FAIRBORN — Wright State University will launch a national search for a new provost Aug. 1 to replace Steven R. Angle, who will become WSU’s senior vice president and begin work on a statewide initiative to improve college graduation rates, the university announced.

Angle has been university provost since 2007. With the Ohio Board of Regents, he will collaborate with Chancellor Jim Petro on “Complete College Ohio,” aimed at increasing completion rates at public universities, according to Wright State.

Thomas Sudkamp will serve as interim provost at Wright State. The university plans to select a permanent replacement on or before July 1, 2013.

Sudkamp, who has been serving as associate provost for undergraduate studies and University College, is a 30-year professor at the university. He is a former president of the faculty and chair of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, according to Wright State.

Wright State President David Hopkins said the change is good because Angle is capable of helping Ohio think through the major challenges of higher education.

“During his five years as provost, he has provided sound leadership working on a daily basis with our deans and vice presidents and has been steady through difficult economic times as well,” Hopkins said in a news release.

Angle has been involved in Wright State’s transition from a quarter calendar to semesters this fall and has led an academic development effort with universities in foreign countries, which has increased Wright State’s international population and global academic offerings, Hopkins said.

“Dr. Angle is a tremendous addition to our Complete College Ohio leadership,” Petro said in a news release.

“He and our diverse team of higher education leaders are dedicated to increasing degree completion in all of our public universities and colleges, and we look forward to working with him.”