Strengthening Academic Affairs to Advance Student Success and Academic Excellence

Dear Colleagues,

Over the past several months, a campus workgroup conducted a comprehensive review of the structure, coordination and effectiveness of Academic Affairs serving the Lawrence and Edwards campuses. The review examined how our organization can best support students, faculty and the university's academic mission while identifying opportunities to improve organizational clarity, coordination and alignment with our One KU strategic framework. The workgroup included faculty and staff representatives from multiple units across campus and engaged extensively with Academic Affairs personnel and a broad range of campus stakeholders. 

The workgroup recently submitted its review and recommendations. After careful consideration, and in consultation with other KU senior leaders, I am implementing some of these recommendations now and in the coming weeks and months.

These changes strive to support student success and academic excellence by bringing together related functions, providing focused leadership for key areas of responsibility, and enhancing coordination across the university's academic enterprise. The recommendations build upon the strong foundation of work already taking place throughout Academic Affairs and are designed to help us advance shared priorities. These adjustments are structural in nature, however our commitment to students, faculty, staff and campus partners remains unchanged. Our goal is to maintain seamless operations as we position Academic Affairs to meet future needs, and I expect continuity in the services, programs, initiatives and support provided through Academic Affairs. 

As part of this transition:

• Ric Steele will continue to serve in a leadership role as Vice Provost for Graduate Affairs and Academic Effectiveness. He will assume additional responsibility for university accreditation, assessment and related academic effectiveness functions. This portfolio will now include oversight of activities related to Kansas Board of Regents reporting, KU Core 34, Higher Learning Commission accreditation, state and federally mandated assessment processes and related responsibilities. 
• Susan Scholz will serve as Interim Vice Provost for Undergraduate Academic Affairs. Her portfolio will provide leadership for undergraduate education, academic success, advising coordination, student support services and related initiatives that promote student access, retention, academic achievement, timely degree completion, and career readiness.
• Although reporting lines may shift, no other staffing changes are planned at this time. Other leaders based in Academic Affairs at the Vice Provost, Associate Vice Provost and Assistant Vice Provost levels will continue to serve in their capacity.

I truly appreciate Ric Steele’s contributions during his interim service, and I have great confidence in him for his expanded role. Similarly, I am grateful to Susan for agreeing to serve in this modified interim role and for her work leading the advisory workgroup. Her experience as an executive associate dean and interim dean of one of KU’s larger and most rapidly growing schools gives her tremendous insight into KU student needs as well as administrative opportunities. The thorough report she and the workgroup provided – which included input from dozens of campus stakeholders – offers a solid blueprint for adjustments that will streamline our operations and ensure our approach and structure are more intuitive. We will launch a search for a permanent Vice Provost for Undergraduate Academic Affairs in the coming months.

An Initial Recommendation

To strengthen coordination across the university's academic enterprise, I am establishing an Academic Affairs Council. The council will include:

• Vice Provost Ric Steele,
• Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Nick Stevens,
• Interim Vice Provost Susan Scholz, and
• Two deans, to be appointed.

The council will serve as a forum for coordinating academic priorities, aligning initiatives, sharing information, and addressing cross-cutting issues that affect students, faculty and academic programs. This structure will enhance alignment across Academic Affairs units and strengthen our collective efforts to support student success, academic quality, institutional effectiveness and the goals of One KU.

I recognize that organizational changes naturally generate questions, and I am committed to maintaining open communication throughout this transition. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly if you have questions or would like to discuss these changes.

I want to express my sincere appreciation to the members of the workgroup for their thoughtful assessment, as well as to all who participated in interviews and shared valuable feedback throughout the process.

Thank you for your continued dedication to our students, faculty, and university mission.

Sincerely,

Arash Mafi, Ph.D.
Chief Academic Officer, Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor