The Multifaceted Role of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education

Undergraduate Education (UGE) plays a vital role in shaping, supporting, and enhancing the undergraduate educational experience. The vice provost and dean of undergraduate education provides visionary leadership and strategic direction to ensure students achieve academic excellence. This encompasses a wide array of responsibilities, from overseeing academic policies and curriculum management to fostering student success and retention.

Leadership and Strategic Vision

The vice provost for undergraduate education stewards the strategic vision for the governance and management of the university's general education program. This includes curriculum development, management, and assessment, strategic planning, student success, and liberal arts education. They provide leadership and support to various units and initiatives, fostering a coordinated approach to student achievement and engagement.

Ann Bisantz, PhD, exemplifies this role at the University at Buffalo (UB). As the vice provost and dean of undergraduate education, she oversees academic policies, curriculum management, student success, and retention, enabling all UB undergraduate students to achieve academic excellence. Her leadership extends to the University Honors College, Cora P. Maloney Center, undergraduate research, experiential learning, and student academic support initiatives like the Center for Excellence in Writing, EAB Navigate platform, Tutoring and Academic Support Services, and the Proud to be First initiative.

Academic Policies and Curriculum Management

A key responsibility of the vice provost is the oversight of academic policies and curriculum management. This involves ensuring that the curriculum is up-to-date, relevant, and meets the needs of today's students. It also includes addressing learning gaps and improving pedagogy in key courses.

Bisantz has led initiatives to address learning gaps and improve pedagogy in key courses, overseen the full-scale implementation of the UB Curriculum, and implemented efforts to streamline connecting first-year students to majors.

Student Success and Retention

The vice provost plays a crucial role in promoting student success and retention. This includes developing and implementing initiatives to support students academically, socially, and emotionally. It also involves working with various departments and units to create a welcoming and inclusive campus environment.

Bisantz's leadership enables all UB undergraduate students to achieve academic excellence through oversight of academic policies, curriculum management, student success and retention. Campus-wide undergraduate advising, student success coaching, and the Exploratory and Pre-Professional Advising Center also fall under Bisantz's purview, which ensures a coordinated approach to student achievement and engagement.
Erin K. O’Brien, PhD, as the chief student retention officer at UB, is charged with developing and executing a comprehensive, university-wide Student Experience (SX) strategy, creating an effective student First-Year Experience (FYE), and improving student retention rates.

Support for Key Units and Initiatives

The vice provost provides visionary leadership support to various units and initiatives that enhance the undergraduate experience. These may include:

Read also: VP for Student Affairs Role

The University Honors College: Fostering an enriched academic environment for high-achieving students. Patrick McDevitt, PhD, as the associate dean of undergraduate education at the University Honors College, oversees the Honors student experience from admissions to graduation, coordinating the Honors Faculty Fellows, teaching the Honors College Think Tank, and mentoring the upper-class teaching assistants in the Honors College’s seminal first-year course, the Honors Colloquium.
The Cora P. Maloney Center: Supporting underrepresented student populations. Jacqueline Hollins, PhD, as the associate vice provost for student success and academic support, oversees the Cora P. Maloney Center (CPMC) and its associated offices.
Undergraduate Research: Promoting research opportunities for undergraduate students. Claire S. Schen, PhD, as the associate dean for undergraduate research and scholarship in Undergraduate Education, leads the university’s vision and support for undergraduate research at UB, working with faculty, staff and students from across the university to foster learning through research, creative activity and scholarship for all undergraduates.
Experiential Learning: Providing students with hands-on learning experiences.
Student Academic Support Initiatives: Such as the Center for Excellence in Writing, EAB Navigate platform, and Tutoring and Academic Support Services.

Campus-Wide Advising and Support

The vice provost often oversees campus-wide undergraduate advising, student success coaching, and advising centers. This ensures a coordinated approach to student achievement and engagement.

Jacqueline Hollins, PhD, oversees Student Success Planning, First Generation Initiative, Tutoring Services, the Center for Excellence in Writing, and the Cora P. Maloney Center (CPMC) and its associated offices.
Jackie Rousseau serves as campus director of academic advising, spearheading strategic initiatives and coordinating efforts to enhance undergraduate academic advisement and student support.

Collaboration and Partnerships

The vice provost collaborates with various stakeholders, including faculty, staff, students, and external partners, to advance the undergraduate mission. This may involve:

Co-chairing committees and councils.
Working with academic affairs and student life divisions.
Developing partnerships with community organizations.

Bisantz co-chaired the Curriculum and Pedagogy Committee for the President's Advisory Council on Race, co-chaired the Middles States Higher Education accreditation effort and was the 2022 chair of UB's SEFA Campaign for the Community.

Other Key Personnel and Their Roles

The vice provost is supported by a team of dedicated professionals who contribute to the success of undergraduate education. Some key personnel and their roles include:

Rebecca Donoghue: As director of human resources and business operations in undergraduate education, she provides strategic leadership in human resources, budget and financial management, and operational planning.
Krista Hanypsiak Krause: As associate vice provost for undergraduate education, she oversees the campus director of academic advising, the UB TrACE transfer initiative, undergraduate policy and curricular developments, while providing leadership for the development of strategic undergraduate initiatives.
Dawn Reed: As assistant vice provost of the Office of Marketing, Communications and Digital Engagement, she oversees the strategic vision, development and deployment of elevated communications and is responsible for leading the development of a comprehensive digital strategy for Undergraduate Education.
Lindsey Hallman, PhD: As the director of curriculum and academic initiatives, providing leadership for undergraduate course and curricular development, general education, and advancing projects and partnerships that enhance the student academic experience.
Kelley Bergman-Young: As the administrative assistant in the office of the dean overseeing daily administrative operations.

Examples from Other Universities

The role of the vice provost for undergraduate education is not unique to UB. Other universities, such as Duke University and Stanford University, have similar positions with comparable responsibilities.

Read also: Shaping Student Success

At Duke University, the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education provides strategic vision and leadership for the undergraduate educational experience, working closely with the president, provost, senior administrators, faculty, and students. The vice provost also directs the Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE), which delivers on Duke’s promise of a transformative, holistic undergraduate experience.
At Stanford University, the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education (VPUE) serves as the nexus for programs and initiatives that help Stanford undergrads define and achieve their intellectual ambitions. VPUE embraces and advances Stanford’s commitment to liberal education, including exposing students to a wide range of ideas and perspectives.

Essential Skills and Qualities

To be successful, a vice provost for undergraduate education must possess a wide range of skills and qualities, including:

Leadership and Vision: The ability to set a clear direction and inspire others to achieve common goals.
Communication and Interpersonal Skills: The ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences and build strong relationships.
Strategic Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills: The ability to analyze complex issues and develop effective solutions.
Knowledge of Higher Education Trends and Best Practices: A deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing undergraduate education.
Commitment to Student Success: A genuine desire to help students achieve their full potential.

Read also: The role of assistant principals

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