{"id":766,"date":"2021-05-14T23:11:37","date_gmt":"2021-05-14T23:11:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stagewp.westernu.edu\/provost\/?page_id=766"},"modified":"2026-02-04T21:00:29","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T21:00:29","slug":"academic-affairs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/provost\/academic-affairs\/","title":{"rendered":"Academic Excellence"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"hero-secondary\">\n  <div class=\"relative bg-black\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"adhere object-cover\" src=\"\/media\/provost\/images\/teaching.jpg\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"100vw\" alt=\"Teaching\">\n      <div class=\"adhere gradient-overlay\"><\/div>\n        <div class=\"relative container pt-56 md:pt-112 pb-144 md:pb-192\">\n      <div class=\"md:flex md:justify-between px-12\">\n        <div class=\"sm:w-8\/12 md:w-6\/12 xl:w-5\/12 px-12\">\n                      <div class=\"mb-20\">\n              <div class=\"block font-sans font-bold text-14 text-white leading-130\">\n  <span class=\"inline-block\">\n    <a href=\"\/\" class=\"block hover:underline\">WesternU<\/a>\n  <\/span>\n      <span class=\"inline-block mx-6\">\/<\/span>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/provost\" class=\"inline-block hover:underline\">Office of the Provost<\/a>\n          <span class=\"inline-block mx-6\">\/<\/span>\n    <span class=\"inline-block\"><\/span>\n  <\/div>            <\/div>\n                                        <h1 class=\"t-h1-sans  text-white\"><\/h1>\n        <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"relative my-48 md:my-72\">\n  <div class=\"container\">\n    <div class=\"lg:flex px-12 lg:justify-center\">\n      \n      \n                  \n                  \n      <div class=\"w-full px-24 wysiwyg-content xl:w-10\/12 2xl:w-9\/12\">\n        <p>Academic excellence defines what matters most at WesternU, and it is achieved together. The Office of the Provost supports and coordinates university-wide academic priorities, working in close partnership with deans, colleges, departments, faculty, and staff to guide decision-making, investments, and responsible use of resources.<\/p>\n<p>These shared priorities reflect our collective commitment to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Disciplinary excellence and innovation within each college, providing high-quality, future-ready education<\/li>\n<li>Graduates prepared for meaningful, resilient careers, grounded in professional identity and service<\/li>\n<li>Data-informed decision-making that strengthens transparency, trust, and shared accountability<\/li>\n<li>Responsible growth and long-term sustainability that supports both institutional strength and local impact<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Through collaboration, clear priorities, and continuous assessment, strategy becomes lived practice. The academic community sustains excellence through its shared responsibility for the health professions faculty, staff, and students, now and for life.<\/p>\n\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"my-48 md:mt-96 md:mb-72\" vue-app>\n  <div class=\"container\">\n    <div class=\"app-gutter\">\n      <div class=\"relative md:flex md:justify-end\">\n        <div class=\"app-gutter\">\n                                  <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"md:absolute md:-top-32 md:left-0 w-full md:w-5\/12 lg:w-6\/12 h-240 sm:h-320 md:h-full object-cover rounded-t-5 md:rounded-8\" src=\"\/media\/provost\/images\/082015_vrlc_cdm_06.jpg\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"(min-width: 768px) 50vw, 100vw\" alt=\"Image of dental students in the virtual reality learning center\">\n                  <\/div>\n        <div class=\"md:w-8\/12 xl:w-7\/12 app-gutter\">\n          <div class=\"p-32 sm:p-40 md:px-0 md:py-80 rounded-b-5 md:rounded-8 bg-red\">\n            <div class=\"md:ml-1\/8 lg:ml-1\/4 xl:ml-1\/7 md:px-40 lg:px-80\">\n                              \t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"text-lockup text-lockup--red\">\n\t<h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"t-h2-serif  block text-yellow\">Academic Excellence<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"t-h2-sans  block text-white\">Resource Links<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mt-28\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"cta-arrow cta-arrow--white \" href=\"\/registrar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n    Office of the Registrar<svg class=\"cta-arrow__icon d-block w-16 ml-12\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 16\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><polygon fill=\"currentColor\" points=\"11.3168217 0 9.27266614 2.39591605 14.0042587 6.6137266 8.92524936 6.42314237 0 6.42314237 0 9.57685763 8.92524936 9.57685763 14.0042587 9.3862734 9.19197579 13.6063528 11.3168217 16 20 8\"><\/polygon><\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mt-16\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"cta-arrow cta-arrow--white \" href=\"\/ire\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n    Office of Institutional Research &amp; Effectiveness<svg class=\"cta-arrow__icon d-block w-16 ml-12\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 16\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><polygon fill=\"currentColor\" points=\"11.3168217 0 9.27266614 2.39591605 14.0042587 6.6137266 8.92524936 6.42314237 0 6.42314237 0 9.57685763 8.92524936 9.57685763 14.0042587 9.3862734 9.19197579 13.6063528 11.3168217 16 20 8\"><\/polygon><\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mt-16\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"cta-arrow cta-arrow--white \" href=\"\/ire\/outcomes\/outcomes-wu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n    Academic Outcomes<svg class=\"cta-arrow__icon d-block w-16 ml-12\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 16\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><polygon fill=\"currentColor\" points=\"11.3168217 0 9.27266614 2.39591605 14.0042587 6.6137266 8.92524936 6.42314237 0 6.42314237 0 9.57685763 8.92524936 9.57685763 14.0042587 9.3862734 9.19197579 13.6063528 11.3168217 16 20 8\"><\/polygon><\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mt-16\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"cta-arrow cta-arrow--white \" href=\"\/provost\/academic-affairs\/state-authorizations\/\">\n    State Authorizations<svg class=\"cta-arrow__icon d-block w-16 ml-12\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 16\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><polygon fill=\"currentColor\" points=\"11.3168217 0 9.27266614 2.39591605 14.0042587 6.6137266 8.92524936 6.42314237 0 6.42314237 0 9.57685763 8.92524936 9.57685763 14.0042587 9.3862734 9.19197579 13.6063528 11.3168217 16 20 8\"><\/polygon><\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n                          <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<section class=\"my-48 md:mt-96 md:mb-72\">\n  <div class=\"container\">\n    <div class=\"app-gutter\">\n            <div class=\"mx-auto md:w-10\/12 lg:flex lg:flex-wrap lg:flex-row-reverse\">\n        <div class=\"lg:w-4\/12\">\n                                  <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"w-full rounded-t-5 lg:rounded-8 h-240 sm:h-320 lg:h-full object-cover\" src=\"\/media\/provost\/images\/hec.jpg\" srcset=\"\/media\/provost\/images\/hec.jpg 1650w, \/media\/provost\/images\/hec-1536x1187.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 768px) 50vw, 100vw\" alt=\"A modern building with large glass windows and an exterior staircase leading to the second floor; two bicycles are parked nearby.\">\n                  <\/div>\n        <div class=\"lg:w-8\/12 app-gutter\">\n          <div>\n            <div class=\"lg:px-40\">\n                              \t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"text-lockup text-lockup--default\">\n\t<h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"t-h2-serif  block text-red-light\">Academic<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"t-h2-sans  block text-red\">Policies &amp; Procedures<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wysiwyg-content t-p2 mt-24 text-black\">Grounded in our shared values of academic, research, and professional excellence, the Office of the Provost is committed to principled policies and transparent decision-making regarding faculty standards and reviews. Our goal is to promote and protect the faculty&#8217;s ability to teach, conduct research, and serve patients and the community with humanism, integrity, and excellence. Designated staff in the Provost&#8217;s Office assist the Senate and its subcommittees by providing essential logistical coordination and ensuring prompt central archiving of records and correspondence.<br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nCentral to our mission is coordinating the policies, processes, review structures, and enterprise software systems that govern all academic appointments, including faculty promotion and tenure. The Office of the Provost supports academic policies and encourages regular updates, including the faculty handbooks at both the university and college levels. This work is done in collaboration with the University Academic Senate, its subcommittees, college faculty assemblies, their handbook committees, deans, and other institutional stakeholders. Additionally, the Office of the Provost contributes directly to the development of new and existing university policies by participating in the Policy Review Core Team (PRCT).<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mt-28\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"cta-arrow cta-arrow--red \" href=\"\/media\/hr\/pdfs\/westernu-faculty-handbook.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n    Promotion and Tenure<svg class=\"cta-arrow__icon d-block w-16 ml-12\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 16\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><polygon fill=\"currentColor\" points=\"11.3168217 0 9.27266614 2.39591605 14.0042587 6.6137266 8.92524936 6.42314237 0 6.42314237 0 9.57685763 8.92524936 9.57685763 14.0042587 9.3862734 9.19197579 13.6063528 11.3168217 16 20 8\"><\/polygon><\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mt-16\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"cta-arrow cta-arrow--red \" href=\"\/media\/hr\/pdfs\/westernu-faculty-handbook.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n    University Faculty Handbook<svg class=\"cta-arrow__icon d-block w-16 ml-12\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 16\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><polygon fill=\"currentColor\" points=\"11.3168217 0 9.27266614 2.39591605 14.0042587 6.6137266 8.92524936 6.42314237 0 6.42314237 0 9.57685763 8.92524936 9.57685763 14.0042587 9.3862734 9.19197579 13.6063528 11.3168217 16 20 8\"><\/polygon><\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mt-16\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"cta-arrow cta-arrow--red \" href=\"https:\/\/westernu.sharepoint.com\/sites\/UniversityPolicyHub\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n    University Policy Portal (Employee Access Only)<svg class=\"cta-arrow__icon d-block w-16 ml-12\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 16\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><polygon fill=\"currentColor\" points=\"11.3168217 0 9.27266614 2.39591605 14.0042587 6.6137266 8.92524936 6.42314237 0 6.42314237 0 9.57685763 8.92524936 9.57685763 14.0042587 9.3862734 9.19197579 13.6063528 11.3168217 16 20 8\"><\/polygon><\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n                          <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<section class=\"my-48 md:mt-96 md:mb-72\" vue-app>\n  <div class=\"container\">\n    <div class=\"app-gutter\">\n      <div class=\"relative md:flex md:justify-end\">\n        <div class=\"app-gutter\">\n                                  <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"md:absolute md:-top-32 md:left-0 w-full md:w-5\/12 lg:w-6\/12 h-240 sm:h-320 md:h-full object-cover rounded-t-5 md:rounded-8\" src=\"\/media\/provost\/images\/071818-westernu-3d-tech-gary-wisser-08-1448x1536-1.jpg\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"(min-width: 768px) 50vw, 100vw\" alt=\"An older man in glasses examines a translucent brain model with colorful lights, adjusting wires connected to a small electronic device on a dark table.\">\n                  <\/div>\n        <div class=\"md:w-8\/12 xl:w-7\/12 app-gutter\">\n          <div class=\"p-32 sm:p-40 md:px-0 md:py-80 rounded-b-5 md:rounded-8 bg-black\">\n            <div class=\"md:ml-1\/8 lg:ml-1\/4 xl:ml-1\/7 md:px-40 lg:px-80\">\n                              \t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"text-lockup text-lockup--black\">\n\t<h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"t-h2-serif  block text-yellow\">Academic<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"t-h2-sans  block text-white\">Innovation<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wysiwyg-content t-p2 mt-24 text-white\">The Office of the Provost supports the development, review, and continuous improvement of academic programs across the University, working in partnership with colleges and academic leaders to ensure programs remain strong, relevant, and responsive. New program proposals, program enhancements, and evolving educational pathways are reviewed through a clear and transparent process grounded in mission alignment, workforce needs, academic quality, and long-term sustainability.<br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nEducational innovation advances new programs and delivery models that expand opportunity and enrich learning while preserving rigor, accreditation expectations, and enduring institutional strength. This ensures we continue to optimize the learning environment for our students, preparing them for their future healthcare practice.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mt-28\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"cta-arrow cta-arrow--yellow \" href=\"\/research\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n    Research &amp; Biotech<svg class=\"cta-arrow__icon d-block w-16 ml-12\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 16\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><polygon fill=\"currentColor\" points=\"11.3168217 0 9.27266614 2.39591605 14.0042587 6.6137266 8.92524936 6.42314237 0 6.42314237 0 9.57685763 8.92524936 9.57685763 14.0042587 9.3862734 9.19197579 13.6063528 11.3168217 16 20 8\"><\/polygon><\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mt-16\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"cta-arrow cta-arrow--yellow \" href=\"\/cetl\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n    Center for Education, Technology and Learning (CETL)<svg class=\"cta-arrow__icon d-block w-16 ml-12\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 16\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><polygon fill=\"currentColor\" points=\"11.3168217 0 9.27266614 2.39591605 14.0042587 6.6137266 8.92524936 6.42314237 0 6.42314237 0 9.57685763 8.92524936 9.57685763 14.0042587 9.3862734 9.19197579 13.6063528 11.3168217 16 20 8\"><\/polygon><\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mt-16\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"cta-arrow cta-arrow--yellow \" href=\"\/interprofessional\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n    Interprofessional Practice and Education (IPE)<svg class=\"cta-arrow__icon d-block w-16 ml-12\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 16\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><polygon fill=\"currentColor\" points=\"11.3168217 0 9.27266614 2.39591605 14.0042587 6.6137266 8.92524936 6.42314237 0 6.42314237 0 9.57685763 8.92524936 9.57685763 14.0042587 9.3862734 9.19197579 13.6063528 11.3168217 16 20 8\"><\/polygon><\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n                          <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-766","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/766","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=766"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/766\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4603,"href":"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/766\/revisions\/4603"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.westernu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=766"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}