The Vice President for Academic Affairs functions as the chief academic officer of the University, providing leadership to the campus academic Vice Chancellors, consultation to campus Chancellors, and support to the President on all academic matters. He or she is the University’s spokesperson and representative in discussing academic programs with the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE). The Vice President also staffs the Academic Matters Committee of the SIU Board of Trustees.

Some of these responsibilities can be further described:

1. Academic Programs and Related Matters. The Vice President coordinates all academic matters and activities on the campuses which call for the knowledge or approval of the President, the SIU Board of Trustees, and the IBHE, i.e., annual Resource Allocation and Management Program Planning documents (planning statements and funding requests for new and expanded/improved programs); performance reports; diversity reports; reports on program reviews; requests for reasonable and moderate extensions and for off-campus program locations; and, proposals for the abolition and reallocation of educational units, curricula and degrees. The Vice President also handles student matters that come from IBHE or the General Assembly and manages the Vince Demuzio Governmental Internship Program.
2. Illinois Board of Higher Education. In addition to maintaining a general awareness of the views and positions of the State-wide coordinating board and its staff, the Vice President must develop a detailed understanding of IBHE policies and guidelines and their effect on and application to SIU, must follow closely their development, and must monitor with care how they can be used to benefit SIU. In addition, the Vice President maintains regular contact with the staff on behalf of both the campuses and the University as a whole.
3. Academic Leadership. Besides providing general and specific support as directed, the Vice President provides leadership and advises the President on all academic policy matters and activities which require the President’s knowledge and approval, including those which must go to the SIU Board of Trustees and the IBHE. The Vice President is also responsible for the preparation of a number of regular and special reports to the President, the Board of Trustees, the Academic Matters Committee, and the IBHE.
4. Planning. The Vice President has oversight responsibility: for all academic planning within the University; for monitoring both institutional and disciplinary accreditations; and, for the preparation of State and federal earmarks.