A Tradition of Excellence
From the earliest days of its founding, Boston University has committed itself to being not only an incubator of ideas and discovery, but a motivator of action, entrepreneurship, and transformative solutions to the challenges of the day.
The Boston University Office of the Provost upholds this Terrier tradition of excellence by providing leadership in the University’s academic, budgetary, and planning efforts. Key to these efforts are attracting and supporting the finest faculty and students from around the world, investing in world-class learning spaces and research facilities, and advancing a standard for scholarship and innovation consistently regarded among the nation’s leaders.
The Work of the Provost
University Provost Gloria Waters is BU’s second-ranking official and its chief academic officer. Reporting directly to President Melissa Gilliam, the provost supervises all academic programs and support functions, faculty affairs (including recruiting, promotion, and tenure), strategic initiatives, global programs, student academic affairs, and academic and space planning.
As one of the country’s largest private research institutions, Boston University serves more than 33,000 undergraduate and graduate students across the 17 schools and colleges and the Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences of its Charles River, Medical, and Fenway Campuses. Its highly regarded faculty counts among its members Nobel Laureates, MacArthur fellows, Pulitzer Prize winners, and a roster of nationally renowned scholars in every discipline. Its classrooms, meanwhile, have become recognized as a launching pad for national leaders in science, engineering, business, communications, the humanities, and public service.
The Office of the Provost works to ensure the continued pursuit of excellence by promoting the very best in new scholarship and interdisciplinary research across campuses, supporting the University’s extensive global outreach efforts, and sustaining a vibrant intellectual community composed of the finest faculty and students.
