversity and inclusion
• Tracking enrolment numbers
• Budgeting and allocating funds
• Screening courses to ensure quality education
• Decisions about tenure and faculty hiring
• Communicating with prospective donors
• Fostering intellectual interactions across the university

Given the wide range of duties, a provost must possess a number of key skills, including:

• Leadership skills
• Administrative skills
• Analytical skills
• Communication skills

To become a provost, there are a number of steps to take:

• Earn a bachelor's degree
• Start working at a university in an entry-level position
• Complete a master's degree in an education-related topic
• Advance to an administrator role
• Pursue a doctorate degree
• Apply for jobs as a provost

How a provost differs from a dean

A provost is a senior academic administrator and the chief academic officer of a university. They are responsible for the supervision and oversight of curricular, instructional, and research affairs. Provosts work with deans, vice provosts, department chairs, faculty, and other campus members to support excellence in all academic, research, and creative programs and activities. They also make decisions regarding faculty hiring, promotion, and tenure, as well as academic excellence and space allocation. The provost's role may be combined with being deputy to the chief executive officer, and they often serve as the right-hand assistant to the university president.

On the other hand, a dean oversees an institution's faculty and academic staff at the departmental level. They are responsible for coordinating activities within specific divisions or departments and ensuring that departments meet their academic goals. Deans typically have experience as faculty members or lower-level administrators and work closely with faculty and staff to provide the necessary support to achieve academic goals. They also advise on employee recruitment and retention and provide budgetary oversight for their departments.

While a provost oversees an institution's entire educational offering, a dean's responsibilities are focused on a specific department or division. The provost's role is more comprehensive and involves working with the university president to develop policies, manage budgets, and make strategic decisions. The dean's role is more focused on the day-to-day operations of their department, ensuring that academic goals are met, and that faculty and staff have the necessary resources.

In summary, a provost has a broader scope of responsibility, overseeing all educational programs and activities, while a dean's responsibilities are more focused on a specific department or division within the university. Provosts tend to earn higher salaries and often serve as the right-hand assistant to the university president, while deans typically have experience as faculty members or lower-level administrators. Both roles require strong leadership, analytical thinking, and communication skills to promote and maintain the academic vision of the institution.

How to become a provost

A provost is a senior academic administrator and the chief academic officer of a university. They are responsible for the overall development of all the educational programs a university offers. Provosts are high-level postsecondary administrators who support the president of a university.

If you want to become a provost, here are the steps you can take:

Earn a Bachelor's Degree:

The first step is to obtain a bachelor's degree, preferably in education studies or a similar subject. This will provide you with a strong foundation in education and its specialties.

Start Working at a University:

After graduating, find an entry-level job at a university to gain experience in the higher education environment. You can look for teaching roles or administrative positions to get started.

Complete a Master's Degree:

While gaining experience, work towards completing a master's degree in an education-related field. This will bring you closer to meeting the educational requirements for a provost position.

Advance to an Administrator Role:

With a few years of experience in education, aim for an administrative role such as the dean of students, a development officer, or a chief planning officer at a university. This will allow you to develop key skills and gain practical experience in high-level administration.

Pursue a Doctorate Degree:

The minimum educational requirement for a provost is typically a doctorate degree in education or a related field. Earning a doctorate will open up opportunities to apply for provost positions.

Apply for Provost Jobs:

Once you have your doctorate, start applying for provost roles. Begin by inquiring about advancement opportunities at your current institution and networking to find open positions. Ensure that you have a strong resume that showcases your accomplishments and experience.

Key Skills for Provosts:

• Knowledge of the educational system and new trends
• Leadership skills
• Administrative skills
• Analytical skills
• Communication skills

Frequently asked questions