Office of the Provost

Provost's Scope of Responsibilities
The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs is the chief academic officer forย Voorhees University, providing leadership for matters that affect academic programs,ย research, and outreach involving faculty, students, and staff. The Provost oversees theย quality of programs of instruction and research through collaborative work withย Department Chairs, Academic Leadership Team and other members of the Executiveย Cabinet, addressing issues such as effective planning, good management, and programย reviews. ย Additionally, the Provost is responsible for overseeing academic and budgetaryย planning and priorities.
The Provost helps ensure the quality of the faculty by administering and monitoringย procedures and criteria for faculty appointments and promotions, working conditions,ย and tenure. The Provost works to ensure the quality of student learning by overseeingย the curriculum and encouraging and coordinating initiatives. In addition, the Provostย facilitates academic assistance in recruitment and admissions efforts.
Additionally, the Provost serves as the Collegeโs SACSCOC (Southern Association ofย Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges) Accreditation Liaison. Among otherย accreditation priorities, the Provost is responsible for ensuring that compliance withย accreditation requirements are incorporated into the planning and evaluation process ofย the institution and serving as a resource person during the decennial review processย and helping prepare for and coordinating reaffirmation and other accrediting visits.
Dr. Damara Hightower Mitchell
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairsย ย
(803) 780-1026
dhmitchell@voorhees.edu
Voorhees University
Massachuetts Hall (Office)
Denmark, SC 29042

Presidential Charge
Relationship to Collegeโs Mission and Presidential Focus: The Mission of Voorhees University is to produce highly qualified graduates who coalesce intellect and faith inย pursuit of life-long learning, healthy living, the betterment of society, and an abiding faithย in God. In accordance with the mission, Dr. W. Franklin Evans, the 9 th President ofย Voorhees University has issued the charge and call to action articulated through theย mantra: Begin. Believe. Become. President Evans believes and expects that Voorheesย College will be nationally recognized as a premier, comprehensive liberal arts institutionย focused on student success, excellence and integrity. In this quest, greater emphasisย will be placed on high performing learners, highly-accomplished faculty and staff, anย involved community, and a supportive and dedicated alumni base. To that end, theย Office of the Provost and Division of Academic Affairs seeks to re-design, launch, andย elevate co-curricular and experiential learning programs at Voorhees University leading toย Academic Excellence and Distinction.
The priorities encompassing the comprehensive program launch is designed to developย and offer curricular enhancement, co-curricular and experiential learning activities, andย guided career pathways that will strengthen the preparation of our students for theirย chosen career fields, maximize their potential for success through increasedย opportunities, develop the faculty, maximize curricular, co-curricular, and experientialย student engagement, locally, nationally, and internationally. The priorities of the Officeย of the Provost and Division of Academic Affairs is primarily comprised of five (5) fociย which seek to enhance and develop the following:
First Year Experience Programs,ย Career Pathways Initiative, Center for Teaching, Learning, and Research, Office ofย International Studies and Programs; and, Distance Learning, Off-Campus Instructionalย Sites, and Evening and Weekend Programs.