November 30, 2020

Dear Colleagues:

Ball State University has a proud history of fostering a broader, more comprehensive vision to diversity and inclusion.

Earlier this month, New Mobility magazine named our University one of the top 10 “wheelchair friendly colleges” in the nation. The magazine highlighted our wheelchair-friendly infrastructure, our percentage of accessible buildings, and our integrated accessible housing options. The magazine also recognized our personal assistance programs, our adaptive sports and recreation opportunities, our accessible on-campus transportation, and our adaptive computer labs.

This newest ranking builds upon our legacy as a leader in this area—a legacy that includes our 2019 designation by College Magazine as the best campus in the country for students with disabilities.

I am grateful to everyone in our Office of Disability Services for their ongoing commitment to serving the more than 1,300 students who annually benefit from their support and services. Because of the hard work of our colleagues in Disability Services, our University continues to retain students with disabilities at a high level, helping them to graduate at the same rates as their peers.

Below are a few more stories that I hope you will enjoy and then share. Let your friends and colleagues know how “We Fly” at Ball State.

Sincerely,

Geoffrey S. Mearns
President
Ball State University

News to Use

Entrepreneurship Continues to Be Among Nation’s Best

Ball State University’s entrepreneurship program earned recognition as one of the nation’s best by the Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine.

The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur ranked Ball State at No. 28 in a list of “Top 50 Undergraduate Schools for Entrepreneurship Studies for 2021.” The list identifies the 50 undergraduate and 50 graduate schools that offer the best programs in entrepreneurship studies based on a survey of more than 300 institutions offering such programs.

“This is a tremendous honor for the University as we continue to offer one of the nation’s best programs for students aspiring to become entrepreneurs,” said Stephen Ferris, the Bryan Dean of the Miller College of Business at Ball State.

Read the news release.

Ball State, Ivy Tech Expand Business Options for Transfer Students

Students studying business at Ivy Tech Community College now have more options when they transfer to Ball State University as a result of a new agreement.

Ivy Tech graduates in business administration now may transfer directly into 11 business majors offered by Ball State’s Miller College of Business.

View the applicable majors.

Professor Engineers “Early Warning” Software for COVID-19

A Ball State University professor has helped to engineer software for a new COVID-19 early warning system that could revolutionize the battle against pandemics.

Working with researchers at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), Chris Davison collaborated to create software for the system, called TIPPERS. The system uses mobile devices to alert people when they are near an infected person or in an area that is too crowded and unsafe.

Learn more.

Urban Planning Students Develop Plan for Old School Site

Students majoring in urban planning have developed a host of ideas for repurposing the former Storer Elementary School property in Muncie.

The school closed in 2017. The city has since taken possession of the 18.5-acre parcel and demolished the buildings to pursue new development. Student ideas included housing, parks, trails, and wetlands.

Read the article in The Star Press.

Ball State Students Save Historic Mansion

Students Tricia Timmons and Chandler Sturgis were learning to conduct routine building inspections at the E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center mansion when they noticed something unusual.

Both Tricia, a senior, and Chandler, a junior, are majoring in residential property management (RPM). The inspection was part of a project for a facilities management class with associate professor Dina Zemke.

Their discovery of a wet rug helped save the mansion from “catastrophic” damage.

Read the full article.

University Hosts Inclusive Excellence Roundtable

The University is hosting a series of Inclusive Excellence roundtable discussions with alumni, faculty, staff, students, and members of the local community.

The first roundtable was filmed this month and will be available online in January.

Its availability coincides with the Winter issue of our Alumni magazine, which is dedicated to telling stories about Inclusive Excellence on our campus. Look for more information in future editions of News to Use.

Ball State Unveils “Tradition” Apparel Line

In conjunction with the Collegiate Licensing Company and valued licensed vendors, Ball State’s new “Tradition” line of clothing includes a vintage Charlie Cardinal logo from athletics uniforms in 1989, a previously used drawing of Beneficence, and a distinctive font featured on athletic team uniforms in the 1970s and 1980s.

Licensed vendors selling the Tradition line include Homefield Apparel and The Shop Indy.

Students Must Test for COVID-19 Before Returning in January

The University is requiring all students to be tested for COVID-19 before returning to campus for Spring semester in January.

Here is a full description and detailed expectations.

For the latest updates and complete information about Ball State’s array of safety protocols, please visit bsu.edu/coronavirus. Our COVID-19 dashboard provides additional, relevant information to the Ball State community and to the public.

Tech Interns to Call Muncie Home Next Summer

Some of the college students participating in TechPoint’s annual Xtern program will work for Muncie-area employers while living at Ball State University next summer.

Called the “ultimate summer internship experience” for the tech sector, Xtern began in Indianapolis in 2014. College students from across the country apply for spots in the 10-week, summer internship.

While some students in the program will work in Indianapolis, where the program is based, a portion of the 2021 Xtern class will be working and living in Muncie.

See where the Xterns will be working.

Minnetrista Honored as Community Partner of the Year

Ball State University has named Minnetrista Cultural Center the 2020 Community Partner of the Year for collaborating with college students on an award-winning educational video game project.

The annual award recognizes a Delaware County business, organization, or agency that demonstrates excellence as part of a Ball State community-based learning experience during the previous year.

Minnetrista earned the award for a two-semester partnership with Paul Gestwicki, a computer science professor, and his classes on game design and software production. The class developed an original educational video game, Canning Heroes, which is installed at Minnetrista.

Check out the full article.

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