Welcome...and thank you for visiting the Office of the Provost Web site!

The provost is the chief academic officer who works with members of the provost's staff, deans, department chairs and directors, and faculty and staff to enhance learning at the university by improving the quality of academic programs and the quality of faculty teaching, research, and service. The provost is the senior university officer next to the president, serving as the president's principal adviser in the development of a well-conceived and organized curriculum administered and taught by a faculty of the highest qualifications. The provost oversees budget development by the colleges and monitors these budgets throughout the academic year.

The five degree-granting colleges - Arts and Letters, Business, Science and Technology, Education and Psychology, and Health - report to the provost, as well as the University's Libraries. The provost monitors the planning, development, and revision of academic programs and supervises all processes involving the academic staff of the university. The provost is advised by a provost's council, departmental, decanal, and university-wide personnel committees, and by the Academic Council, the Graduate Council, Council of Chairs, and the Faculty Senate. The Office of the Provost strives to foster a learning environment in which students and faculty work together to pursue and develop new knowledge, to develop innovative ways to apply that knowledge, and to share their knowledge with all who are interested.

These Web pages are designed to facilitate communication between the Office of the Provost and the Southern Miss community. Please share your knowledge and insight about academic programs, facilities, or other topics. Your communications will be viewed only by the provost and members of the provost's staff. By sharing your ideas freely and openly, we can work to together to enhance learning at Southern Miss.