A chief academic officer is the highest-ranking officer in an academic environment, usually a college or university. To become a chief academic officer, you must generally obtain a combination of an advanced education and substantial experience. You should also create an impressive resume or curriculum vitae and be prepared for a series of interviews with various individuals and committees. In some cases, such as a government-operated institution, you must be able to pass credit checks and background checks, and be able to withstand extensive research into your qualifications and previous positions held.
In the United States and some parts of Europe, the chief academic officer is called the provost. This position might have the title of "master" or "vice-chancellor" in other areas. It is not easy to become a chief academic officer, as this position is usually one of significant respect and often reports directly to a university president or equivalent position.
The first thing you must do to become a chief academic officer is to obtain a formal education. In most cases, you will be required to have a terminal degree, such as a doctorate, in a field relating to higher education. Many such candidates have multiple advanced degrees, both within educational administration and within their personal areas of expertise.
You will also need to acquire significant experience working within an academic community. This may mean beginning as a professor and advancing to a dean position before being considered for a chief officer role. Chief officers are academic officers, so achievement within the academic community is valued. This includes prestigious academic appointments and publication credits.
To become a chief academic officer, you will also need management experience, as the deans usually report to this position. Your management experience should be within a higher education environment and should include both business management and academic management. You will need to have strong negotiating skills as well, and be able to understand issues facing a broad range of academic subject areas.
The review and hiring process for those wishing to become chief academic officers is quite stringent. Your resume or curriculum vitae should be polished, professional and complete, and should clearly highlight your greatest strengths and achievements. You will most likely need to pass through several rounds of interviews with high-ranking academic and business officials within the college. If you are applying to a university that is part of a larger system, you may also need to interview with system officials and may need to pass background and similar checks.
