The University of South Carolina is classified as having "very high research activity” and also as a “community engaged” institution by the Carnegie Foundation for Advancement of Teaching. The university is also nationally recognized for its superior student experiences and is committed to developing flexible new models for college access and affordability.
Provost Fitzpatrick provides the guiding vision and framework for USC's academic leadership and its administrative management. The Provost is responsible for the supervision of all academic programs, a wide range of faculty matters (including development, recruitment, and retention), enrollment management, student academic affairs, and strategic academic and budgetary planning. As the university’s chief academic officer, the fundamental priorities of Provost Fitzpatrick are designed to support the university's mission of continued excellence.
Major Initiatives of Provost Fitzpatrick
Complete the hiring of 100 new tenure track faculty.
Support tenure track faculty teaching the first- and second-year classes.
Focus on faculty retention, including continued efforts to ensure competitive salaries.
Develop new programs for faculty advancement across their careers to support and empower our community of faculty to learn, grow, and thrive as teachers, as researchers, scholars and artists, and as productive members of our community.
Emphasize teaching excellence.
Maintain the successful transition to the four-year advising model.
Lead efforts to collaborate across student affairs and academic support to create an even more coordinated approach to student success.
Accelerate efforts to improve campus climate.
Create high quality undergraduate certificates and majors to meet workforce needs.
Maintain recent success levels in student recruitment, retention and graduation.
Facilitate the development of high-quality data systems to support data-informed decisions.
Re-envision Global Carolina for the 21st century.
Create a new structure for the Graduate School focused on the delivery of seamless, efficient, and aligned services that enable programs to devote their efforts and resources to research, scholarship, instruction, and professional development for their students.