This record group comprises the collected records of many of the University offices and programs primarily concerned with academic affairs. Initially academic affairs was the responsibility of early presidents. In 1906, the Board of Trustess created the office of Dean of the College. The Dean, as dean of the entire College, was responsible for student attendance, scholarship standing, enforcement of faculty rules, and discipline. In 1953 the office of Provost was created to provide leadership in all areas of academic activity. In 1970 the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost became the chief academic officer of the campus responsible for advising the Chancellor regarding the whole of the University's academic program.

The bulk of the records consists of the files of individual Deans of the College, Provosts and Vice Chancellors for Academic Affairs, as well as the University Year for Action (UYA) (1971-1976). Also included are records for administrative offices of interim and special appointees that report to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost, and the special programs, committees, institutes, and centers that were intitiated by or developed from those offices.