Innovation Springs Interview 3 | Lynn Vidler
Links Mentioned
Office of the Provost (UCCS): https://provost.uccs.edu/
Department of Languages and Cultures: https://langcult.uccs.edu/
Mountain Lion Research Day: https://research.uccs.edu/mlrd
Watch on YouTube
📺 You can view the full transcript or captions on the YouTube video for more detail.
https://youtu.be/ydhykwIMfzE
🎧 What Does a Provost Do? A Student & Faculty Guide to Academic Leadership
What does a provost actually do—and how does that role impact your experience as a student or faculty member?
In this episode of Innovation Springs, host Hayley Blackburn speaks with Dr. Lynn Vidler, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at UCCS, to break down the realities of academic leadership in higher education. From course availability and faculty support to academic freedom and institutional strategy, this conversation connects leadership decisions directly to campus life.
Dr. Vidler explains how the provost role shapes everything from the classes students can take to the resources faculty need to teach, research, and innovate. The episode also explores what “innovation in higher education” really looks like—often driven by faculty ideas and evolving student needs.
Whether you're navigating course registration, teaching, or curious about university leadership, this episode offers a clear, practical look at how academic decisions are made.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- What a provost does in a university setting
- How academic leadership affects students’ course access and success
- How faculty contribute to innovation in higher education
- Why academic freedom is essential for teaching and research
🔑 Key Quotes
“A lot of times students don’t know that there is such a thing as a provost.”
“Innovation for me is… new ideas, new ways of creative expression.”
“Most of those kinds of opportunities are coming up from the faculty themselves.”
“If students need a class and it’s full… those systems are part of what we manage.”
“Faculty must have their academic freedom protected.”
🎯 Why Students & Faculty Should Listen
This episode answers common questions like “What does a provost do?” and “How does university leadership affect me?”—making it especially relevant for students navigating their academic path and faculty working within the system.