The following position descriptions are excerpted from the revised 1997 Auburn University Faculty Handbook.
PRESIDENT
PROVOST AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS
VICE PRESIDENT FOR AUXILIARY SERVICES
ASSOCIATE PROVOST AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH
ASSOCIATE PROVOST AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY OUTREACH
ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT HEAD OR CHAIR
Reports to: the Auburn University Board of Trustees
Summary of Major Duties and Responsibilities: The President is the chief executive officer of the University and, subject to the control of the Board, shall manage, direct and be responsible for the conduct of all the affairs of the University, except those which by law or the Board's By-Laws are made the specific responsibility of other persons. The President shall have the power, in the name of the University, to make and execute, or authorize the making and execution of, all contracts and written instruments made in the ordinary course of the operations of the University, except those which must be specifically approved and authorized by the Board. The Provost and the Chancellor of Auburn University at Montgomery shall be appointed by the President upon prior approval of the Board. Vice Presidents and the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics shall be appointed by the President, upon prior consultation with the Board.
B. PROVOST AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
Reports to: the President
Summary of Major Duties and Responsibilities: The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs is the chief academic officer of the University and represents the President during his or her absence from the Auburn University main campus. The Provost administers all academic programs involving instruction, research, and extension and is responsible for advising the President on matters relating to overall planning, allocation of resources, and the development and evaluation of these programs. The Provost's duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: maintaining the quality of teaching, research and extension programs; encouraging a sound communication program that allows for orderly sharing of views among the President's Office, appropriate vice presidents, deans, directors, department heads, faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends; guiding decisions affecting University faculty in such areas as recruitment, employment, promotion, tenure, and termination, salary and wage structure, conditions of employment, and facilitating compliance with the University's affirmative action program; chairing the Promotion and Tenure, and Curriculum committees, and serving on the Senate Steering Committee; overseeing the University Library; supervising the allocation and expenditure of funds for summer term instruction; University Computing, which oversees master planning and sets strategic direction for computing services at Auburn University; provides support for administrative and academic computing utilizing mainframe, networking, microcomputer and PC resources as appropriate; Telecommunications/ETV, which manages the Auburn University telephone system, campus data network, satellite uplink facility and educational television station; overseeing the enforcement of the Academic Honesty Policy, faculty and student academic grievance procedures, and hearing appeals of negative decisions of the Admissions Appeals Committee; coordinating overall aspects of research activity and, in cooperation with the Associate Provost and Vice President for Research, providing for adequate resources, time and incentives to promote an environment conducive to effective faculty research; coordinating the overall extension and public service programs of the University and, in cooperation with the Associate Provost and Vice President for Outreach, overseeing and coordinating the programs of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and the University's other extension and outreach units. The Provost supervises the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, the Vice President for Research, the Vice President for Outreach, and the academic deans and the Dean of Libraries.
Reports to: the President
Summary of Major Duties and Responsibilities: The Executive Vice President oversees the University's budgeting process including the planning, preparation, implementation, management, control and evaluation of the budget. The Executive Vice President oversees the overall financial reporting of the University, which includes a proper system of internal controls to ensure appropriate and accurate accountability of revenue, expenditures, assets and liabilities; serves as the leader and manager of the University's business and financial department; provides leadership for and manages the University's endowments and operating cash pool; and oversees the University's Auxiliary Services, including the University Bookstore, Auburn University Dining, Housing and Residence Life, and University Printing Service. The Executive Vice President chairs the University Budget Advisory Committee and advises the President and Board of Trustees on all matters relating to the fiscal health of the University.
D. VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS
Reports to: the President
Summary of Major Duties and Responsibilities: The Vice President for Student Affairs provides leadership in the development of general goals and objectives in the Division of Student Affairs. Directing activities, programs and services inherent to student needs, this individual is administratively responsible for Student Health Services (including Student Counseling Services and Health Education), Student Center, Student Activities Center, Aquatics Center, Student Media, Greek life, Student Government Association, Parent Programs, and Student Leadership Program. In addition to developing and implementing the budget for the division, this Vice President oversees the University Discipline Code, the Speech and Demonstration Policy and the University Advertising Policy. This individual serves on several continuing University/Senate Committees as well as numerous ad hoc committees. Charged with representing student needs to the administration while implementing central administration policy concerning students, this person works in concert with the Provost to address the total educational experience of students.
E. VICE PRESIDENT FOR AUXILIARY SERVICES
Reports to: the President
Summary of Major Duties and Responsibilities: The Vice President for Auxiliary Services provides leadership and direction of several support functions critically important to the welfare and effectiveness of Auburn University. Responsibilities include planning, direction, supervision, problem solving and advising the President and Board of Trustees on matters related to these support functions. The Vice President for Auxiliary Services oversees the following divisions: 1) Auburn-Opelika Robert G. Pitts Airport, which ensures safe operation of the airport in compliance with all FAA regulations; oversees master planning and coordinates all aspects of airport capital improvement; coordinates aviation management and flight training programs; manages the air transportation services; provides maintenance services for owned and leased aircraft. 2) Facilities, which oversees master planning for campus land use and capital construction; coordinates design and construction of new facilities; responsible for routine and preventive maintenance of campus facilities; manages building services (custodial care); provides utilities and energy management services; maintains campus landscaping and grounds; 3) Personnel Services, which oversees all aspects of human resource management for University staff and administrative/professional employees, including employment, wage and salary administration, classification, employee relations and human resource development; maintains official personnel records for all University employees; and 4) Police, which ensures a safe and secure environment for all campus constituencies by providing law enforcement services, including patrol and investigative measures as deemed appropriate; oversees campus traffic and parking services.
F. ASSOCIATE PROVOST AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH
Reports to: the Provost
Summary of Major Duties and Responsibilities: The Associate Provost and Vice President for Research serves as the chief research officer of Auburn University, overseeing and coordinating all major aspects of research activity. A primary function is to provide adequate resources, time and incentives to promote an environment conducive to effective faculty research. Toward this end, the Associate Provost and Vice President for Research provides relevant administrative structure and support services, encourages faculty involvement in research activity, and pursues various sources for research funding (particularly extramural contracts and grants). This Vice President establishes working relationships with private, state and federal funding agencies, facilitates handling of contracts and grants (particularly as regards pre-award activities and negotiations with funding agencies), and protects the University's interests in these agreements with external agencies. The Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station and several institutes and centers report to the Associate Provost and Vice President for Research. Additional duties include administrative responsibility for research involving human subjects, animal welfare, patents and copyrights, State-funded energy research, research grants-in-aid, the Research Trust Fund, and safety and environmental health within the University.
G. ASSOCIATE PROVOST AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY OUTREACH
Reports to: the Provost
Summary of Major Duties and Responsibilities: The Associate Provost and Vice President for Extension is the University's leading proponent of extended outreach programs and is the Provost's advisor on matters relating to extension activities. This Vice President is responsible for oversight and coordination of the outreach programs at Auburn University. Primary among these programs is the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service (ACES). The Associate Provost and Vice President for Extension, through the Director of ACES, assures that the highest quality outreach programs are developed and maintained for Alabamians. Through other units of University Extension, such as Auburn University Conference Center, Auburn University Satellite Uplink, Center on Aging, Center for Governmental Services, Distance Learning and Outreach Technology, Auburn Technical Assistance Center, this person administers outreach educational programs to individuals, business and industry, and public agencies.
H. DEAN OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
Reports to: the Provost
Summary of Major Duties and Responsibilities: The Dean of the Graduate School is the Provost's principal advisor on graduate programs and the person responsible for general administration of the University's graduate programs. Working in concert with the Graduate Council, the Graduate Dean assures maintenance of graduate program quality standards, reviews programs and curricula, coordinates planning and development of graduate offerings in conjunction with academic departments and schools, develops a qualified graduate faculty, and serves as spokesperson for the University's graduate programs. This dean also serves on the Alabama Commission on Higher Education's Council of Graduate Deans.
Reports to: the Provost
Summary of Major Duties and Responsibilities: The dean bears final responsibility for the conduct of all programs of instruction, research and extension carried out by faculty and staff in the respective college or school. Along with the academic department heads, the dean coordinates instructional program development and maintenance of quality, departmental research and public service programs, faculty recruitment and development, and any special programs of the college/school. The dean serves as the official representative of the college/school in relations with the central administration, other University units, alumni, other institutions, professional organizations, the public, and private foundations and governmental agencies--particularly for the purpose of developing external financial support. This person represents the college/school's interests at the central administrative level and develops the unit's budget request annually. The dean supervises allocation of funds in the college/school budget and oversees the consequent expenditures.
J. ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT HEAD OR CHAIR
Reports to: the college or school dean
Summary of Major Duties and Responsibilities: The department head or chair serves as senior faculty member and administrator of the academic department. At the departmental level, this person is responsible for faculty recruitment and development, instructional program development, and quality enhancement, coordination of departmental research and service programs, evaluation of personnel and, through the dean, represents the department's interest to units inside and outside the University. The department head also maintains relationships with students, other administrators, University councils and committees, alumni, professional organizations, and various other public and private groups. In conjunction with the college or school dean, the department head develops the department's annual budget request, and administers expenditure of the allocated funds, and other resources available to the department.
Last Updated: October 17, 2016
