Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education

As the designated gateway to undergraduate education at Stanford, the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education (VPUE) strives to connect students intellectually with the full range of our educational opportunities and to promote the active engagement of all faculty, instructors, and staff with undergraduate students.

VPUE’s programs and initiatives help Stanford undergraduates define and achieve their intellectual ambitions. These include investigative introductory courses and seminars taught by stellar faculty, classes in writing and rhetoric, undergraduate research support, community-engaged learning opportunities, study away programs, and academic and skills-based advising. VPUE also offers pedagogical support for departments and instructors through the Center for Teaching and Learning.

It is VPUE’s shared vision that every student who arrives at Stanford should be able to pursue the full extent of their intellectual curiosity and benefit from meaningful connections with their peers and faculty mentors. VPUE embraces and advances Stanford’s commitment to liberal education, including exposing students to a wide range of ideas and perspectives, both within and beyond the classroom. This includes helping students engage with people and ideas with which they may disagree. VPUE creates pathways for students to become proficient critical thinkers, writers, and communicators; and equips them with the tools and capacities to pursue rewarding lives in and beyond their chosen majors and professional paths.

Established in 1995, VPUE collaborates with partners across all seven schools and the Office of the Vice Provost for Student Affairs to prepare students to be engaged, global citizens. The Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education reports directly to the Provost.

Key VPUE Programs and Academic Units

VPUE serves as the organizational home for several foundational academic programs, residential learning initiatives, experiential learning opportunities, and student support services. These programs opens in a new tab are designed to guide students from their first day on campus through graduation:

• First-Year Requirements and Seminars: Administers the Civic, Liberal, and Global Education (COLLEGE) requirement, the Ways of Thinking / Ways of Doing general education requirement, and discussion-based Introductory Seminars opens in a new tab(IntroSems).

• Residential Learning Programs: Offers immersive in-residence academic opportunities, including Structured Liberal Education (SLE), ITALIC, and Frosh 101.

• Writing and Communication: Houses the Program in Writing and Rhetoric (PWR) and the Hume Center for Writing and Speaking.

• Global Education and Public Service: Home to the Bing Overseas Studies Program (BOSP), the Haas Center for Public Service, and the Office of Global Scholarships.

• Undergraduate Research: Connects students with faculty-mentored independent research opportunities, grants, and the Bing Honors College.

• Academic Advising and Learning Support: Provides comprehensive academic guidance and support throughout students' undergraduate careers through the Office of Academic Advising and the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL).

Undergraduate Policy and Governance

Policies governing undergraduate education at Stanford are formulated by Faculty Senate committees. VPUE works closely with key governance bodies to maintain academic standards and review curricula:

• Committee on Undergraduate Standards and Policy (C-USP): Addresses general education requirements, grading, advising, and teaching evaluations.

• Committee on Review of Undergraduate Majors (C-RUM): Oversees the creation and review of undergraduate degree programs.

• Undergraduate Advisory Council (UGAC): Serves as the primary faculty advisory body directly to the Vice Provost.

VPUE also maintains specialized boards, including the First-Year Requirement Board, the Writing and Rhetoric Governance Board, and the Breadth Governance Board, ensuring rigorous oversight of university degree requirements.