email : Webview : Ball State University News to Use

April 11, 2019

Dear Colleagues:

     This week, we at Ball State University celebrate the success of our inaugural One Ball State Day. On Tuesday, April 9, Cardinals across the country—students, parents, faculty and staff, alumni, and friends—championed our University and gave almost $425,000.

     Those philanthropic investments will support academic programs, student organizations, and numerous funds that make possible the transformative impact our University has on the lives of thousands of women and men. I am grateful to everyone who participated and invite you to watch a video thanking our generous supporters.

     In a few weeks, we will celebrate the end of a great Spring semester and set our graduates on a trajectory toward fulfilling careers and meaningful lives. And we anticipate a strong start for the next academic year.

     At Spring Commencement on May 4, Governor Eric Holcomb will share his insights with our graduates and their families and friends, as well as our faculty and staff. Governor Holcomb is the husband of alumna Janet Holcomb, who graciously hosted a luncheon at the Governor’s Residence for our Centennial Scholars. I’m grateful to the Governor and the First Lady for their sustained support of Ball State. They are an inspiration to the Ball State community. I look forward to Governor Holcomb joining us as we celebrate this major achievement in the lives of our students.

     On July 1, two new deans will start their service at Ball State. After a collaborative and consultative process, Dr. Seth Beckman was selected to lead the College of Fine Arts. And Dr. Stephen Ferris will lead the Miller College of Business.

     A Ball State alumnus who earned his master of music and doctor of arts here, Dr. Beckman currently serves as dean of the Mary Pappert School of Music at Duquesne University, a position he has held since 2014. Previously, he held academic and administrative positions at Florida State University College of Music in Tallahassee, the School of Music at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Bemidji State University in Minnesota, Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, and Manchester College (now Manchester University) in North Manchester, Indiana.

     A Navy veteran and current dean at the College of Business at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs, Dr. Ferris started his academic career in 1983, teaching finance at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg. From 1993 to 2018, he fulfilled academic and administrative roles at the University of Missouri in Columbia.

     Also, Dave Ferguson will continue to lead the College of Architecture and Planning, where he has served as interim dean since last July. Mr. Ferguson, another Ball State alumnus, has a long history with our University. He has served his alma mater in academic and administrative roles in the Department of Landscape Architecture, the Center for Media Design, and the College of Architecture and Planning.

     And Dr. Roy Weaver has graciously agreed to serve as interim dean of Teachers College for another year. Dr. Weaver will provide continuity of leadership while our search for a long-term dean continues. I am grateful for Dr. Weaver’s commitment and passion for our University and his support of the faculty, staff, and students of Teachers College.

     In addition, two new associate vice presidents will join the Ball State community on May 1. We have selected Dr. Sonia Schaible Brandon as associate vice president for Institutional Research and Decision Support and Dr. Marsha McGriff as associate vice president for Inclusive Excellence.

     Dr. Brandon will join us from Colorado Mesa University, where she is the assistant vice president for Institutional Research and Sponsored Programs. Her knowledge and expertise will assist us as we develop analytical work with the strategic plan. Currently, Dr. McGriff is a director in the Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Multicultural Affairs at Indiana University. Her knowledge and experience will be invaluable as she leads our new President’s Advisory Council on Inclusive Excellence.

     These new leaders will play an important role as we implement our strategic plan, Destination 2040: Our Flight Path, to prepare our students to lead in their professions and serve their neighbors, while strengthening our community, providing economic and social benefits to our region and state, and offering leadership by example across our country and around the world.

     Below are just a few more examples of how “We Fly” at Ball State. I hope you enjoy them and then help us share the news. Let your friends and colleagues know Ball State is the one to watch.

Sincerely,

Geoff

News to Use:

Our Centennial Celebration includes spotlighting our colleges’ proud past and bright future throughout the 2018-19 academic year. This month, we feature the College of Fine Arts (CFA). I invite you to watch a video of interim CFA Dean Michael O’Hara discussing how students are encouraged to be good citizens as well as talented artists. In May, the College of Architecture and Planning (CAP) will be in the spotlight.
Our Centennial Celebration includes off-campus events. On April 13, Cardinals around the world will give their time to their communities by participating in our first-ever Day of Beneficence: A Ball State Alumni Day of Service. Ball State alumni, family members, students, and friends will participate in community service projects and make a difference. They are encouraged to share their experiences on social media with the hashtag #DayofBeneficence. The next day, April 14, in downtown Indianapolis, the School of Music will present a Masterworks Concert at 4 p.m. at the Hilbert Circle Theatre. The combined choirs will sing a work by Jake Runestad, followed by the Ball State Wind Ensemble performing works by Percy Grainger and Omar Thomas. The event will culminate with Beethoven’s iconic Symphony No. 9 performed by the Ball State Symphony Orchestra and combined choirs. For more about the concert, visit bsu.edu/music.
At any time and place with an internet connection, you can visit Ball State University Libraries’ new online exhibit Supporting Excellence for 100 Years and Beyond: The Growth and Development of Ball State University's Campus. Its many archival images illustrate our University’s growth from a teachers college to a world-class institution. Visitors can explore a timeline and maps, and read a history of Ball State. For more about our Centennial Celebration, visit bsu.edu/100.
We continue to see promising increases in our enrollment figures for Fall 2019. More than 26,800 high school students have applied to our University—an all-time record. Our total applicants have increased more than 14 percent over last year, with 31 percent of our applicants applying as test-optional. Acceptances and confirmations also remain ahead of last year’s pace.
For several years, Sports Link students have provided fans of NCAA Division I basketball with a great social media experience during March Madness, thanks to a partnership with the NCAA. Students in the immersive learning experience curated, filtered, and responded to social media content during the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. This is an example of how Ball State empowers student to “Fly”—and they love it.
Ball State was named No. 1 in the country in College Magazine’s "Top 10 Campuses for Students with Physical Disabilities." This ranking demonstrates our commitment to inclusiveness, one of our University’s enduring values.
Our University took another step forward in our plan to meet the critical need for STEM professionals in Indiana and the Nation. On March 29, the Board of Trustees approved bonds for the $87.5 million Foundational Sciences Building. The new 205,000-square-foot, five-story structure will be in the new East Quad, just to the south of the Health Professions Building, which is currently under construction. We anticipate breaking ground in Fall 2019, shortly after the Health Professions Building opens, and we expect the Foundational Sciences Building to be complete in 2021. I am grateful that the General Assembly has provided us with the funds to complete these two major projects, which will support 21st century science- and health-based academic programs. I invite you to view a rendering.
The Mitchell Early Childhood and Family Center is the latest example of our University’s renewed efforts to build strong relationships with the community. Our hope is that the new center for children from infant to age 5 in the former Mitchell Elementary School becomes a model of innovation and collaboration—both in terms of the quality of its child care opportunities and its ability to give new life to a building once bound for demolition. The new center is a partnership between the YMCA of Muncie’s Apple Tree Child Development Center, the University, and our Child Study Center, which is sponsored by the Department of Early Childhood, Youth, and Family Studies in our Teachers College. This initiative is another demonstration of how Ball State and Muncie are truly better together.
Our University’s partnership with the Muncie Community Schools (“MCS”) continues to make a positive impact. In coming months, the new school board will develop an academic innovation plan. This consultative process will engage teachers and staff, families, and members of the community. In September, teachers and staff will benefit from an academic summit with national experts. For more about the progress of this new partnership, I invite you to listen to my recent interview with Stan Sollars, Indiana Public Radio’s Morning Edition host.

Ball State University
2000 W. University Ave.
Muncie, IN | 47306 US

This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.