Ronald W. Collins was Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at Eastern Michigan University, as well as a professor of chemistry with a specialty in inorganic chemistry. Dr. Collins served as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs for eighteen years until his death in February 2001.

The Ronald W. Collins papers are organized as they were given to University Archives. Series include ACADEMIC AFFAIRS, ADMINISTRATIVE, AUDIO VISUAL, ATHLETICS, and STUDENT AFFAIRS.

The ACADEMIC AFFAIRS series contains materials related to curriculum, academic programming, EMU's many colleges, faculty and staff affairs, research, conferences and events, institutional collabrations, enrollment, and advising.

The ADMINISTRATIVE series contains information related to Dr. Collins' tenure as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, including but not limited to: higher education organizations, annual reports, Board of Regents files, financial documents, campus facilities, conferences and events, correspondence, EMU Foundation, meeting minutes, office files, information related to multiple offices on campus, instructional computing, and labor partnerships.

The AUDIO VISUAL series contains speeches given by and in honor of Dr. COllins in both CDR and VHS formats.

The ATHLETICS series holds information relating to athletics and academics including departmental information and individual EMU sports teams.

The STUDENT AFFAIRS series contains materials focusing on housing, dining, residency, student government, awards, orientation, campus life, and assorted student task forces.