University of South Florida Provost and Executive Vice President Ralph Wilcox announced today his plans to step down from the role next year. The search for a new provost will begin in the spring with the goal of selecting Wilcox’s successor shortly after a new university president is hired. Wilcox has agreed to remain as provost and assist in the transition for as long as is needed.
Wilcox, who has been with USF for nearly 20 years and served as provost since 2008, will leave after a highly accomplished tenure that has resulted in USF’s academic enterprise earning widespread recognition across the state, nation and internationally.
In his letter to the USF community, Wilcox expressed a desire to spend more time with his family. He plans to remain with the university in a faculty role.
“Serving as provost and executive vice president at USF since January 2008 has been the greatest privilege of my professional career,” Wilcox said. “As I reflect on where we are today, I can say with the utmost confidence that USF’s position has never been stronger, especially given our gains in student success, faculty accomplishments and, most recently, consolidation. Our national and international stature is stronger than ever, which is proud testament to the remarkably talented people at USF – our faculty, staff, leadership, students, alumni, donors and friends of the university.”
Under Wilcox’s leadership, USF has:
- Increased access, opportunity and diversity – from 61% white student enrollment in Fall 2011 to 47% in 2021
- Increased the academic profile of incoming freshmen – from average 3.86 GPA/1188 SAT score in Fall 2011 to 4.18/1297 in Fall 2021 – with the number of National Merit Scholars climbing to an all-time high of 62 in 2021
- Significantly improved freshmen retention rate – from 85% in 2010-11 to 90% in 2020-21 – and nearly eliminated the achievement gap for students of color and socioeconomic status
- Increased the 4-year graduation rate – from 36% for the 2007-11 cohort to 62% for the 2017-21 cohort
- Improved the 6-year graduation rate – from 52% for the 2005-2011 cohort to 74% for the 2015-21 cohort
- Improved Florida College System transfer student 2-year graduation rate – from 34% for the 2008-10 cohort to 48% for the 2018-20 cohort
- Increased graduate degrees awarded annually – from 3,013 in 2010-11 to an all-time high of 4,271 in 2020-21
- Decreased average cost (of tuition, fees, and books minus financial aid) for completion of a 4-year degree from $14,490 in 2013-14 to $1,810 in 2019-20 – even as the undergraduate in-state full-time tuition has not changed from $6,410 over the past nine years, and graduate in-state full-time tuition has not changed from $10,428 over the past nine years
- Led the state in percentage of undergraduate and graduate degrees awarded in state defined “areas of strategic emphasis” – preparing a pipeline of talented graduates for employment in high-demand, high-skilled and high-paid jobs in the Florida economy
- Increased the number of USF students winning competitive national scholarships – from three in 2010-11 to 55 in 2020-21.
In addition, over the past decade USF has climbed higher in U.S. News and World Report rankings than any other university in the country – from 101st to 46th among public universities. In 2018, USF became only the third state institution in Florida – and the only one located in a metropolitan area – to be designated as a Preeminent Research University.
Wilcox also created the highly successful Provost’s Scholars Program. The program allows high-performing undergraduate students to accelerate their bachelor’s degree to graduate in three years. Students selected for the program stay career-focused and ready for post-graduation plans by completing three pillar experiences: study abroad or study away, research or professional development, and leadership or service. Since it began in 2011, nearly 400 students have participated.
“I wish to sincerely thank Provost Wilcox for his leadership, commitment and tireless contributions to the University of South Florida’s rise in stature among the nation’s top public universities,” USF President Rhea Law said. “During Provost Wilcox’s tenure at USF, he has demonstrated an extraordinary dedication to student success and academic excellence. His comprehensive approach to student success has made an impact on hundreds of thousands of students.”
Read Wilcox’s full letter to the USF community here. Law’s full message to the USF community is available here.