In 1953, Consolidated University of North Carolina President Gordon Gray hired the management firm of Cresap, McCormick, and Paget to study the administration of the three branches of the Consolidated University. The firm recommended numerous changes to reorganize the administration of North Carolina State University. One of the recommendations was to create the office of the Dean of Faculty, which would release the Chancellor of some administrative duties and provide more efficient coordination of academic matters. John W. Shirley, who had been Dean of the School of General Studies since 1948, became the first Dean of the Faculty in November, 1955.

Dean Shirley relieved the Chancellor of routine academic matters and worked with the school's faculty to improve the curriculum. He also worked with the Faculty Senate and the Association of University Professors (AAUP) representatives to formulate uniform tenure, promotion, and appointment policies.

Dean Shirley resigned in 1962, and President John T. Caldwell recruited Harry C. Kelly from the National Science Foundation to serve as the new dean. In 1967, the title of Dean of Faculty was changed to Provost, and in 1971 changed again to Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs.

By 2007 the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs had become the chief academic officer under the Chancellor of the University. The Provost is responsible for the review and approval of all academice programs and policies, as well as the appointment, compensation, and promotion of the faculty and professional Exempt from Personnel Act (EPA) personnel in the academic divisions of the University.