Provost (education) facts for kids

A provost is a very important leader at a university or college. Think of them as a top manager. They are often the main person in charge of all things related to learning and teaching. This includes what students study and how professors do their research. Sometimes, a provost might even be the main boss of a whole university or one of its smaller campuses.

What Does a Provost Do?

The exact jobs of a provost can be different at each school. But generally, they look after everything about academics. This means they make sure the courses are good and that teaching and research are top-notch.

For example, at big universities like Harvard University or Imperial College London, the provost works closely with the president. They help make sure different parts of the university work together. They also help improve services for students and staff.

Many other important leaders report to the provost. These include the deans who run different schools or departments. The heads of places like libraries, student services, and admissions also usually report to the provost.

The provost then reports to the university's main leader, like a president or chancellor. They also report to the school's governing board. This board might be called trustees or regents. The provost is responsible for all educational activities and staff.

Provost's Role in Leadership

In many universities in North America, the provost is the second-highest leader. They often step in as the main boss if the president is away or if the position is empty. Because of their high rank, their title might sometimes include "senior vice president" or "executive vice chancellor."

Provosts often have a team to help them. These helpers might be called "associate provost," "vice provost," or "deputy provost." A deputy provost often takes over the provost's duties when the provost is not there.

Provosts are usually chosen by a special committee. This committee often includes faculty members (professors). The provost themselves usually has a strong academic background. They might have been a professor with tenure (a permanent job) or a professional administrator.

Other Provost Titles and Uses

At some universities and colleges, the chief academic officer might have a different title. They could be called "vice president for academic affairs." At smaller colleges, this person might be called the "dean of the college" or "dean of the faculty." For example, at Trinity College, the dean of the faculty is also the vice president for academic affairs. They are the second-highest leader there.

Sometimes, a provost might be the main leader of a large academic part of a university. Also, in some schools, the provost's job as the president's deputy is separate from the job of chief academic officer.

Provosts as Main Leaders

Some universities use "provost" as the title for their main leader. Examples include University College London and Trinity College, Dublin. The title is also used for the heads of colleges within larger universities. For instance, at the University of Oxford, the heads of Oriel, Queen's, and Worcester colleges are called provosts. The head of King's College, Cambridge is also a provost.

The Provost of Eton is the person who leads the governors of Eton College, a famous school.

Many universities also use "provost" for the main leaders of their international campuses. For example, at Glasgow Caledonian New York College, the "Vice President and Provost" is the top official on the New York campus.

History of the Provost Role

The title "provost" comes from the Latin word praepositus. It has been used in England since medieval times. It was first used for the heads of colleges like Oriel College, Oxford and Eton College. Later, other colleges adopted this title. For instance, University College London changed its principal's title to provost in 1906.

In the United States, some state university systems started using "provost" for the head of a branch campus. For example, the leaders of the Newark and Camden campuses of Rutgers University were once called provosts. A similar trend started in Britain in the early 2000s for international branch campuses.

The role of provost as the chief academic officer in American universities began in the first half of the 1900s. The very first use of the title in American higher education was in 1754. This was at the University of Pennsylvania (which was a college back then). Benjamin Franklin helped create this role. After Franklin retired, the provost became the head of the college. This continued until the university president role was brought back in 1930.

See also

• List of academic ranks
• Dean (education)
• Principal (university)
• Professor
• Postgraduate education
• Undergraduate education