Priorities for the remainder of the fall semester

Dr. Jonathan Millen
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

As Provost Jonathan Millen approaches his 100-day anniversary at Wheaton, we sat down to discuss what drew him to campus, his priorities for the fall semester, advice for parents and families navigating the end of the semester with their students, and his taste in music.

Provost Millen serves as Wheaton’s chief academic officer and oversees the faculty, curriculum, and various academic affairs offices. The provost works collaboratively within and outside academic affairs to promote, enrich, and support a student-centered liberal arts experience based on an innovative and integrative education.

Having served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of New England and dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Rider University, Provost Millen knew his aspirational institution and role would be as provost at a four-year, residential liberal arts college. What drew Provost Millen to Wheaton as an established higher education leader was the college’s unique emphasis on balancing a liberal arts education with meaningful career preparedness. He believes that Wheaton’s ability to seamlessly blend those two priorities sets the college apart from its competitors. 

“Wheaton understands how to serve students well, as we educate students broadly while thinking about their long-term success at the same time,” said Millen.

Provost Millen’s priorities for the remainder of the fall semester are to continue meeting people across campus and to understand how Wheaton does what it does so well—in addition to what the college can do more effectively. Provost Millen stresses the importance of differentiation:  how Wheaton does and can do things differently than our competitors. Linking our academic programs with the new Life and Design Career Institute (LCDI) is a perfect example of how Wheaton is able to demonstrate our value proposition to current and prospective students.

When asked about his areas of focus for the semester, Provost Millen outlined five key themes that guide his interactions with various stakeholders on campus. 

  1. Establishing trust and identifying opportunities for partnership. There have been a lot of changes on campus, some of which preceded Provost Millen and some of which he introduced.  It is critical for him to build collaborative partnerships to best serve the institution.
  2. Ensuring efficiency in service of students. There is a new leadership structure in academic affairs. The Office of the Provost is working to ensure these leaders serve the students, faculty, and staff well, and to minimize any unintended redundancies. There have been a lot of open conversations about what it means to support Wheaton so each person’s role is being maximized but not over-taxed.
  3. Prioritizing accountability. It is important for Provost Millen to understand what everyone is doing and to support them in those efforts.  There is much work to be done and he is committed to tapping into each individual’s skills, passions, and expertise.  
  4. Operating with a sense of urgency. There are things we cannot wait to do. The minute students arrive in the fall, we are already thinking about the next cohort of students coming in, so we need to be moving at a pace that reflects that cycle. Wheaton can’t slow down because the stakes are high. We need to implement good ideas quickly.
  5. Standardization. The Academic Affairs division is diligently working to standardize numerous practices and policies in the spirit of transparency and consistency.

One example that draws upon each of these themes is new program development.  Provost Millen aims to ensure that Wheaton offers the programs students want to see—meaningful options and pathways as well as resources. For example, when a student comes to Wheaton to study nursing or design, the strength of the facilities and faculty should demonstrate that Wheaton has strong programs in these areas. The goal is to reflect that across the board, so all programs and pathways are positioned for success.  

Provost Millen encourages parents and families to approach their students with empathy and open conversation as they navigate the semester following fall break, prepare for finals, and look ahead to the spring semester. He recommends giving students the space to learn more about themselves and to normalize the process of choosing one’s pathway. 

“Very few of us choose the right pathway on the first try,” Millen said. He likes to ask parents, if at the age of 17 or 18, they could have predicted how their life would have unfolded.“ “You can turn that into conversations with your students about your own journey,” said Millen. “Most students’ majors do not lead to linear career paths, they should not be too hung up on specific jobs. It is important for students to know that their education can prepare them for endless possibilities.”

A fun fact about Provost Millen: he used to teach a course on the social impact of rock and roll. While he does not have a single favorite artist, he is particularly fond of Ryan Adams and he will be attending one of his shows in a couple of weeks in Boston. Though Provost Millen won’t be teaching any courses on the social impact of rock and roll at Wheaton, he would love to find a way to use his background through conversations or lectures in the future. 

Lastly, Provost Millen makes it a point to go to as many events on campus as he can— art exhibits, athletic events, academic lectures, and performances. He encourages parents and families to say hello whenever they see him, as he would love to hear about their experiences and their student’s experiences on campus. Welcome to Wheaton, Provost Millen.

Office of the Provost, Park Hall
Phone: 508-286-8212
Email: [email protected]