In 1989 Hatch was appointed Notre Dame's vice president for graduate studies and research. In 1996, he became the university's provost, the third person to hold the position since its establishment in 1970.
From 1989 until 1996, Hatch held the position of vice president for graduate studies and research at Notre Dame. In 1996, he was appointed provost, becoming the third person to hold that role since its creation in 1970.