The office of Academic Affairs (synonymous with the Office of the Provost/Chief Academic Officer) is responsible for the design and delivery of AUD’s academic programs and the quality of academic life at the university.

The Provost/Chief Academic Officer oversees the appointment and promotion of all academic staff (Deans, Chairs, Directors, faculty members and academic support staff), chairs the Academic Council, serves on the Administrative Council, and chairs or is a member of various standing and ad hoc committees whose work impacts academic life at the university.

The Provost/Chief Academic Officer also performs external outreach and representation functions that are aimed at building collaborative relationships and promoting the academic well-being and reputation of the university with the academic and professional communities and with government bodies, locally, regionally, and internationally.

As the Chief Academic Officer of The American University in Dubai, the Provost/Chief Academic Officer is responsible for overseeing all aspects of academic affairs at the university. Working closely with the President, the primary Mission of the Office of the Provost/Chief Academic Officer is to lead the development and supervise the implementation of academic strategies, policies and procedures whose purpose is to ensure the fullest achievement of the university’s educational Mission and Goals. To this end, the Provost/Chief Academic Officer collaborates with the President and the Executive Vice President in allocating resources to the different academic units and academic support functions through the budgetary process.

The purpose of the Office of the Provost/Chief Academic Officer is to ensure that students are provided with an educational experience of the highest quality. Corollary to this purpose is the provision of an academic environment that is conducive to faculty members’ growth and accomplishment through excellence in teaching, scholarly and professional contributions, and service.

• To foster academic leadership in all academic units at AUD;
• To help new faculty to integrate quickly and successfully into AUD’s teaching-focused, student-centered culture;
• To pursue excellence in student learning by continually upgrading the quality of teaching and enhancing teaching effectiveness;
• To enhance communication between faculty, Deans and Chairs, and the Provost/Chief Academic Officer’s office;
• To recognize, publicize, and celebrate faculty accomplishments;
• To oversee the planning and budgeting process for academic units;
• To upgrade the organizational and administrative setup of the academic units for higher effectiveness in program delivery and student learning;
• To provide faculty with opportunities for professional involvement and outreach that would serve the community and enhance student learning.

The heads (Deans/Chairs/Directors) of the following academic units report directly to the Provost:

• School of Arts and Sciences
• School of Business Administration
• Mohammed Bin Rashid School For Communication
• School of Education
• School of Engineering
• Center for English Proficiency
• Department of Architecture
• Department of Interior Design
• Department of Visual Communication