October 31, 2023

     On October 20, we launched “Our Call to Beneficence,” the most ambitious comprehensive fundraising campaign in our University’s history.

     To help us achieve our goals of empowering our students, supporting our faculty and staff, and enriching our community, we will raise more than $350 million during this campaign. So far, we are off to a great start—we have already raised more than $225 million during the leadership phase of the campaign. Watch the Oct. 20 launch event online.

     As I shared during my remarks at the campaign kick-off event, I am grateful for the many contributions and commitments we have already received from so many people—graduates, families, friends, fans, and philanthropic organizations.

     Each of these generous benefactors has a story—a story about what inspired them to answer “Our Call to Beneficence.” We chose that name for the campaign—“Our Call to Beneficence”—to honor both the iconic symbol of our University and the enduring values that distinguish Ball State.

     As you know, gratitude is one of our enduring values. We define gratitude as our commitment to expressing our appreciation and to demonstrating our appreciation through our actions.

     In that spirit, please reflect on your own Ball State story as you consider, with gratitude and appreciation, how our University has changed your life. Then please consider joining me and other people in contributing to this campaign.

     To learn more about our detailed fundraising goals and plans—including the specific plans of colleges and other academic and support units of the University—visit the “Our Call to Beneficence” website. From the website, you can make a gift in several forms, with flexible donation options.

     I look forward to witnessing how this campaign accelerates our progress while also enhancing our University’s impact on our friends and neighbors in our community.

Sincerely,

Geoffrey S. Mearns
President
Ball State University

ESPN Host and Reporter, Author, Paralympian Medalist Victoria Arlen to Speak Nov. 6 as part of Letterman Lecture Series

Author, Paralympian gold medalist, ESPN host and reporter, model, and motivational speaker Victoria Arlen will be the next featured speaker in the David Letterman Distinguished Professional Lecture and Workshop Series at Ball State University.

Ms. Arlen’s lecture is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Nov. 6 at Pruis Hall on Ball State’s campus. The lecture is free and open to the public, but general admission tickets are required for entry into the event. Free tickets can be obtained in advance from Ball State’s Emens box office, which is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tickets can also be ordered from the box office: 765-285-1539. All phone orders are subject to a $4 service charge. If capacity allows, tickets will be available at the door. Tickets are limited to four per person.

Among her many other accomplishments—which include setting a world record in swimming at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London and being a contestant on the “Dancing With the Stars” television show—Ms. Arlen founded the nonprofit Victory Foundation to assist others with mobility challenges achieve their goals. Ms. Arlen’s inspiration for creating Victory Foundation is rooted in her fight for life after being diagnosed with two rare neurological disorders when she was 11 years old in 2005, and spent four years in a vegetative state. She was paralyzed from the waist down for a decade before regaining her ability to walk in 2016. Learn more in this Ball State press release.

Writer-in-Residence Program to Host Alicia D. Williams, Nov. 6-10

The Ball State Writer-in-Residence (WIR) program is hosting Newbery Honor-winning author Alicia D. Williams in Muncie Nov. 6-10 to read, write, learn, and talk with students in Muncie-area community schools and after-school programs, and engage with community members around her award-winning books.

Free public events in the evenings on Ball State’s campus will include a talk on writing for young people and a featured reading, followed by an on-stage interview with Ball State alum—and New York Times bestselling memoirist—Ashley C. Ford. These evening events will also feature a literary fair, book sales, signing, and refreshments. Williams will read from her award-winning middle-grade novel “Genesis Begins Again.” In addition, Burris fifth-grade students will be studying two picture books: “Jump at the Sun: The True Life Tale of Unstoppable Storycatcher Zora Neale Hurston” and “Shirley Chisholm Dared: The Story of the First Black Woman in Congress.”

Highights:

Nov. 7—“Writing for Young People” with Alicia D. Williams, 7:30 p.m. in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center Ballroom. This event is free and open to all. No tickets required.

 Nov. 9—Featured Reading with Alicia D. Williams, 7:30 p.m. in the Burris Laboratory School Auditorium. Following this will be a conversation with Ashley C. Ford, the Ashley C. Ford, the Fall 2021 Writer-In-Residence. This event is free and open to all. No tickets required.

The residency is sponsored by the Creative Writing Program in the Department of English with generous support from the Efroymson Family Fund, the College of Sciences & Humanities, and the Office of the President, as well as invaluable co-sponsorship from the Office for Community Engagement, the Department for Women’s, Gender, and African American Studies, Muncie Community Schools, Burris Laboratory School, and Loudmouth Books. For more information, contact WIR program coordinator Jill Christman at jcchristman@bsu.edu. Also, learn more in this Ball State press release.

Ball State Launches Largest Capital Campaign in University’s History

“Our Call to Beneficence,” Ball State’s most ambitious comprehensive capital campaign in the University’s 100-plus-year history, is in full swing.

Publicly launched on Oct. 20, the campaign’s $350 million fundraising goal builds upon Ball State’s ongoing successes to achieve the goals articulated in the University’s strategic plan. Watch the Oct. 20 launch event online. Fueled by the generous support of graduates and benefactors, “Our Call to Beneficence” focuses on three pillars to enhance the University’s mission: student opportunity and success; the academic experience; and campus and community impact.

Detailed fundraising goals and plans—including the specific plans of colleges and other academic and support units at the University—can be found on the “Our Call to Beneficence” website.

Commitments to “Our Call to Beneficence” can be made in several forms, including outright gifts, multi-year pledges, planned gifts, matching gifts, endowments, and naming opportunities. Flexible donation options include online payments, gifts by mail, monthly installments, a bequest or charitable trust, employer-matched gifts, stock transfers, and more. To make a gift, or for more information, including frequently asked questions, visit the campaign website or email campaign@bsu.edu.

Stay Current on the Latest Statehouse News

The Office of Governmental Relations & Industry Engagement invites you to subscribe to its weekly newsletter, Statehouse Update. The newsletter provides updates on key legislation being followed by the University and insights into the legislative process. Sign up or view past editions of the newsletter.

Next Episode of Our Call to Beneficence Features Jim Champy—Author, Philanthropist, and Expert on Business Reengineering

Jim Champy—author, philanthropist, and a world-renowned expert on business reengineering—is the guest on the next episode of the monthly podcast Our Call to Beneficence, hosted by Ball State President Geoffrey S. Mearns. This episode is available now.

Mr. Champy is a leading expert on management issues involving business engineering, a topic on which he wrote a New York Times best-selling book that has sold more than two million copies. In addition to being the co-author of Reengineering the Corporation, Mr. Champy was most recently chairman emeritus of consulting for Dell Services. Before that, he was chairman of consulting and head of strategy for Perot Systems.

Today, Mr. Champy continues to consult with business executives of major companies seeking to improve business performance. He also gives back as a philanthropist and as a mentor to students—including Ball State students. Mr. Champy’s long-standing engagement with Ball State began when a business student sought his advice. He discusses this, and more, during this guest appearance.

All episodes of the Our Call to Beneficence podcast are available on multiple platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

This Month’s Episode of ‘Cardinal Compass’ Focuses on Ball State’s Recently Launched Capital Campaign

Find out what is happening at Ball State with President Geoffrey S. Mearns and his guests on “Cardinal Compass.” The next episode airs at 6:30 p.m. on Ball State PBS, and on Indiana Public Radio, on Nov. 17. The show can also be viewed on the Ball State PBS YouTube channel.

On this episode: Learn more about “Our Call to Beneficence,” Ball State’s most ambitious comprehensive capital campaign in the University’s 100-plus-year history. This episode’s guests are Mark Helmus, chief advancement officer of the Ball State University Foundation; and Ball State graduate Jill Lacy, ’92, who is on the Ball State University Foundation Board of Directors.

“Cardinal Compass” is produced by Ball State students in the University’s College of Communication, Information, and Media.

IRDS Helps Constituents Leverage Aligned Interests

As the beating heart of data at Ball State, the Office of Institutional Research and Decision Support (IRDS) has initiated several ways for various constituencies to interact with IRDS and leverage available resources in synergistic ways. Once a month, IRDS hosts the Tableau User group with topics that cover effective use of data and data literacy. Once a week, IRDS meets with that same group in an open-forum format. IRDS also meets monthly with a group of Data Liaisons to discuss how to access IRDS services and cultivate a better understanding of the needs of departments around campus. Additionally, IRDS is developing, or redeveloping, relationships with students in the Digital Corps; interns from the Graduate Certificate Program in Institutional Research at Ball State; graduates of the CSU Certificate Program in Student Success Analytics; and with the Explorer Program, working with power users to access data sources to create their own analysis and analytics. More details on these items and other developments in IRDS can be found in our blog, Data Insider.

 New Research Associate Joins IRDS

Joseph Finke has joined the Office of Institutional Research as a research associate. He is an outstanding addition that will help us better understand the effectiveness of educational programs at Ball State. Learn more about Mr. Finke in this IRDS Data Insider blog post.

Work with Lifetime Learning to Recruit Non-Traditional Students  

Ball State faculty members and department chairs may propose a course for Lifetime Learning by Ball State, our University’s non-credit division. Consider bolstering your program’s enrollment through expanded brand awareness within key populations and geographies by developing an online, self-paced course aimed at non-traditional students and community members. Proposed courses should highlight introductory content featured in a degree program, or emerging industry trends to heighten degree-seeking interest. Non-credit credentials could later equate to credit through an established curriculum mapping process and broaden access to degree pathways for working adults, diverse populations, military families, and students residing outside of Indiana. The Lifetime Learning team, and Academic Affairs leadership, reviews course proposals quarterly. Submit a course proposal for review by Jan. 15, 2024. 

First-Generation College Celebration Planned for Nov. 8

Current first-generation students, first-generation Ball State employees, and “first-gen friends” are invited to attend Ball State’s First-Generation Celebration, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. on Nov. 8 in the Multicultural Center. First-generation students are defined institutionally as being the first in their family to attend college, or as having parents or guardians who did not complete a college degree. First-Generation College Celebration is an annual opportunity to raise awareness of the first-generation college student identity by advancing an asset-based, national narrative of first-generation students’ experiences and outcomes. Each year, Ball State celebrates its first-generation Cardinals at this event with food, music, conversation, and the chance to have a visit from Charlie Cardinal. Learn more about First-Generation Celebration activities online.

Ahead of this event, start celebrating your first-generation Ball State students now using #First2Fly on social media or you can show your first-generation pride with custom Ball State First-Gen Logos, Posters, and Email Signatures.

Benefits Open Enrollment 2024 Runs Oct. 24 Through Nov. 8

It is time to review your insurance benefits and make any desired changes. The 2024 benefits open enrollment period started on Oct. 24 and will run through Nov. 8. To ask questions or request assistance with insurance enrollment, contact Employee Benefits at 765-285-1834.

Fall Online Training Week Set for Nov. 6-9

Several online training sessions on Ball State’s systems and procedures will be offered online Monday-Thursday during the week of Nov. 6. Each session will be held via Zoom and will last between 45 minutes to an hour. All employees are welcome to attend as many sessions as they want. Learn more about the training topics and schedules, and register at the same location online. All employees are welcome to attend as many sessions as they would like. Questions can be directed to Charity Coffman, assistant director of Organizational Development and Learning, at ccoffman@bsu.edu.

Recognition Matters

What helps you thrive at work? Knowing your efforts at work are recognized and valued is important. Receiving recognition on a frequent and timely basis is tied to higher levels of employee engagement, productivity, and retention, according to research published by Gallup. TELUS Health offers recognition badges that can be used to acknowledge colleagues. Log into TELUS Health with single sign-on (your Ball State username and password) and share your appreciation for a fellow employee at Ball State.

ECAP Students Earn First-Place Award, Win $10,000 in National Competition

A group of students in the Master of Historic Preservation program in the Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning (ECAP) earned first place, winning $10,000 in the Charles E. Peterson Prize, a national competition centered around documenting historic sites. The award money will be presented to the Historic Preservation graduate program in ECAP’s Department of Architecture. With student work done under the guidance of Jonathan Spodek, professor of Architecture, the winning project—based in Rushville, Ind.—pertains to the Jefferson Helm House. The house was owned by Dr. Jefferson Helm. The structure, a small Greek Revival home built in 1845, is said to be reminiscent of the ideas of Thomas Jefferson.

Miller College Speakers Scheduled for November 2023

CCIM Welcomed David and Christina Arquette as Visiting Experts in Residence

Actors and producers David and Christina Arquette spent a week in late September on Ball State’s campus engaging with students through Q&As, workshops, and classes. The Arquettes served as the first Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Visiting Experts in Residence. David Arquette—who was a featured speaker on campus in April as part of the David Letterman Distinguished Professional Lecture and Workshop Series—is known for his roles in “Scream,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” and “Mrs. Davis.” Christina Arquette has a background in news and entertainment reporting, including her time on Entertainment Tonight. She is a producer known for her work on “Survivors Guide to Prison” and “Ghosts of the Ozarks.” Read more about the recent visit in this Ball State press release.

Alumni Awardees Honored at CCIM Homecoming Tailgate

As part of the College of Communication, Information, and Media’s Homecoming festivities, CCIM hosted a tailgate welcoming students, faculty, staff, and alumni. During the tailgate, the college also honored its alumni who were recently recognized as 2023 Alumni Award Winners: Brad Saar, Jerry Walker, Drew Adamson, and Nathan Wilson.

CCIM to Host Career Fair on Nov. 16

The Career Fair on Nov. 16 will provide students the opportunity to network with leaders in the communication, information, and media fields. Students will also have the chance to get resume critiques, professional headshots, and prizes at the event. Meanwhile, program units within the college will host some of their own alumni engagement events to provide students additional networking opportunities in a small group setting.

Theatre Professor Releases Audio Play

Diana Grisanti, assistant professor of Playwriting, was awarded a commission through the Audible Emerging Playwrights Fund, an initiative dedicated to developing innovative original plays driven by language and voice. As an Audible Emerging Playwrights-commissioned playwright, she received funding and creative support to develop Vanessa in Bed—an inventive, subversive new comedy that explores the courageous choices we all must make for the sake of our own humanity and beyond. The audio play was released in September on Audible and is available for listening here.

Art Professors Open New Exhibition with Glass Demonstration

Associate Professors of Art Jessica Calderwood, Brent Cole, Jennifer Halvorson, and Jacinda Russell are exhibiting individual and collaborative works at the Appalachian Center for Crafts Gallery in Smithville, Tenn. The exhibition, Waning Elements, is currently on view until Nov. 28, 2023. This Fall, they spent four hours of service for a scheduled glass demonstration for the Center—furthering the collective’s research into applying imagery to other substrates while teaching the students a new technical process. The exhibition will also be highlighted during the art center’s annual holiday festival.

Accomplishments

COH Speaker Series Continues in November

The November installment of the College of Health Speaker Series will feature the research of Dr. Alex Tatum, assistant professor in the Department of Counseling Psychology, Social Psychology, and Counseling. The event will be held at 1 p.m. on Nov. 15 in Room 103 of the Health Professions Building. Dr. Tatum’s presentation, “Toward an Understanding of Partisan Differences in Psychological Entitlement and Self-Conscious Emotions,” will examine psychological differences between Democratic and Republican voters from the 2020 election. Specifically, this research will explore associations between a person’s voting preference, an innate sense of entitlement, and the self-conscious emotions of shame proneness, guilt-proneness, and blame externalization.

Religious Studies Professor Launches QTR: A Journal of Trans and Queer Studies in Religion

Dr. Joseph A. Marchal, professor of Religious Studies, is a founding co-editor of QTR: A Journal of Trans and Queer Studies in Religion, which connects research on religion, gender, and sexuality, and has no paywalls. The journal is funded through a $100,000 grant from the Henry Luce Foundation and will be published through Duke University Press. The first issue of the journal is expected to be released online in late April. Read more in this press release from the University of California, Riverside.

Associate Professor Wins Fulbright Global Scholar Award

Dr. Caitlyn Placek, associate professor in Ball State’s Department of Anthropology, is spending six months abroad as a recipient of the Fulbright Global Scholar Award—part of the Fulbright Scholar Program. During the 2023-24 academic year, Dr. Placek is spending time in Canada, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom to conduct research for a project titled, “The Impact of Cultural Models of Addiction and Motherhood: A Cross-Cultural Study.”

Accolades and Publications

Presentations and Publications

University Libraries Offers Copyright Assistance

Through its Office of Copyright and Scholarly Communications, University Libraries offers instruction and guidance on issues of copyright compliance to the Ball State community. Assistance is available on a variety of topics—including whether the use of certain copyrighted materials for classroom instruction is legal, how copyright might affect your project or research, rights as a creator and rightsholder, plus other copyright inquiries. University Libraries encourages the fair use of copyrighted materials in support of Ball State’s academic and research goals, and strives to provide clear copyright guidance and support to Ball State faculty, staff, and students. For a consultation or departmental meeting, contact Donald Williams,

copyright and scholarly communications manager, in Room 205 of Bracken Library, 765-285-5330 or dgwilliams3@bsu.edu.

Reel Inclusion: A Film Series Holds Two Screenings of ‘Our Story: The Indigenous Led Fight to Protect Greater Chaco’

The screening of the award-winning film, “Our Story: The Indigenous Led Fight to Protect Greater Chaco”—which will be followed by a discussion—is being shown as a Native American Heritage Month event on campus and as part of Reel Inclusion: A Film Series. Learn more about this movie online. 

The Reel Inclusion film series began Fall Semester 2019 as a collaborative effort between The Office of the Provost, The Office of Inclusive Excellence, the Multicultural Center, University Libraries, and the Friends of the Alexander M. Bracken Library, with the goal of engaging the campus community in learning and discussion around issues related to diversity, inclusion, and social justice.

‘Meet Your Major’ Fair Held in September

University College held the “Meet Your Major Fair” on Sept. 25 in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center. The fair provided undergraduate Ball State students a central location to learn from campus experts—who represented their departments and majors—about the benefits and expectations of a variety of academic programs. In attendance were 325 students, who had opportunities to ask questions and gather information from the 35 departments which represented 75 different majors.

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