Associate Provost of Undergraduate Affairs
Reginald A. Wilburn, Ph.D.
Dr. Wilburn leads the Provost’s mission to continuously enhance undergraduate student education and experience. Dr. Wilburn utilizes his collaborative leadership style and experience in strategic planning to strengthen partnerships with Student Affairs, Academic Advising, and Student Access and Accommodation, to help TCU experience even higher levels of student achievement for all students. He collaborates with the Dean of Students, academic deans, department chairs, Faculty Senate, Undergraduate Council, and the Provost’s Council to support high-quality, innovative undergraduate programs, especially in providing equity in education and experience to students across demographics.
As Associate Provost for Undergraduate Affairs, Dr. Wilburn focuses on three strategic initiatives:
1. Champion undergraduate student success
2. Support undergraduate education for the future
Support innovative advising platforms and protocols
He also examines the undergraduate student population that TCU aspires to educate and the efficacy of traditional and non-traditional models of education.
Dr. Wilburn’s accomplishments include visionary strategic planning, transparent decision-making, shared governance, and championing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusiveness. As a teacher and administrator, he has inspired collaboration among faculty, staff, students, and alumni to focus on student retention, signature program development, faculty development, enrollment management, academic standards, and curriculum development, enrichment and management.
Dr. Wilburn joined TCU as dean of the former School of Interdisciplinary Studies after serving at the University of New Hampshire from 2007 to 2021 as professor of African-American Literature and Milton Studies and Associate Dean for the College of Liberal Arts. He was honored with the UNH Center for Humanities Faculty Fellowship, designated a Leadership Fellow for the AGB Institute for Leadership and Governance in Higher Education, awarded the UNH Faculty Award for Social Justice, and presented with the President’s Commission on the Status of Women Faculty Award. He holds a PhD and MA in English from the University of Connecticut, and BA in English from the University of the District of Columbia.
- Equitable Student Success – Designing and Developing processes to enhance equitable student success in seeking 100% compliance in submission of “U” grades each semester; providing all students digital copies of syllabi; seeking D2L compliance of all faculty for all courses; and establishing a reasonable and fair turnaround time for graded assignments. An Equitable Student Success advisory board was established in September 2023 comprised of faculty and staff from each college and school. The board reviews data on student performance, participation and perception to identify gaps and discern how best to mitigate and eliminate those gaps.
- Test-Optional Pilot – A pilot is being monitored for Fall 2023 to track and assess its impact on students’ academic performance and success across multiple demographic populations. A faculty survey was administered in early fall, with results to be shared with Faculty Senate in November to assist in determining the next steps.
- Title IX – Updating Academic Affairs on new state and federal Title IX legislation governing the academic rights and entitlements of expectant parents to include post-natal concerns.
- Associations and Affinity Groups – The AP for Undergraduate Affairs serves as the advisor for te Black Student Association and serves on the organizational leadership team for Brothers Reaching Brothers professional affinity group.