Provost Kent Fuchs and members of his office will take advantage of turnover in Cornell's administration to review four key positions and their responsibilities.

"Although the substantial fiscal challenges that we and most other colleges and universities face are motivating us to review these positions, we're guided by our commitment to excel in Cornell's missions of education and scholarship and also enhancing our outreach and diversity efforts," Fuchs said.

Four top administrators will be leaving the Office of the Provost this summer: the vice provost for equity and inclusion, associate provost for outreach, vice provost for life sciences and senior science adviser to the president and provost.

The assessments are part of Reimagining Cornell, the university's strategic-planning initiative to reduce its $215 million budget deficit and strengthen the institution.

Elizabeth A. Mannix stepped down as vice provost for equity and inclusion June 30, when her one-year appointment ended. She has returned to her academic post as the Ann Whitney Olin Professor of Management.

Her term was intended to be a transition from the former position of vice provost for diversity and faculty development, held most recently by professor of African-American history Robert L. Harris Jr. from 2000 to 2008, to the new position of chief diversity officer. Deputy Provost David Harris, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs John A. Siliciano and Lynette Chappell-Williams, director of the Office of Workforce Diversity, Equity and Life Quality, have taken on Mannix's work. They are assessing with Vice President for Human Resources Mary G. Opperman how to structure the leadership of Cornell's commitment to diversity.

Stephen Hamilton has also ended his term as associate provost for outreach, a post he had held since 2003. Hamilton has returned to his position as professor of human development and associate director of the Family Life Development Center.

The review also includes the post of vice provost for life sciences, a position held by Steve Kresovich since 2005; Kresovich will become vice president for research and graduate education at the University of South Carolina Oct. 1. With much of the New Life Sciences Initiatives well under way, Fuchs said he and Robert Buhrman, senior vice provost for research, will determine how oversight for the life sciences will be handled.

In addition, Nobel laureate Robert Richardson, emeritus vice provost for research, completed his term as senior science adviser to the president and provost and is returning to the Department of Physics as the Floyd R. Newman Professor of Physics.

In the next several months, "we'll be considering changes to administrative and academic structures throughout the university including the Office of the Provost," Fuchs said. "These changes will enable us to achieve excellence in strategic areas through change in organization and focus while also reducing our administrative expenses."

Fuchs acknowledged the contributions of the faculty stepping down from the provost's office. "Beta Mannix, Steve Hamilton, Steve Kresovich and Bob Richardson have contributed greatly to Cornell through their service and leadership. It has been an honor to serve with them," Fuchs said.

In other news, Siliciano, who completed his appointment as vice provost in June, has been named senior vice provost for academic affairs after a reappointment review. "It is a privilege to acknowledge the importance and effectiveness of John's leadership over these past years with his appointment as senior vice provost," Fuchs said. "I look forward to continuing to work with him."