Survey: Provosts Focused on Funding Cuts, Academic Freedom and AI

"Despite the rising costs of college, weakened public support for higher education and the onslaught of political challenges facing colleges and universities, provosts remain optimistic about what their institution offers students. Nearly all provosts-99 percent-report that their institution provides a quality undergraduate education. They are generally happy about their jobs, too: 91 percent say they are glad they pursued administrative work, and 86 percent say they enjoy being a chief academic officer."

"These stats and others come from the latest Survey of College and University Chief Academic Officers, released today by Inside Higher Ed with Hanover Research. The survey-conducted in June and July of this year and garnering 478 responses-asked provosts for their thoughts on the rapidly changing federal policy landscape, the growing prominence of artificial intelligence, the importance of tenure and academic freedom, their faculty's job satisfaction and mental health as well as their own, and more."

"Provosts largely disagree that the current federal policy environment is good for colleges. Only 9 percent agree or strongly agree that new federal policies are "forcing changes that might benefit colleges and universities in the long run." More than half (56 percent) of provosts say that federal funding to their institution has decreased during the second Trump administration-relatively more than the 46 percent of college chief business officers who told Inside Higher Ed in the spring that they'd seen a drop in funding to their institution."

Provosts report strong confidence in their institutions' undergraduate education, with 99 percent saying they provide quality instruction. High personal satisfaction is common: 91 percent are glad they pursued administration and 86 percent enjoy serving as chief academic officers. Responses came from 478 provosts in June and July and covered federal policy, artificial intelligence, tenure and academic freedom, and faculty and provost mental health and job satisfaction. Few provosts view the federal policy environment as beneficial; only 9 percent see new federal policies as potentially helpful. Fifty-six percent report decreased federal funding, with public doctoral institutions especially affected by research cuts.

Read at Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs