Reporting to the Executive Vice Provost, the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Academic Affairs (VPUAA) is focused on student success and leads transformative change at Virginia Tech, articulating the academic vision for undergraduate education, advocating for its role in the university's mission, incorporating the increasingly complex role of globalization in the undergraduate education experience, and providing support and direction to advance the contributions of undergraduate education to an R1 university with global aspirations. As a student-centered university, Virginia Tech seeks to sustain an educational environment that prioritizes students as individuals with varied educational and professional interests, needs, and challenges. In support of these goals are an extensive array of units and programs reporting to the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Academic Affairs, including Academic Advising Initiatives, Undergraduate Academic Integrity, Career and Professional Development, First-Year Experiences, Multicultural Academic Opportunities Program, Office of Undergraduate Research, Pathways to General Education, Student-Athlete Academic Support Services, Student Opportunities & Achievement Resources Program (SOAR), Student Success Center, and Veterans Services.
The VPUAA works collaboratively with college deans and associate deans to coordinate programs and services that meet the varying needs of a heterogeneous undergraduate student population and encourages the success of faculty and students. They establish and implement short and long-range strategic goals, objectives, and operating procedures; play a key role in establishing and upholding campus policies around undergraduate education; evaluate and monitor programmatic and operational effectiveness, and effect changes required for improvement. The VPUAA also prioritizes fostering a supportive and inclusive campus culture that emphasizes student mental health, well-being, and belonging, recognizing these as critical to academic success and personal development. The VPUAA communicates regularly with the Executive Vice Provost and other vice provosts to ensure coordination and collaboration with relevant divisions and programs. The vice provost maintains a visible profile on campus, fully engaging with student, faculty, staff, and alumni communities, and monitoring and anticipating the emerging needs and issues affecting the undergraduate population.
In the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Academic Affairs, the VPUAA will oversee development and submission of internal and external reports, assessment and evaluation of programs, and initiate improvements, collaborating with internal and external offices and agencies as appropriate. The VPUAA leverages data analytics and evidence-based practices to assess and improve student success initiatives, retention, graduation rates, and postgraduate success. He or she establishes and maintains an organizational structure and staffing to effectively accomplish the organization's goals and objectives and oversee recruitment, training, supervision, professional development and evaluation of their team. Within these units, the VPUAA will forecast and control expenditures by projecting needs, justifying requests, allocating funds, revising priorities, and monitoring expenditures, and will ensure compliance with federal/state regulations, accreditation standards, and university policies in their operations.
To support the university’s strategic goals, the VPUAA will lead efforts to ensure equitable access to undergraduate education and support services for underserved and underrepresented student populations, including first-generation students, low-income students, students from rural backgrounds, and international students. The VPUAA will also collaborate with campus partners to advance innovative and flexible learning pathways that align with students’ diverse professional and academic goals including global learning opportunities, international partnerships, and students’ cross-cultural competencies to meet the increasing demands of a globalized education.
The work of the VPUAA will align with Virginia Tech’s Beyond Boundaries vision and aspirations for global distinction, contributing to advancing its inclusive excellence initiatives and land-grant mission of service. They will embody a leadership philosophy grounded in Virginia Tech’s motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), prioritizing service-oriented and mission-driven decision-making. The VPUAA will also promote interdisciplinary collaboration across colleges, advancing programs that equip students to address complex, real-world problems, drive innovation, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
This role offers a unique opportunity for a visionary leader to contribute to the university’s mission of preparing students to address the world’s most pressing challenges through education, research, and service.
