Academic Administration

The university’s academic administration is led by the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Nancy Ortins Savage. The Provost provides both intellectual and administrative leadership for the faculty and academic support staff. The Provost’s office works together with the Deans and faculty of the academic colleges as well as other units on campus (from the Student Affairs to Athletics) to prepare our students to lead purposeful and fulfilling lives in a global society by providing the highest-quality education through experiential, collaborative, and discovery-based learning.

Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Academic Affairs is charged with the oversight of and support for the core academic functions of the University. These include:

academic curriculum assessment, maintenance, and development,
faculty recruiting, development, and support,
faculty and student research & scholarship,
the fostering of a diverse, inclusive, and respectful learning environment,
the maintenance and continued development of a 21st century University Library,
academic policy & standards, and,
accreditation & state regulatory compliance,

Academic Affairs plays a key part in ensuring student success, working closely with Student Affairs, Athletics, and other units on campus where curriculum and high impact practices intersect such as service learning, study abroad, and student-faculty research.

The Provost’s Office has launched multiple, important initiatives in the last few years. These are often pursued in collaboration with other units on campus that support student success; our shared goal is to deliver a transformative experience for our students.

The University Interdisciplinary Collaborative was launched in Spring of 2023. The Collaborative houses and works to foster the development of academic programs that exist between the colleges in response to new career opportunities.
The University has launched a process for introducing non-credit and credit-bearing micro credentials. These “bite-sized,” career-centric courses will deliver concrete and relevant professional competencies to students, alumni, and professionals in the New 51�� community.
The University has strengthened undergraduate academic advising by partnering the faculty advisors from the academic disciplines with professional advisors from the Center for Student Success for all incoming undergraduate students. Coupled with widespread faculty use of the Navigate student alert system, tens of thousands outreach efforts to students occur each term from the many support units on campus. These efforts are integral to our meeting our student outcomes goals.
Academic Affairs works closely with the Office of Student Affairs (and other on campus partners), to align the academic & non-academic efforts on campus to the larger range of skills and competencies needed both in the workplace and in life. The Life and Career Readiness Framework provides a mechanism for students to both develop and recognize these competencies, while being engaged in activities both in and outside of the classroom at the University of New 51��.