4:48 p.m., July 9, 2009----UD Provost Tom Apple has announced three changes in the organization of the Office of the Provost.

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Havidán Rodríguez has been named to the new position of deputy provost; Michael Middaugh is now associate provost for institutional effectiveness; and Suzanne Austin is associate provost for academic affairs. All three appointments were effective July 1.

In addition, Margaret Andersen, Edward and Elizabeth Goodman Rosenberg Professor of Sociology, professor of Black American Studies and a member of the University's Diversity Action Council, will devote half her time to working with the provost on diversity issues related to faculty that come out of the council.

J.J. Davis, vice president for administration, will handle all human resource issues involving faculty members, working closely with the provost.

"Through this team approach, we will best be able to build on many different skills and areas of expertise to meet the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead," Apple said.

Deputy provost

"The change in Havidán Rodríguez' title reflects his key role and responsibilities with regard to the University's academic and educational offerings," Apple said.

As deputy provost, Rodríguez is the provost's chief adviser working to assure a high quality of academic programs and educational opportunities at the University. As the principal academic planning officer, he has primary responsibility for academic program planning and review, and capital planning as it relates to academic programs and enrollment planning. In addition, Rodríguez works closely with the provost to establish global collaborations/partnerships and to extend the global role, leadership, geographic presence and visibility of UD.

Reporting to the deputy provost are Austin, Middaugh and Lesa Griffiths, associate provost for international programs.

Rodríguez is also a tenured professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice and a core faculty member in UD's world-renowned Disaster Research Center, which he directed from 2003-06. He served as vice provost for academic affairs and international programs from 2006-09.

Associate provost for institutional effectiveness

"Mike Middaugh's new position moves his unit into the Office of the Provost, which will enable us to better measure and track our progress on academic measures related to the goals of the University's Path to Prominence^TM," Apple said.

As associate provost for institutional effectiveness, Middaugh has primary responsibility for coordinating and integrating the full spectrum of assessment activities across the University, including those related to measuring student learning and the extent to which the University is making the most effective and efficient use of human and fiscal resources in support of strategic initiatives at the University. To that end, he will oversee the activities of three units directly involved in assessment activity: the Office of Educational Assessment (including the Center for Teaching Effectiveness); the Office of Institutional Research; and the UD Data Warehouse Reporting Team.

Middaugh, who is also assistant professor in the School of Education, previously served as assistant vice president for institutional research and planning at UD. A past president of both the Society for College and University Planning and the Association for Institutional Research, he is currently vice chair/chair-elect of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Associate provost for academic affairs

"Suzanne Austin has a wealth of experience in higher education, both at the department and college level, and I look forward to working with her as she brings those skills to the entire campus," Apple said.

In her role as associate provost for academic affairs, Austin is administratively responsible for the Office of Undergraduate Research and Service Learning, the Honors Program, Academic Enrichment and University Studies and the Office of Disabilities Support Services. She also serves as the liaison for the Office of the Provost with the University's Faculty Senate and a variety of other activities, including academic program reviews, permanent status program reviews and new faculty orientation. In addition, she is liaison to the University's Area Studies Programs.

The associate provost organizes and plans the new faculty orientation workshops and the University-wide review of promotion and tenure guidelines and will convene the Associate/Assistant Deans' Council. She also will work closely with Rodríguez to strengthen UD's existing programs and to develop and implement new and innovative academic initiatives.

Austin, who is a tenured professor in the Department of History, previously served as associate dean for the social sciences and history in the College of Arts and Sciences.