Office of the Provost

Thank you for visiting this website, and welcome! A special word to prospective faculty and staff : having been at W&L myself only since 2007, I can tell you already that it is a very special place with rich traditions, a sense of place, deeply held values of honor and civility, a unifying purpose, and a strong community of talented people. When you are on campus, please make sure to take in the inspiring view down the length of the famous Colonnade walkway on our front lawn. As I stand at one end of the walk and see far down to where I will emerge at its other end, it reminds me metaphorically of the journey that represents time spent in this place. Whether it is the four years for a student's degree or a career for staff and faculty, the journey will be one of deep meaning and personal enrichment for a lifetime.

It is my privilege to serve W&L as Provost, and the purpose of this website is to serve you. The links from the menu bar on this page lead to a lot of information for current and prospective members of our community. If you do not find what you need on these pages, have a new idea, or just want to say hello---please feel free to call, email, or drop by the office (Washington Hall, second floor). You do not need a reason to stop by-I would just like to meet you and if you have time, to hear your perspectives on life and work at Washington and Lee.

What We Do

The Provost's Office oversees and supports the work of faculty, academic deans and directors, admissions, registrar, university computing, athletics, career services, university collections, and other programs, committees, and functions central to the academic life of the university. The Provost works with other leaders to recruit and retain faculty, students and staff of the highest caliber and to empower them to do their best work together to achieve the outstanding student outcomes that are promised in the institutional mission statement. The Provost also works directly with the President and other Vice Presidents to develop annual budgets and priorities, promote student development, and advance the institution through fund-raising and communication strategies.

The Provost's Office drives activities that move the institution toward the goals implicit in the university's strategic plan and mission statement. On a day to day basis, progress depends on providing the faculty and administrators with accurate and timely information; maintaining sound policies that are applied consistently; effectively distributing resources; and leading with ideas, planning and implementation strategies. A few examples of exciting new academic endeavors are: the Johnson Program in Leadership and Integrity, Revitalization of the Undergraduate Spring Term, Teacher-Scholar Initiative, Sloan Program for Faculty Career Flexibility, and Revision to Third Year Law.