Staff of the Provost's Office
Dr. Richard Starnes
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
828.227.7495
starnes@wcu.edu
The Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs serves as the Chief Academic
Officer providing oversight of all educational programs at the bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚, educational specialist, and doctoral levels. The Provost
fosters the development, preservation, dissemination and utilization of knowledge
through effective teaching, learning, research, creativity and service, as well as
all Academic Affairs initiatives. In addition, the Provost serves on the Chancellor鈥檚 Executive Council, Board of Trustees Academic Affairs and Personnel Committee, Faculty Senate and Planning
Team and Internal Technology Planning Council; co-chairs Enrollment Planning Council;
provides oversight of the Campus Master Plan, Strategic Plan and SACSCOC Reaffirmation; and leads the Provost Council.
Holli Stillman
Assistant to the Provost
828.227.3014
hbstillman@wcu.edu
The Assistant to the Provost provides direct support to the Provost including management
of the calendar, correspondence, meeting preparation including Provost Council and
the Board of Trustees Academic Affairs and Personnel Committee, as well as Academic
Affairs special projects and initiatives. This position provides oversight and management
of the Office of the Provost, is a member of the Provost's Executive Council, and
serves as a liaison to Provost Council Assistants, as well as other entities on campus.
Linda Davis
Director, Academic Resources and Business Operations
828.227.2914
lcdavis@wcu.edu
The Director of Academic Resources and Business Operations provides oversight, coordination,
development, and evaluation of multiple business operations for the division, including
staffing and budgeting; analysis, evaluation, and creation of policies/procedures
to improve management functions throughout the division; signature authority for the
Provost for academic budget and staffing initiatives; oversight, guidance, and support
to deans and other academic leadership regarding staffing and budgeting; strategic
and visionary budget planning; serves as liaison between Academic Affairs and the
Division of Administration and Finance; oversight of budgeting FTE allocation and
assessment; provision of training and professional development for division鈥檚 budget/finance
staff to include respective college budget officers.
Academic Affairs
Dr. Carol Burton
Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
828.227.7495
burton@wcu.edu
The Vice Provost for Academic Affairs manages the Center for Career and Professional Development, Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning, the Mountain Heritage Center, and the Office of Institutional Assessment. She also provides oversight to the Liberal Studies Program, Campus Theme, Intentional Learning Plan program and accompanying grants, and Community Engagement. In addition, the Vice
Provost for Academic Affairs serves on the Provost鈥檚 Executive Council, Provost's
Council, Academic Affairs Council, and is the Academic Affairs liaison with the Education
Advisory Board (EAB); the AASCU American Democracy Project; Chairs the Enrollment
Strategies Committee (ESC), is a member of the Cherokee-WCU Advisory Board, and serves as an ex- officio member of the Liberal Studies Committee.
Alei Coleman
Executive Assistant
828.227.3012
colemana@wcu.edu
This position provides direct support to the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs including
management of the calendar, correspondence, and committee support for the interdisciplinary
Campus Theme Committee and the Liberal Studies Committee, as well as facilitating the Intentional Learning Plan Grants for student travel. This position serves as a liaison to the Undergraduate Studies
Unit Administrative Assistants.
Dr. Carmen Huffman
Associate Provost for Academic Affairs
828.227.7495
chuffman@wcu.edu
The Associate Provost for Academic Affairs oversees faculty reappointment, tenure,
promotion and post-tenure review processes, faculty credentials, new faculty orientation,
faculty development, and coordinates distinguished and endowed professor networking
and support. The Associate Provost for Academic Affairs provides professional development
and resources for academic department heads, including regular Department Head Workshops,
is responsible for curriculum review and approval of courses and programs, oversees
the faculty handbook, and serves as provost office liaison to Faculty Senate and academic
program liaison to UNC General Administration. The Associate Provost for Academic
Affairs chairs the Associate Deans Council, is a member of multiple committees and
councils, and has administrative responsibility for the Office of the Registrar, Coulter Faculty Commons, Office of Global Engagement, Intensive English Program, and .
Sara Yager Lloyd
Executive Assistant
828.227.2665
syagerlloyd@wcu.edu
This position provides direct support to the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs
including management of the calendar, correspondence, meeting preparation, as well
as special projects and initiatives. This position supports tenure, promotion and
reappointment, and post-tenure review processes, faculty credentials and the AA21
process, new faculty orientation, academic calendar, Associate Deans Council, Department
Head Workshop, Chancellor鈥檚 Travel Fund, Visiting Scholar Program, Scholarly Development
Assignment Program, and faculty H-1B Petitions.
Lindsey Brown
Administrative Support Specialist
828.227.3016
lbrown@wcu.edu
This position is the administrator and provides direct support for our curriculum and approval processes;
maintains the Provost Office website, , and supports numerous Academic Affairs related responsibilities such as: articulation agreements, university-wide committee lists, organizational charts, the Faculty Handbook, the , and Faculty Senate.
Institutional Planning and Effectiveness
Dr. Tim Metz
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Institutional Planning and Effectiveness
828.227.3046
tdmetz@wcu.edu
The Assistant Vice Chancellor for Institutional Planning and Effectiveness oversees the university's data reporting obligations and needs, including federal
and state reporting, implementation of surveys, and data support for strategic decision-making,
provides support for institutional accreditation and contributes to institutional space planning and management.
Assessment and Accreditation
Dr. Jennifer Schiff
Director, Institutional Accreditation
828.227.2803
jsschiff@wcu.edu
The Director of Institutional Accreditation (DIA) is responsible for leading and managing
work related to institutional accreditation. Job duties include coordination and
participation in researching, editing and co-authoring accreditation documents, overseeing
document management, and planning, managing, and hosting review committees during
on-site visits. Additional duties include communicating updates to campus stakeholder
groups and initiating projects required to maintain institutional accreditation such
as the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) proposal project. The DIA works closely with
WCU鈥檚 SACSCOC Liaison, the Director of Institutional Assessment, and co-chairs WCU鈥檚
Institutional Accreditation Leadership Team.
Salem Niehaus
Administrative Support Associate
828.227.2040
lniehaus@wcu.edu
This position provides administrative support to the Director of Institutional Accreditation.
Responsilbilities include calendar management, meeting preparation, communications,
and other special projects.
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