UCA’s Provost Search Committee has interviewed all final four candidates.
The committee narrowed down the applicant pool from 89 to four based on qualifications and experience.
“The search committee evaluated every application that was received. Based on our evaluations we narrowed the list to 11 individuals to interview by Zoom. Nine applicants accepted our invitation. From there we worked as a committee to narrow the candidates to four, and they were invited to campus to interview,” Committee Chair Amy Whitehead said.
The committee is a mix of 14 faculty and staff members from across UCA.
Two provost candidates, Michael Hargis and Vedaraman Sriraman, interviewed on the UCA campus on March 5 and 7, respectively.
Hargis, the only internal candidate, currently serves as UCA’s Dean of the College of Business and has previously served as the interim provost.
Faculty member and candidate Michael Hargis speaks at a campus forum March 7.
“I am a long-time UCA employee, the elephant in the room, I am the internal candidate. I wear purple and gray almost every day. I have been here since 2006, I started as an assistant professor in our management and marketing department and moved through the faculty ranks,” he said.
Hargis said that he felt that his time as interim has helped him to see the complexities of the position and prepared him to serve as provost in an official and permanent capacity.
“I did serve as interim provost of this institution for an academic year; it was a great experience for me. A transformative one professionally, and I will say that it is part of what has allowed me to arrive here, eyes wide open about the complexity of this job.”
Vedaraman Sriraman, the current vice provost of Texas State University visited March 5.
Sriraman said he is interested in UCA because of the focus on student success within the university.
“Your [UCA’s] infrastructure is super focused on student success, and that was a very appealing factor for me because I am very committed to student success,” Sriraman said.
According to the job description, the provost oversees all academic operations.
“The provost has oversight of all units within the Division of Academic Affairs including five academic colleges (Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Behavioral Sciences; Natural Sciences and Mathematics), the Schedler Honors College, Graduate School, Enrollment Management, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Academic Leadership, Torreyson Library, and Outreach and Community Engagement,” the description said.
The description also details the provost’s role in budgeting and strategic planning for the university.
“In addition, the provost will establish a strategic direction and oversee activities to advance and support UCA’s academic mission and vision. The provost plays a key role in the allocation of budgetary resources and the promotion of diversity, equity. and inclusion across campus.”
Whitehead said the committee hopes to announce the new provost before spring break.