#  About 

 



##  About 

 

 

       ![Mass Hall](/sites/g/files/omnuum12476/files/styles/hwp_28_10__1920x685/public/2025-01/RESIZED%20mass%20hall.jpg?itok=1HpwP1-X) 

 

 



 

 



 

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## Overview

The provost serves as Harvard’s chief academic officer, working with the president to oversee academic policies and activities university-wide. The Office of the Provost works closely with the University’s academic and administrative leaders to:

- Support research across the University and foster interfaculty collaboration
- Advance University-wide approaches to compliance and research policy
- Support building a deep pipeline of scholars and in developing scholars at all stages of their academic careers
- Support faculty, students, and academic professionals in advancing innovations in teaching and learning
- Oversee and coordinate the University’s international activities
- Oversee activities pertaining to intellectual property, technology transfer, research collaborations with industry, and trademark licensing.
- Support University cultural and artistic entities and projects

The deputy, vice, associate, and assistant provosts, together with the provost’s administrative and operations staff, support the provost in carrying out these responsibilities.



 

 [ Learn more about the offices and affiliates within the Office of the Provost arrow\_circle\_right ](https://prod-provost.drupalsites.harvard.edu/pages/office-affiliates) [ Learn more about our deputy, vice, associate, and assistant provosts arrow\_circle\_right ](https://prod-provost.drupalsites.harvard.edu/people/categories/leadership-team) 

 

 

 

 

##  Our Mission 

The Office of the Provost aims to support Harvard’s academic mission by:

### **Fostering coordination and collaboration across the University and removing barriers to success**

The Office of the Provost supports the entire Harvard community in its ongoing pursuit of academic excellence. While Harvard’s Schools have achieved success while operating with a great deal of autonomy, the University also recognizes that many of today’s most pressing problems extend beyond the boundaries of any single school or discipline, and that collaboration across institutional boundaries is more important than ever. The Office of the Provost leads efforts to foster collaboration among the many components of the University, supporting innovation throughout.

### **Promoting a culture of experimentation in learning, teaching and research across the University**

The Harvard community is known for pathbreaking advances in research and pedagogical innovation, demonstrating that the greatest rewards often come from experimentation, the willingness to try new things, and the recognition that we learn from both successes and failures. Offering financial support, advising, and support networks, the Office of the Provost encourages our community to take risks in pursuit of new approaches and new insights.

### **Ensuring that the University has the intellectual, administrative, and material resources needed to support academic excellence**

Harvard has stewardship of important academic and financial resources, but its most important resources have been, and remain, its people. Ongoing success requires not only building upon existing resources, but also ensuring that those resources enable us to recruit extraordinary faculty, students, and staff long into the future. The Office of the Provost works closely with the University’s leadership and the wider Harvard community to help ensure that the University sustains the conditions for ongoing academic success.



 

 [ Learn more about our initiatives & programs arrow\_circle\_right ](https://provost.harvard.edu/initiatives-programs) [ View other resources arrow\_circle\_right ](https://provost.harvard.edu/resources)