In a university, an assistant to a Vice-Chancellor is called a Pro-Vice-Chancellor (also Pro Vice-Chancellor or Deputy Vice-Chancellor). These are sometimes teaching academics who take on additional responsibilities. Some of these responsibilities are in charge of Administration, Research and Development, Academic and Education affairs. In some universities, there are several Deputy Vice-Chancellors subordinate to the Vice-Chancellor, with Pro-Vice-Chancellor being a position at an executive level ranking below Deputy Vice-Chancellor.
In the Australian Catholic University, there are three Pro-Vice-Chancellors, each one responsible for both an area of academic affairs and a regional area. The University of New England, Australia also has three PVCs (two Deans, another Academic) and a Deputy VC (Research).
In New Zealand universities, the term "Pro-Vice-Chancellor" is generally used to denote senior executive positions equivalent to deans of colleges and schools in North American universities. The term "Dean" is normally reserved for academic administrative positions concerned with programmes and students.