Office of the Provost

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The Office of the Provost is dedicated to fostering academic excellence through teaching, research, creative activities and service. Our mission is to support the campus community in generating knowledge that advances discovery, enriches learning and equips students for meaningful careers, lifelong inquiry and responsible global citizenship.

About the Provost

A historian by training, Dr. Calvin White, Jr. was named Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor in the spring of 2023. His appointment followed a steady progression through the academic ranks, marked by successive leadership roles at the departmental and college levels. He brings to the role a deep belief in education’s capacity to expand opportunity, foster critical thought and transform lives.

Meet the Provost

Dr. Calvin White addresses the faculty from a podium

The true measure of an institution lies not in how it selects the ready, but in how it prepares the willing.

Dr. Calvin White Jr.,

Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor

Invite the Provost to Speak or Attend Your Event.
Requests should be submitted at least six weeks in advance to allow for consideration and scheduling. After your form is received, a member of our office will contact you to confirm whether the Provost or a representative will be available to participate.

Submit a Request

At Arkansas State, our mission must always align with action. These strategic priorities demonstrate our commitment to excellence, access and meaningful transformation across our university and the communities we serve.

Research

As a Carnegie-designated research institution, Arkansas State bears both the distinction and the responsibility of advancing knowledge through rigorous inquiry. To fulfill this mission, we must foster intellectual ambition, support faculty-led scholarship, and pursue strategic collaborations. Whether in the biosciences, public policy, or the humanities, our research enterprise is intentionally directed toward addressing complex challenges and enhancing the quality of life across Arkansas and beyond.

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Recruitment

Our approach to recruitment is proactive, intentional, and grounded in the conviction that Arkansas State is not merely a good option, it's the premier destination for students committed to excel. With initiatives such as the A-State Promise Plus Scholarship, we underscore our identity as a university which affirms a simple but powerful truth: Arkansas State educates Arkansas.

Provost Calvin White congratulates a graduate at a recent commencement ceremony.

Retention

Enrollment without retention is incomplete. As a university committed to educational attainment, our responsibility extends beyond recruitment to ensuring that students are supported to persist and graduate. This demands intentional advising, strengthened student success efforts, and a direct response to the mental and emotional challenges that increasingly define the student experience.

Inspiring Minds, Shaping Futures Faculty Resources

The faculty are the enduring heart and soul of a university.  Explore these faculty resources, including guidance on promotion, tenure, and retention, access to the faculty handbook, and information about faculty professional development.

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Helpful Links

Faculty Handbook (PDF)Academic Calendar Promotion, Retention, and Tenure Academic Integrity Academic Research Opportunities Faculty Achievement Awards

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The A-State Knowledge Base is a campus-wide resource with specific information for users to find tutorials on internal processes.

Visit the Provost's Knowledge Base

Learn more about A‑State’s academic structure, including our colleges and the units that support our mission of excellence in teaching, research and service.

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Colleges at A-State

The academic colleges serve as the primary engine for the intellectual development of Arkansas State’s student body. With more than 16,500 students enrolled across a diverse array of disciplines, the university remains firmly committed to fostering rigorous scholarship, critical inquiry, and academic excellence at every level.

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Academic Initiatives & Resources

These units advance A-State's academic mission by supporting research, teaching, institutional effectiveness, and providing access to knowledge. Combined, they enrich the educational experience and expand the university’s impact across campus and beyond.