Wesleyan University Office of Academic Affairs records

Collection

Identifier: 1000-170

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection is a combination of all accessions related to the Office of Academic Affairs and spans from 1933-2016. Items found in this collection include: correspondence, reports, notes, faculty meeting minutes, faculty files, Academic Council meeting minutes, books and audio cassette tapes. The collection is made up of two series: Series I: Subject Files, which are mostly found alphabetical; and Series II: Faculty Files, which are arranged alphabetical by surname. The arrangement found within each series is by accession and generally each accession is arranged alphabetically. At times, records from different Provosts are found in the same accession and alternately, one Provost’s records may be found in different accessions.

Dates

Creation: 1933-2016

Creator

Wesleyan University (Middletown, Conn.). Office of Academic Affairs (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. Certain portions of the collection are restricted. Contact sca@wesleyan.edu for more information.

Conditions Governing Use

University records - Copyright held by Wesleyan University; all other copyright is retained by the creator - In Copyright – Non-Commercial Use Permitted

Biographical / Historical

The role of the Office of Academic Affairs is to support the work of the Wesleyan University faculty. The chief academic officer, the Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs, oversees matters related to curriculum, faculty affairs and all academic departments and programs and is also involved with budget and academic and university-wide planning.

The Office of Academic Affairs first appeared in the Wesleyan Directory in 1962. The Provost at that time was Joseph C. Palamountain, Jr. and he remained in that role until 1965. Robert Rosenbaum assumed the role of Provost from 1965-1969. William C. Kerr served as Associate Provost to both Palamountain and Rosenbaum from 1963-1969 and he later moved up to Provost in 1970, a role which he retained until 1988. From 1988 to 1990 the Wesleyan Directories do not list a Provost, only an Associate Provost.

During Kerr’s tenure as Provost, a new position was formed - The Vice President of Academic Affairs. This position was first held by Michael Brennan from 1974 until 1977. Nathanael Greene succeeded Brennan as VPAA in 1977 and remained in that position until 1988.

In 1990 the titles of Vice President for Academic Affairs & Provost were combined and was held by Joanne Creighton. In 1994 Richard W. Boyd succeeded Creighton and remained as VPAA & Provost until 1999. Judith C. Brown served as VPAA & Provost from 2000-2006, Joseph W. Bruno from 2006-2010; Robert Rosenthal from 2010-2013; and Ruth Striegel Weissman from 2013-2015. The current VPAA & Provost is Joyce Jacobsen who assumed the role in 2015.

1962-1965 – Joseph C. Palamountain, Jr.
1965-1969 – Robert Rosenbaum
1969-1988 – Willie Kerr
1988-1990 – Nancy Lewinsohn (as Associate Provost, no title of Provost found)
1990-1994 – Joanne Creighton (Vice President & Provost)
1994-1999 – Richard W. Boyd
2000-2006 – Judith C. Brown
2006-2010 – Joseph W. Bruno
2010-2013 – Robert Rosenthal
2013-2015 – Ruth Striegel Weissman
2015-2019 – Joyce Jacobsen
2020- - Nicole Stanton

Extent

178 Linear Feet (178 paige boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Academic Affairs records consists of the documents created and collected by the office from 1933-2016, mainly by the various members to hold the position of Provost, Vice President for Academic Affairs, or Associate Vice Provost. The collection is made up of two series: Series I: Subject files and Series II: Faculty files. Items found in this collection include: correspondence, reports, notes, meeting minutes, faculty files, books and audio cassette tapes.