Provost facts for kids

The Provost is a very important leader at a college or university in the United States. Think of them as the main boss for everything related to learning and teaching. They make sure that students get a great education.

What is a Provost?

A Provost is the chief academic officer. This means they are in charge of all the teachers, classes, and study programs. They work closely with the president of the college or university.

What Are a Provost's Main Jobs?

Provosts have many important tasks. They help decide who gets hired as a professor. They also handle how professors get promoted or if they need to leave. A big part of their job is dealing with tenure. This is when a professor gets a permanent job at the university.

Provosts also listen to ideas and complaints about what students are learning. They make sure that all the academic programs are good. They also set the main rules for how the school teaches and learns. These rules are called policies.

Provosts Around the World

In some other countries, the Provost might have an even bigger role. Sometimes, they are the leader of the entire college or university. This is different from the United States, where the president is usually the top leader.