Murray State University Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Mark Arant is stepping away from his role beginning next week to serve as a Fellow at the Council on Postsecondary Education.
President Bob Jackson said in a letter to faculty and staff on Friday afternoon that Arant’s work will “benefit higher education throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky and he will have responsibilities on behalf of Murray State during this period.”
Unviersity spokesperson Shawn Touney said those responsibilities include CPE-assigned duties, providing assistance to the interim during the transitionary time and assisting with accreditation matters.
College of Business Dean Tim Todd will serve as Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Todd has served in a similar capacity in the recent past - as Associate Provost and as Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Arant joined Murray State in July 2017. Touney said Arant's contract with the university runs through June 30, 2020 with no changes despite leaving the position. According to a state government transparency website, Arant's salary is $193,750.
Touney said there is no immediate timeframe for a permanent replacement for the position.
In 2015, then-provost Jay Morgan stepped down to work with the CPE through an agreement that allowed him to remain a tenured Murray State faculty member. During this time, his compensation did not change.
This story has been updated to include follow-up from university spokesperson Shawn Touney.
