About the Office of the Provost

After graduating from the University of Ottawa with a bachelor’s degree (Physics, 1985) and a master’s degree (Physics, 1987), Jacques Beauvais obtained his Ph.D. in physics from Université Laval in 1990.

He was appointed as professor of electrical engineering at the Université de Sherbrooke (UdeS) in 1993. He established the first nanolithography laboratory in a Canadian university and led many centres and research institutes. Six patents arising from the research activities of his group were the basis of a startup company, Quantiscript inc., where he was president from 1999 to 2004, then vice-president, technology, from 2004 to 2006.

Since 2007, his research activities have focused mainly on developing carbon nanotube-based sensors which are at the core of a new patent (2015).

In 2007, Jacques Beauvais was named Vice-President, Research, at the Université de Sherbrooke and then Vice-president, Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in 2014. At Sherbrooke, he was responsible for the concept development, the funding and the launch of the MiQro Innovation Collaborative Centre (C2MI) in Bromont, Québec, in partnership with IBM Canada and Teledyne Dalsa.

As of July 1^st, 2017, he became Dean of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Ottawa. He holds the position of Provost and Vice-President, Academic Affairs since January 16, 2024.

The Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic Affairs’ team coordinates issues related to: planning, the academic experience, teaching, course and program evaluation, academic regulations including academic integrity, quality assurance, faculty awards and competitions, and much more. In collaboration with special advisors, the team works on a number of important strategic issues.

In addition to its core team, the Office of the Provost includes six administrative units, which are responsible for different portfolios:

• Office of the Deputy Provost, Planning and Academic Budgets
  Its role is to ensure the smooth running of the University with respect to academic matters, by ensuring a balance in finances and efficiency in the organization of academic activities.
• Office of the Vice-Provost, Academic Affairs
  Its role is to promote the quality of undergraduate programs and courses, including current academic regulations, term and periodic evaluations, teaching and learning services and tools, experiential learning, etc.
• Office of the Vice-Provost, Faculty Relations
  Its role is to ensure faculty recruitment and retention, including providing tools and resources, ensuring professional development, advising union members on labour relations and recognizing excellence in teaching and research.
• Office of the Vice-Provost, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
  Its role is to enhance the quality of graduate and post-doctoral programs and courses, including current academic regulations, term and periodic evaluations, supervision and research services and tools, etc.
• Office of the University Librarian and Vice-Provost, Knowledge Systems
  Its role is to provide and maintain quality services to students and faculty in the areas of access, research, learning and innovation, and to provide the tools and resources necessary to study and teach on campus.
• Office of the Vice-Provost, Equity, Diversity and Inclusive Excellence (EDI) 
  This Office aims to encourage the University community to become increasingly inclusive and to realize that inclusive excellence is essential to optimal progress in both education and research. 
• Office of the Associate Vice-President, Student Affairs
  Its role is to ensure the quality of the university experience, which includes all areas of student life: admissions, registration, volunteering, work, support, counselling, student cards, health, sports, housing, food, etc.

Visit our Staff page  for a more detailed list of our employees, units, and services.