Navigating Uncertainty: What Provosts Are Thinking About in 2025
Inside Higher Ed's annual survey reveals that chief academic officers are optimistic about quality but facing mounting pressures from funding cuts, policy shifts, and AI disruption.
Despite the turbulence swirling through American higher education, college provosts remain surprisingly optimistic about one thing: the quality of education their institutions provide. According to Inside Higher Ed's 2025 Survey of College and University Chief Academic Officers, 99% of the 478 provosts surveyed believe their institutions offer a quality undergraduate education. Most are also satisfied in their roles, with 91% saying they're glad they chose administrative work.
But beneath this confidence lies a landscape of significant challenges that are reshaping how these academic leaders do their jobs.
The Federal Funding Squeeze
The most immediate concern for many provosts is the erosion of federal support. More than half—56%—report that federal funding to their institution has decreased during the second Trump administration. This number rises sharply at public doctoral institutions, where 92% have experienced cuts, reflecting the particularly severe impact on research universities from reductions at the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation.
While most affected institutions report cuts of less than 5%, the responses vary widely. About 28% have experienced cuts between 5-10%, and 12% report losses exceeding 10%. These aren't just numbers on a spreadsheet—they're forcing tough decisions about programs, hiring, and priorities.
How are colleges responding? Forty percent are seeking alternative funding sources such as private donors or industry partnerships. About a third have restructured or scaled back programs reliant on federal grants, while 21% have reallocated internal resources to safeguard vulnerable areas. Ten percent have enacted hiring freezes.
Beyond research funding, provosts are deeply concerned about the student side of the issue. Seventy-four percent express serious worry about possible changes to federal student aid programs, while 65% are very or extremely concerned about international student enrollment amid restrictive visa policies and immigration actions.
Academic Freedom Under Pressure
The survey paints a sobering picture of academic freedom on campuses. Although 36% of provosts say academic freedom is still "strong and well protected" at their institution, half report it's "generally" maintained but with increasing challenges," and 7% describe it as "under significant strain from multiple directions."
Mike Gavin, president of Delta College in Michigan, highlighted in the Inside Higher Ed’s article about the survey: "Fifty percent of provosts saying academic freedom is facing challenges is pretty bleak. That means that our administrators are having to defend the work of their faculty in ways that they should not have to."
Despite external pressures, provosts remain committed to tenure. Fifty-seven percent believe the benefits of tenure outweigh the drawbacks—a significantly higher percentage than the 28% of chief business officers and 37% of college presidents who share this view. This indicates that those most connected to the academic mission continue to see tenure as vital, especially at research universities where 73% of provosts consider it very or extremely important.
Institutional Strategies: Mostly Cautious
When it comes to navigating the changing federal policy environment, most institutions are taking cautious approaches. Forty-seven percent describe their strategy as "strategic compliance"—making only necessary changes to stay compliant while safeguarding institutional values. Another 41% are in "wait and see" mode, delaying major changes until policies and consequences become clearer.
Only 5% are involved in public advocacy or active resistance. This caution reflects the complex situation colleges face: they need to protect their values and missions while staying compliant and avoiding more scrutiny.
The Human Cost
The pressures are taking a toll. Nearly half of provosts report higher-than-usual staff turnover, with 30% also seeing more faculty turnover as well. The main reasons are competitive offers elsewhere (76%), burnout (46%), and natural career moves (44%).
Alarmingly, over a third of provosts report that their offices are doing little to address faculty and staff mental health, with only 1% describing their supports as "comprehensive." And provosts themselves aren't immune—while 58% rate their own well-being as good or excellent, a third say it's only fair, and 7% describe it as poor.
Julian Vasquez Heilig, a former provost at Western Michigan University, explains the challenge: "Provosts are carrying the weight of both strategy and crisis management, and many do not have peers on campus who truly understand the scope of what they are balancing."
AI: The Other Disruption
As if navigating federal policy weren't enough, provosts are simultaneously grappling with artificial intelligence. Nearly 90% say faculty are discussing AI, though opinions on its impact vary. Half view it as a moderate risk to academic integrity, while 52% say professors shouldn't be forced to use or allow AI in classrooms.
The good news? Institutions are taking AI seriously. Twenty-nine percent have updated their curricula to prepare students for AI in the workplace—more than double last year's figure—and two-thirds are offering professional development for faculty on AI integration.
The picture that emerges from this survey shows resilience despite uncertainty. Provosts remain confident in their institutions' educational quality and remain committed to core academic values, such as tenure and academic freedom. However, they are also managing unprecedented challenges with limited resources, making tough decisions about programs and priorities while striving to maintain the quality and accessibility that define American higher education.
