Douglas McConkey, vice president for student affairs and enrollment management, will leave the university at the request of President Jo Ann Gora, he said Monday.
McConkey, who's last day will be Jan. 28, said Gora asked him to resign last week.
"I was disappointed that we're moving in that direction," McConkey, who made an informal announcement Monday, said. "I believe I've had a very positive time with the university."
Gora could not be reached for comment.
Heather Shupp, executive director of university communications, said Gora decided to make some administrative changes and wanted to go in a new direction with McConkey's office.
When McConkey was appointed to his position in 1988, he said he wanted to increase contact with students and create residence halls with special interests.
Since then, he helped create the communications cluster in Brayton and Clevenger halls, the green floors in Knotts and Edwards halls and the wellness community in Studebaker West, Alan Hargrave, director of housing and residence life, said.
Hargrave said McConkey also helped renovate Noyer, Woodworth and the Studebaker complexes.
"He has a genuine care and concern for students," Hargrave said. "He's somebody who will be missed greatly."
Randy Hyman, dean of students, said McConkey put together a group of professionals who always put students first.
"He has served Ball State with integrity and humility and vision," Hyman said. "I'm very sad. That's the strongest emotion I've been having."
Most recently, McConkey helped put together the "Police Yourself" campaign last spring. The campaign led to several student protests and was ended at the end of the 2003-04 school year.
Before he came to Ball State in 1986 as executive director of student enrollment, he worked at the University of Delaware and the University of North Carolina in Asheville.
McConkey said he did not know what he planned to do next, but he and his wife, who also works at the university, planned to move to Austin, Texas.
Shupp said she was not sure if an interim vice president would be named, but a search for a new appointment would likely start in January.
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