Changes to the Office of the Provost portfolio

May 21, 2021

To: OSU Community

From: Edward Feser, Provost and Executive Vice President

21 May 2021

Dear OSU Community:

As noted in my February 26 memo, Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs Susan Capalbo intends to step down from her administrative position and return to faculty this summer. I also relayed at that time that I have undertaken a review of the administrative units in my office and am making some adjustments that will position them to better advance the academic mission of OSU. Lessons learned during COVID-19 planning and response have also informed the changes.

Vice Provost for Academic Affairs (previously the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education)

  1. Alix Gitelman’s title will change to Vice Provost for Academic Affairs (VPAA). While the Office of Undergraduate Education remains intact and the VPAA position will maintain its strong focus on leading OSU’s undergraduate academic success efforts, the title change recognizes the role’s existing responsibility to oversee new program development and assessment at both the undergraduate and graduate levels (the latter in partnership with the Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School), institutional accreditation, teaching excellence at all levels, and regular engagement on a variety of academic matters with the Faculty Senate, Statewide Provosts Council, and Higher Education Coordinating Commission.

Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs

  1. We will be launching a search for a Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs (VPFA) shortly. Candidates must be current tenured full professors at OSU with significant academic leadership experience.
  2. The Faculty Affairs portfolio will continue to focus on building and supporting an outstanding and diverse faculty; developing and supporting academic leaders; overseeing implementation of OSU’s strategic plan; leading the university’s international and global engagement strategy; and overseeing academic policies and procedures, resolving faculty personnel matters, and overseeing faculty labor relations.

The Senior Vice Provost (SVP) designation will continue but will not always be coupled with the VPFA position. SVP responsibilities include representing the Provost on a variety of committees and task forces, ensuring alignment and collaboration among all vice provosts and with the Provost’s Council of Deans, and facilitating planning and strategy in the Office of the Provost. The SVP also serves as Acting Provost when necessary. Going forward, I am redefining the SVP role as a three-year assignment with either the VPFA or VPAA eligible to serve. This will create better continuity of leadership as senior leaders gain experience and changes in appointments occur. I am pleased to relay that Alix Gitelman has agreed to assume the SVP responsibilities when Susan vacates her current role.

Your comments and questions are welcome ([email protected]).

Sincerely,

Edward Feser
Provost and Executive Vice President