Position Descriptions

The following position descriptions are excerpted from the revised 1997 Auburn University Faculty Handbook.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.