THE PROVOST'S OFFICE

The Provost’s most important charge is to promote a campus climate that fosters liberal learning. The liberal arts, which have a long and rich history dating back to the Greeks and Romans, seek to “liberate” human curiosity, the intellect, and the creative spirit by means of a curricular design that emphasizes both rigorous study and breadth of knowledge.

CNU combines “theoretical” disciplines that are traditional to the liberal arts (such as history, physics, and sociology) with more “applied’ disciplines directed towards professional practice (such as accounting, computer engineering, and studio art). The Provost must take care to maintain the right balance of theoretical and applied disciplines for an undergraduate-centered campus that offers focused graduate study in three areas (applied physics, environmental science, and teaching preparation).

The Office of the Provost makes institutional decisions that enhance student opportunities for academic challenge and achievement. Because student engagement is one of the most valid predictors of successful learning, the Provost oversees and promotes programs in Honors, international education, leadership, service learning, and student research.

Inspiring and inspired faculty are at heart of the academic challenge and student achievement. Most members of the faculty at CNU have earned a “terminal degree”—the highest possible degree in their academic discipline, such as the PhD or DM (Doctor of Music). Informed by equal opportunity principles, the Provost carefully oversees faculty hiring to ensure CNU professors hold credentials of the highest caliber, are recruited from distinguished educational programs, and demonstrate a passion for the liberal arts.

The Provost is an important resource for new faculty and continuing faculty, providing a variety of faculty development opportunities. The Provost reviews the productivity and engagement of faculty through annual reviews and the tenure and promotion process. He also supports this professional work by allocating resources for conference travel, summer stipends, sabbaticals, equipment, and other research expenses when warranted. Faculty ranks at CNU range from professor to instructor. Faculty salaries are determined by the Provost through reference to approved benchmarking formulas.

The Provost allocates operating funds (budgets) to support instruction, research, and community and professional service; other funds are allocated to units that support these primary activities, such as the University library, tutoring services, assessment, and public outreach centers. The Provost typically approves the primary administrators of such support programs, called Directors.

Working with closely with faculty and the Deans, the Provost must approve major curriculum changes, especially when programs such as a major, minor, or component of the Liberal Learning Core are created, dissolved, or seek a new emphasis. Careful scrutiny is paid by all members of this process to ensure that CNU’s academic programs keep pace with scholarly advances and that their courses support a great liberal arts experience as defined by national norms of the highest caliber.

The Provost’s Office supports the President in building friendships that boost the University’s privileges through gifts. The Provost also seeks to enhance respect for CNU’s academic reputation among federal, state, and private agencies and foundations that can provide grants to supplement state funding and student tuition.

The Provost provides many reports to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) to help ensure that the Commonwealth’s system of higher education is responsive to the citizens’ expectations for value and excellence. The Provost’s Office is also the University’s functional liaison to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), the regional accreditation body for eleven southeastern states that validates CNU’s privilege to participate in federal assistance programs, such as student aid.

Mark W. Padilla , Ph.D.