About Us

Anand R. Marri Ph.D.

The Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs oversees the academics of the University and is here to serve the faculty as well.

Our office is responsible for assisting with the creation and implementation of the University’s strategic plan, immersive learning efforts, and curriculum of the seven academic colleges. In addition, we handle some policy issues. For example, on our site you have access to forms you can download on the intellectual property policy and pecuniary interest. Questions about promotion and tenure and special leave are also answered here.

If a department or college would like to change their curriculum or add new programs, those changes must be approved by the provost. Also, if deans or professors would like to take a leave or have questions about tenure, those issues are handled in our office as well.

Meet Our Provost

Anand Marri

As Provost, Anand R. Marri oversees all aspects of our academic mission, including supporting leadership for all academic units. He plays a crucial role in the development and implementation of our strategic plan and in academic innovation.

VIEW PROFILE

On Ball State’s campus, the provost is the chief academic officer. As described in the University’s academic affairs organizational chart (PDF), the provost reports directly to the president of the University. The provost is responsible for overseeing all seven of the University’s academic colleges, plus the Graduate School, University College, and Honors College.

Several entities report directly to the provost, including the Division of Online and Strategic Learning, Sponsored Projects Administration, University Libraries, and the Center for Medical Education.

In addition, the provost is responsible for faculty, curriculum, assessment of teaching and scholarship, and leading other strategic initiative on campus including transdisciplinary research efforts.

When the provost is not working on campus, he may be promoting Ball State elsewhere in the U.S. or abroad. He often serves as the keynote speaker for various engagements

Reporting Units

The following units report to the provost:

The Colleges

Our university has seven academic colleges that offer 170 bachelor's, 94 master's, 17 doctoral, two specialist, and seven associate degrees. The provost's office, which leads academic affairs, is responsible for each of those colleges. We make sure the curriculum is always up to date and field any questions our deans, department chairs, and faculty may have.

Visit the Colleges and Departments page to view all departments within each college.

Deans

Academic colleges at the university are led by a dean. Deans are charged with staying on top of necessary accreditations, certifications, making curriculum changes, hiring new professors, and overseeing the budgets and programs of their departments. Our deans have extensive experiences, and most are professors of courses in their area of expertise.

R. Wayne Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning, David Ferguson
College of Communication, Information and Media, Paaige Turner
College of Fine Arts, Seth Beckman
College of Health, Scott Rutledge
College of Sciences and Humanities, Maureen McCarthy
Miller College of Business, Cathy DuBois
Teachers College, David McIntosh
Graduate School, Adam Beach
Honors College, John Emert
University College, Jason Rivera
University Libraries, Matthew Shaw

Centers and Institutes

Ball State’s commitment to immersive learning and academic research is evident in both the abundance and the quality of its centers, institutes, clinics, bureaus, and other research and outreach units. These units provide innovative and interdisciplinary research activities that expand beyond the borders of our campus to have an impact on Indiana, the nation, and the world. Here are the centers and institutes our office is directly responsible for:

Visit the Centers and Institutes page to view all Ball State University has to offer.

Additional Programs and Departments

Awards & Recognitions

For hard work and service to our students, peers, and the Ball State community, we often like to recognize our faculty and staff. Each fall, we present different award categories for outstanding faculty and staff members, and we acknowledge our retiring faculty and staff members who have gone above and beyond their responsibilities.

In addition, the provost awards prize is awarded to a Ball State senior who has achieved academically and has taken the initiative to enhance his or her education through internships, research/creative projects, overseas study, working, volunteering, or other experiences.

Fall Faculty Awards

Outstanding Awards
Nominations for all “Outstanding Awards” may be made by students, faculty, professional personnel, or administrators. For specific award criteria and nomination procedures, please contact the Office of the Vice Provost of Academic Affairs.
Excellence in Teaching Awards
Ball State’s Division of Online and Strategic Learning and the Office of the Provost sponsor these awards. The award recognizes some of our most creative and deserving faculty for their roles as teachers.

Each year, students are asked to nominate teachers for their expertise, dedication, and talent in the classroom. When nominations are complete, the top vote getters move on to a second round where a selection committee, comprised of past award winners and students, choose the winner. The award winners are given an opportunity to teach a specially designed “dream course,” the course they have always wanted to teach.
Lawhead Award
Established more than a decade ago courtesy of gifts from Victor Lawhead, former dean of Ball State's undergraduate programs, and his wife, Doris Lawhead, a former academic adviser, the Lawhead Award is presented annually and is based on teaching evaluations, contribution to the University Core Curriculum, freshmen activities, service to the community, and support from faculty and students.
Rawlings Award
Established in 2002, this award honors a full-time faculty member who has proven to be the most dedicated to teaching extended education courses at off-campus distance education sites. The award was named after Joseph Rawlings, dean emeritus of the Division of Online and Strategic Learning. Rawlings worked nearly 20 years to create and develop the university's distance learning program.