The Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) is responsible for the academic programs, budgetary matters relating to the academic programs, academic policies and procedures, and personnel matters relating to the faculty. Academic programs are organized and administered through academic divisions, each headed by a Division Chair. Division Chairs are appointed by the Vice President for Academic Affairs in consultation with members of the division and the President of the University. Lead Academic Council made up of the division chairs, the director of the Library, director of the Interdisciplinary Core, the registrar and director of Institutional Research, serve on executive council, enrollment management committee and strategic priorities committee. When the President is absent, the Vice President for Academic Affairs acts as the president.

Responsibilities include: Department leadership and management – all tasks to support governance, set departmental goals and priorities, long range plans, goals and policies. Build departmental consensus on planning and services, manage conflict and serve as chief facilitator for meetings and group discussions; Curriculum and program development - provide leadership for curricular review and development, manage departmental assessments and program review, collect, interpret, and present to the department data for discussions on the curriculum. Manage the process for the recruitment and evaluation of faculty and staff; Student matters – recruiting and retaining students, develop mechanisms to attest to the quality of the department’s instructional programs as well as strategies for student success, partner with student affairs personnel in resolving student issues; Financial leadership and management - prepare and propose budgets, seek outside funding and administer the departmental budget. Set priorities for the purchase of new equipment and software and align expenditures with departmental priorities. Adhere to state and university guidelines. Provide leadership in instructional space assignments and maintenance of departmental equipment. Liaise with central administration on security, renovations and repairs; Communication with external publics – serve as primary department spokesperson and advocate, coordinate activities with outside groups; work with central administration, student affairs, accrediting agencies, granting agencies, parents, students; Data management - manage the department record keeping system; and Institutional support - interpret and implement campus policies.