The Chief Academic Officer's Handbook

A Provost's Guide to Visionary Leadership

Gregor Thuswaldner, Laura Niesen De Abruna, Gail F. Baker, Patricia E. Salkin, Robyn E. Parker, Jennifer Luddy, Servet M. Yatin, Jennifer E. Walsh, Sacha Kopp, Ellen Granberg, Keith Jenkins, Costas Spirou, Sacha Kopp, Sacha Kopp, Junius Gonzales, James Winebrake, Peter O. Nwosu, Kathy E. Johnson, Peter O. Nwosu, Grego, Gregor Thuswaldner

• Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
• Year: 2025
• eBook ISBN: 9781421452067
• Topic: Education
• Subtopic: Education Administration

The essential guide for provosts navigating leadership, strategy, and crisis in today's complex higher education landscape.

The role of the provost—the chief academic officer—has never been more critical or challenging. Tasked with overseeing the academic mission of colleges and universities, provosts manage a wide range of responsibilities, from guiding institutional strategy and resource allocation to navigating faculty relationships, student success, and increasingly complex crises. The Chief Academic Officer's Handbook is an essential resource for those stepping into this demanding role as well as seasoned leaders seeking new strategies and perspectives.

Written by current and former provosts affiliated with the Association of Chief Academic Officers (ACAO) and edited by Gregor Thuswaldner, this comprehensive volume offers practical advice, best practices, and candid reflections from leaders representing a wide range of higher education institutions. Organized for quick reference, the handbook spans the full spectrum of the provost's responsibilities. From establishing an inclusive academic vision and working effectively with presidents and senior leadership to engaging with external stakeholders and managing institutional resources, each chapter addresses real-world challenges with clarity and insight. The book also tackles critical issues like crisis management, faculty relations, and the need for self-care in a role defined by constant high-stakes decision-making. The Chief Academic Officer's Handbook is the must-have guide for those committed to leading academic enterprises with integrity, vision, and resilience.

Published jointly with the Association of Chief Academic Officers.

Contributors: Forrest Anderson, Gail F. Baker, Kevin R. Carman, Michael Carr, Heather J. Coltman, Tondra De, Alicia Ory DeNicola, Junius J. Gonzalez, Ellen Granberg, Chris L. Heavey, Beth Ingram, Keith B. Jenkins, Kathy E. Johnson, Sacha Kopp, Bradley C. Litchfield, Joan F. Lorden, Jennifer Luddy, April C. Mason, John J. McCarthy, Laura Niesen de Abruña, Peter O. Nwosu, Robyn E. Parker, Amir Rahnamay-Azar, Patricia E. Salkin, Michael J. Sosulski, Costas Spirou, Pamela Stinson, Gregor Thuswaldner, Jennifer E. Walsh, Roger J. Ward, Burton Webb, Lori Werth, Michele G. Wheatly, James J. Winebrake, Maria Woodside-Oriakhi, and Servet M. Yatin.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Halftitle Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication Page
• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• Part I. Starting Out
• Chapter 1. Becoming a Provost
• Chapter 2. The Mindset of the Provost
• Chapter 3. Defining the Roles of the Provost
• Chapter 4. The Nuts and Bolts of Being a Provost
• Part II. Chief Academic Officer
• Chapter 5. Chief Academic Vision Caster
• Chapter 6. Working with Faculty
• Chapter 7. Inclusive Excellence and the Provost’s Office
• Chapter 8. Negotiating Relationships and the Importance of Trust
• Chapter 9. Effective Communication
• Chapter 10. The Provost’s Role in Promotion and Tenure
• Chapter 11. Making Progress
• Chapter 12. Principle-Centered Decision-Making
• Chapter 13. Leading Institutional Transformation
• Chapter 14. Developing Your Bench: The Role of the Chief Academic Officer
• Chapter 15. Lifelong Learning for Provosts: Increasing One’s Toolbox
• Part III. Working with the President and Cabinet
• Chapter 16. At the Pleasure of the President
• Chapter 17. Cabinet Functions and Dysfunctions
• Chapter 18. Navigating Visible and Shadow Structures in Higher Education: A Provost’s Imperative
• Chapter 19. What Makes an Effective Provost? A Faculty Senate President, a Dean, and a President Weigh In
• Part IV. Campus, Town, and Gown
• Chapter 20. The Provost and Students
• Chapter 21. Shaping Academic Culture Through Onboarding and Professional Development
• Chapter 22. Working with External Constituents
• Chapter 23. The Chief Academic Officer as Fundraiser
• Part V. Budget Models, Finances, and Other Resources
• Chapter 24. Essential Partners: Provosts and Chief Financial Officers
• Chapter 25. Strategic Budgeting for Academic Excellence: Insights and Best Practices
• Chapter 26. Reimagining Academic Program Vitality: The Imperative to Prioritize
• Chapter 27. Finding New Revenue Streams
• Part VI. Managing Difficulties and Crises
• Chapter 28. Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech
• Chapter 29. Thriving in a Pandemic
• Chapter 30. How to Cope with the Enrollment Cliff
• Chapter 31. Self-Management for Provosts
• Part VII. What Next?
• Chapter 32. Seasons of a Provost: Should I Stay or Should I Go?
• Chapter 33. Derailed Provosts: Preventing CAOs from Failing
• Chapter 34. What I Wish I Had Known
• Chapter 35. Concluding the Term of Provost
• Chapter 36. Ascending to the Presidency
• List of Contributors
• Index