Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor John Zomchick has primary responsibility for the academic activities on the Knoxville campus. While the chancellor and provost confer regularly in setting overall academic priorities, the chancellor focuses their attention more on external constituencies. The provost attends to the day-to-day functioning of the university.
What does the provost do?
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The provost meets with the chancellor and other vice chancellors to discuss campus policies and practices, and to address campus-wide issues that cross divisional lines. He is responsible for implementing the university’s strategic plan to move the university forward towards our goal of becoming a top public research university.
His primary responsibility is to oversee and coordinate academic affairs and activities within the institution, including accreditation by the Southern Association of College and Schools Commission on Colleges. The provost also assists in the development of strategic academic initiatives for the campus. In essence, the provost is a key figure responsible for shaping and advancing the academic mission of the institution, fostering a thriving and intellectually stimulating learning environment, and supporting the success of faculty and students. |
Academic Leadership
The provost is responsible for the education of more than 30,000 undergraduate students on campus, and approximately 8,100 graduate students. He sets priorities with regard to admissions and financial aid, and works to ensure student retention and timely graduation. He is also in charge of all cross-college programs, including general education. With regard to curriculum and education, the provost works in close consultation with the faculty and the Faculty Senate in the spirit of shared governance.
Faculty Recruitment and Retention
The provost recommends and approves all promotions, retentions, special hires, tenure decisions, and new appointments to the faculty, and helps academic units establish their own promotion and tenure policies. He has direct responsibility for the recruitment, retention, and renewal of the faculty, and contributes to maintaining the infrastructure that assists the faculty in teaching and research.
Finance and Planning
The provost oversees budget allocations to academic units and works with them for planning, development, implementation, assessment, and improvement of all academic programs, policies, and supporting infrastructure including facilities and information technology.
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