Office of the Provost

About

Ken Dawson-Scully serves as Florida Atlantic University’s Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, providing leadership for the Division of Academic Affairs. He oversees the university’s 10 colleges, more than 180 degree programs, and key university-wide units that support academics and the student experience including the Office of Undergraduate Studies, Enrollment Management (which includes Undergraduate Admissions, Financial Aid, and the University Registrar), University Libraries, and the Office of Information Technology.

Prior to joining Florida Atlantic in this role, Dr. Dawson-Scully served as Associate Provost and Senior Vice President for Research at Nova Southeastern University, where he led the Division of Research and Economic Development across research strategy, infrastructure, compliance, technology transfer, clinical research operations, and faculty and student research support. Under his research leadership, NSU elevated from R2 to the Carnegie Classification of “R1: Very High Research Activity.”

Dr. Dawson-Scully previously served Florida Atlantic for 13 years (2008–2021) in multiple leadership roles, including Associate Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, Director of the FAU Max Planck Honors Program, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, and Associate Director of the FAU Brain Institute. During that period, he also served as Head of Institutional Partnerships at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience and led initiatives that increased National Merit Scholar enrollment.

A Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors and the Royal Entomological Society, Dr. Dawson-Scully is a Professor of Biological Sciences in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science and has published extensively in leading scientific journals, with expertise spanning translational neuroscience, neuroprotective compounds, stress physiology, and commercialization of academic research. He earned his Ph.D. in physiology from the University of Toronto’s College of Medicine.

provost@fau.educhevron_right

Academic Units

The mission of Assessment is to provide university support for the assessment of student learning outcomes, planning and reporting on assessment activities, and continuous improvement activities at the course, program, and institutional levels. Moreover, Assessment strives to collaborate with faculty, administrators and other staff to develop and sustain, across the university, a community-supported and endorsed culture of assessment.

Center for eLearning is committed to increasing access to education, improving student-learning outcomes, and holding constant or reducing instructional costs by effectively utilizing technology in course delivery redesigns.

The Center for eLearning aspires to be an internationally recognized leader in the new higher education landscape for its success in utilizing technology and instructional design to increase access and student learning while decreasing instructional costs.

The mission of OIT is to plan for and provide high-quality information technology resources in support of research and teaching across all campuses, and to facilitate the efficient execution of administrative and public service functions of the University. OIT is headed by an Associate Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Jason Ball, who reports to Strategic Planning and Information Technology. In addition to providing FAU vital general computing and telecommunications services, OIT serves as a consultant and coordinator for more specific information technology activities and projects carried on by the various University colleges, departments, administrative offices, and research groups. Each unit is assisted in accomplishing its own goals, and at the same time, OIT ensures that overall institutional goals are being met.

The mission of the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Analysis (IEA) is to provide accurate, relevant, and timely information for use by the university community and external constituencies. Reporting directly to the Division of Strategic Planning and Information Technology, IEA is the university's central point of contact for data and information requests. In addition, IEA designs and administers survey instruments, conducts special studies on issues of significance to the FAU community, and assists academic departments and academic support units in assessing, reporting, and improving the effectiveness of their programs.

FAU's Graduate College is a service college dedicated to supporting graduate student success on our multi-campus research university. We aim to pursue excellence in graduate education by working closely with graduate students, graduate faculty, and academic colleges with graduate programs across the university. FAU's Graduate College aims for excellent and accessible graduate education, providing ample resources and support for graduate students to ensure success at our multi-campus research university.

Founded in 1971, Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute is a research community of approximately 150 marine scientists, engineers, educators, and other professionals focused on Ocean Science for a Better World. The institute drives innovation in ocean engineering and exploration, coral research and conservation, marine drug discovery, estuarine and coastal ecology and observation, marine mammal research and conservation, ocean dynamics and modeling, aquaculture, and marine science education. To support these efforts and fulfill its potential as a public institution, Harbor Branch seeks to develop collaborations with life science and technology organizations and other entities, placing particular emphasis on intersections of environmental, societal, and economic benefits. The site comprises 32 buildings set on 144 acres along the Indian River Lagoon estuary.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Florida Atlantic University is dedicated to offering intellectually enriching educational experiences to adults of all ages. We offer non-credit courses in a welcoming atmosphere with state-of-the-art facilities. This community for seasoned learners enjoys a diverse and creative curriculum, along with concerts and entertainment. In establishing this program, FAU recognized the still unfulfilled demand for educational and intellectual stimulation for adults who are beyond the traditional university years.

The mission of Florida Atlantic University's Division of Research is to expand and support the University's academic and research programs by promoting the research, scholarly, creative, and collaborative activities of faculty and students; encouraging national and international partnerships for workforce development and commercialization of research endeavors; enhancing the research infrastructure of the University to support the community in an ever-changing world, and providing an environment for timely production of graduate degrees through an educational experience of national and international excellence.

FAU Libraries promotes academic excellence by providing opportunities for intellectual and personal development to a diverse academic community. The Libraries fulfills this mission by collecting and providing access to a unique and extensive collection of research materials and services which support scholarly research; promoting a dynamic and multifaceted information literacy program; maintaining cooperative dialogue with the scholarly community; developing creative programming; encouraging active public engagement and increasing awareness of FAU Libraries in the local, regional, national and international communities.

Undergraduate Studies, a division of Academic Affairs, is headed by the Dean of Undergraduate Studies who reports directly to the University Provost and Chief Academic Officer. Its mission is to assure that Florida Atlantic University provides baccalaureate degree programs which are of the highest academic quality irrespective of their location or method of delivery within the distributed campus structure of FAU. This is achieved through participation in the planning, implementation, review and periodic revision of those programs which include the general education curriculum, and discipline-specific majors.

Advancement of this mission is supported by a number of ancillary academic services which, under the supervision of the dean, make major contributions to the enhancement of the undergraduate experience. They include: Center for Teaching and Learning (encompassing the Center for Learning And Student Success, Math Learning Center, the Director for the Scholarship of Teaching, the Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry, the University Center for Excellence in Writing, and Writing Across the Curriculum Program); Student-Athlete Center for Academic Excellence; Testing and Evaluation; University Advising Services, and the University Honors Program.

Initiatives

The Office of the Provost takes on a number of initiatives to ensure that the academic operations of the University are effectively contributing to the overall mission of the institution. The below task force reports are just a sample of these initiatives:

eLearning Task Force - The eLearning Task Force was created to increase the University’s technical and substantive capacity to deliver quality eLearning programs, courses and degrees.
Task Force on Celebrating Faculty Success – The focus of this Task Force was to ensure faculty members are recognized for their most notable accomplishments in the areas of teaching, scholarship, and service.
Honors Education Task Force - The Honors Education Task Force was charged with developing a proposal that would outline suggestions about increasing the number of high ability students who choose to attend Florida Atlantic University because of its honors opportunities. The Taskforce was encouraged to think creatively about potential ideas and to study best practices at other institutions. Read the full report submitted in August 2011. Read the principle recommendations submitted in February 2012
Jupiter Life Science Initiative
International Education Task Force – This group’s activities included a cross-College conversation with the Provost, culminating in the creation of a report entitled “Top Needs in International Education at Florida Atlantic University.”
Task Force on Student Success - Our primary focus in the coming years will be implementing robust strategies for ongoing student success as measured by student retention and graduation rates, job placement, and acceptance in postgraduate or professional programs for those students who seek to continue their education beyond the baccalaureate degree. A major University-wide focused campaign, has been launched to address all issues associated with successful degree completion and these strategies will become part of the operational efficiency of FAU going forward.
Peace, Justice and Human Rights Initiative - Building on FAU's success of the Peace Studies Program, which is generously funded by the Schmidt Family Foundation, and supported by the Lynn-Wold-Schmidt Peace Studies Endowment, this university-wide initiative seeks to bring together the various entities on our campuses invested in the themes of Human Rights, Peace and Social Justice, both locally and globally.
Community Engagement - Engaged learning, research, and service are the hallmarks of all great universities that strive to better the communities that surround them – be they local, national or global. This engagement seeds the dynamic exchange of ideas between the institution and its stakeholders and gives birth to relationships that result in positive change far greater than each could achieve standing alone.
Mini-Terms - are 5-and 8-week courses that run concurrently with the regular fall and spring semester. Intersession courses are 3-week online courses over winter break.
FAU Leadership and Professional Development Initiative (LPDI) - seeks to provide easy access to professional development services that meet the unique needs of FAU faculty, leaders, and professional staff.

Academic Events

As part of its commitment to fostering academic excellence and collaboration, the Office of the Provost hosts and supports a variety of academic events throughout the year. These events provide opportunities for faculty, staff, and students to engage with key initiatives, share research, and contribute to institutional planning and innovation.

The following events represent recent and ongoing efforts to support academic engagement and institutional initiatives:

Honors Convocation - The annual Honors Convocation celebrates the exceptional achievements of Florida Atlantic University’s students and faculty. Student recognitions include prestigious merit-based scholarships and a variety of academic awards. Faculty honors highlight excellence in research, scholarship, teaching, and advising, including the distinguished Researchers/Scholars of the Year awards. This signature event reflects the University’s ongoing commitment to academic excellence and achievement.
Soar-In-4 Scholars Graduation Celebration - Launched in 2017, the Soar-in-4 Scholars Program has played a vital role in strengthening the culture of academic achievement at Florida Atlantic University. This initiative celebrates students who commit to graduating in four years or less; demonstrating dedication, focus, and perseverance.
New Faculty Orientation - New Faculty Orientation is designed to welcome and support incoming faculty as they begin their journey at Florida Atlantic University. This annual event provides an overview of the University’s mission, resources, policies, and academic culture, while also fostering connections among new colleagues and academic leaders. The orientation equips faculty with the tools and information they need to succeed in teaching, research, and service from day one.
Freshman Convocation - Freshman Convocation is Florida Atlantic University’s official welcome for incoming freshmen, marking the start of their academic journey. This inspiring ceremony connects new students with faculty, staff, administrators, and each other, fostering a sense of belonging in the FAU community. From warm greetings by university leaders to words of wisdom from the Distinguished Teacher of the Year, Convocation sets the tone for a memorable and successful college experience.

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