News for Ball State Faculty and Staff
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Stories of Gratitude
December 17, 2020
Last week, the Board of Trustees approved my recommendation to close regular University operations on four additional days this holiday season.
The purpose of these Days of Beneficence is to allow some extra time for you to relax and recharge after what has been an unprecedented year. It is my privilege to be able to express my gratitude to you in this way during the holiday season.
But I also want to recognize those who will be asked to work over the holidays, including during the Days of Beneficence. If you are among this small but critical group, thank you very much for helping keep our campus safe and well-prepared to begin the Spring semester.
If you are designated to work on these additional holidays, you will be compensated in accordance with our existing policies for holiday pay.
I am grateful to all of you for your service and support. I wish you all a happy and healthy holiday season.
Sincerely,
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Ball State Response to COVID-19
COVID-19 Dashboard Update
The data on the Ball State COVID-19 Dashboard will reset the week of January 4. Information from the Fall semester will be archived, and the University will begin updating it again with current data as it pertains to the Spring semester. See the dashboard.
Testing Information
On-campus instruction for the Spring semester is scheduled to resume on January 19.
During this interim period, on-campus COVID-19 testing for symptomatic faculty, staff, and students will continue through our partnership with IU Health. After using a symptom checker at iuhealth.org/covid19, faculty, staff, and students with symptoms will be referred to the appropriate medical provider, including scheduling COVID-19 testing at one of the IU Health testing sites.
Additionally, COVID-19 testing will be available at:
- Open Door Health Services
333 S. Madison St.
Muncie, IN 47305
To schedule: 765-286-7000 or opendoorhs.org. - ISDH/Optum
401 N. Country Club Road
Muncie, IN 47303
To schedule: 888-634-1116 or lhi.care/covidtesting.
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Student Pre-Arrival Testing Protocol
The University is requiring all students to be tested for COVID-19 before returning to campus for the Spring semester.
Take the Cardinals Care Pledge for Spring
Reaffirm your commitment to a safe campus this Spring semester by taking the Cardinals Care Pledge.
The pledge asks for you to take care of yourself and to help take care of other Cardinals and our campus and community. Following it shows that you respect the University’s pandemic protocols and will engage in best practices to mitigate the spread of the Coronavirus.
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For Your Benefit
W-2 Information
For all employees, electronic 2020 W-2 forms will be available online in early January. An email will be sent to employees when the forms become available on the Self-Service Banner.
Instructions about how to access and print your W-2 can be found here.
Payroll will host three in-person events in January to help employees with their W-2s.
They will be held on:
- January 15, 8:30–9:30 a.m., Bracken Library (BL008).
- January 19, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Bracken Library (BL008).
- January 28, 3–4 p.m., Bracken Library (BL008).
Working Well
Ball State employees can have a one-time conversation with a Counseling Center staff member about issues they may be experiencing. These meetings are to support faculty or staff members in developing a plan to address any concerns they may have. All conversations are confidential.
Call 765-285-1736 to schedule a Let’s Talk meeting.
Financial Planning Resources
Could you benefit from professional guidance while planning your financial future? Beginning in mid-January, Ball State will provide employees with retirement planning advice from Edelman Financial Engines.
Employees can use free online tools, or, for a minimal fee, let Edelman Financial Engines manage their investments for them.
Edelman advisors will be available to anyone participating in Ball State’s retirement plans. Keep an eye out for more information. For questions, please contact Cathy Bonar, retirement plan administrator, at clbonar@bsu.edu or 765-285-8404.
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Listen to the Unity Week Speaker
Civil Rights Activist Cheryl Brown Henderson will speak about the legacy of the landmark desegregation Supreme Court case Brown v. The Board of Education via Zoom in honor of Unity Week.
Brown Henderson is one of the three children of the late Rev. Oliver L. Brown, of Brown v. Board of Education.
Her lecture, “Brown v. The Board of Education: The Legacy Continues,” begins at 7 p.m. on February 2 via Zoom. Look for more information about 2021 Unity Week, including how to watch Brown Henderson’s speech, in January’s issue of Together WE FLY.
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R. Wayne Estopinal College of Architecture and PlanningVolunteer of the Year
Teresa Jeter, assistant teaching professor in urban planning, was named Volunteer of the Year by the Ball State University Alumni Association. Learn more.
CAP Guest Lecture Series
The College of Architecture and Planning has an exciting lineup of virtual lectures for the Spring. Look for Zoom links and more information in upcoming Communications Center posts and on Twitter. All lectures begin at 4 p.m. and are open to the public.
They are:
- February 1 – Brent Leggs, executive director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund.
- February 15 – Meticulous Architecture: A panel discussion with Damon Hewlin, Nate Robert-Eze, Kionna Walker, and Brian Robinson from Meticulous Architecture, with BSU associate professor of architecture Olon Dotson moderating the event. In addition to talking about projects and philosophy, they’ll address challenges for minorities in the field, give advice, and answer questions.
- March 8 – Landon Bone Baker is home to four CAP alumni on its team. Each will present and discuss projects they have worked on at the firm.
- March 22 – Juli Kaufmann of Fix Development will discuss a new inclusive real estate development model along with strategies to reactivate commercial development in struggling neighborhoods.
Construction Management News
The Glick Center for Glass has earned “Silver” certification through the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Lab initiative, thanks to the work of associate lecturer of construction management Janet Fick, her students, and co-instructor Jim Jones.
Ball State was one of the first participants in the USGBC’s LEED Lab program, which incorporates “project-based learning and the built environment to educate and prepare students to become green building leaders and sustainability-focused citizens.”
Miller College of Business
Entrepreneurship Program Ranked
Ball State has been ranked by The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine as the 28th top school for undergraduate entrepreneurship thanks to the Miller College’s entrepreneurship program.
The 2021 lists are based on an administrator survey at more than 300 undergraduate and graduate schools offering entrepreneurship studies.
Students SOAR in Miller College
Almost 500 freshmen in the Miller College of Business are participating in SOAR (Success, Opportunity, Acumen, and Readiness)—a required program for business majors that provides learning opportunities about career exploration and professional development. Learn more about SOAR.
Midwest Academy of Management Conference
The Department of Management made a significant contribution to this year's Midwest Academy of Management conference held virtually at the end of October.
Carla Flores, associate lecturer of management, hosted an entire day of the conference on Zoom. Ronda Smith, assistant professor of management; Craig Webster, associate professor of hospitality and food management; and Alan Yen, associate professor of hospitality and food management, all served as session chairs. Matt Marvel, director of the Entrepreneurship Center, presented on behalf of the Entrepreneurship Education and Pedagogy journal on an editor's panel.
The Midwest Academy of Management recognized several members for their service as reviewers: Imran Syed, assistant professor of management, Craig Webster, Alan Yen, and undergraduate management student Ashley Taylor. They also recognized Krystal Geyer, assistant director of the Entrepreneurship Center; Kyleigh Mazer, assistant program director at the Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute; and Breck Terheide, assistant teaching professor of management, as Outstanding Reviewers for this conference.
College of Communication, Information, and Media
Research Spotlight
The Center for Information and Communication Science’s Chris Davison has engineered software for a new COVID-19 early warning system that could revolutionize the battle against pandemics. Read more.
Alumni Spotlight
Telecommunications alumnus Dwight Smith was named one of three Ball State “Volunteers of the Year” in recognition for his work as a lead ambassador, spearheading alumni activity in Los Angeles, and motivating ambassadors across the country to engage others within their region.
What to Watch
- CCIM students Emma Trent and Ameliah Kolp hosted the college’s first virtual tour on Instagram Live. Watch the recording.
- Cardinal Compass: Campus and Community Conversations aired on November 20 on Indiana Public Radio and WIPB. In this new episode produced by CCIM students, President Mearns and Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour discuss how Muncie and Ball State can work together to improve the entire community. Watch the episode.
College of Fine Arts
Ball State Announces Brown Family Amphitheater
During its final Board of Trustees meeting of 2020, Ball State University announced an additional $2.8 million gift from Charles W. Brown that will fund an outdoor performance and gathering space named the Brown Family Amphitheater.
The Board approved a resolution to name the grand lawn amphitheater in honor of Brown, a 1971 graduate of Ball State and a longtime donor to the University. It will be located between Park and Pruis Halls and between Noyer and Woodworth Complexes. Read the news release.
Visit DOMA Virtually
College of Health
Helping people cook with common ingredients from food banks
Senior dietetic students in community nutrition, taught by Carol Friesen, professor of nutrition and dietetics, are creating instructional recipe videos that will show people how to cook great dishes with common products distributed through the Second Harvest Tailgate Food Distribution Events.
Congrats to INSHAPE Honorees
Congratulations to School of Kinesiology faculty and students recognized at the Indiana Society for Health and Physical Educators (INSHAPE) Hall of Fame Celebration event via Zoom on November 2, 2020.
- Lawrence Judge, professor of kinesiology, earned the Honor Award.
- Sheli Plummer, assistant lecturer of kinesiology, earned the Recreation/Leisure Educator of the Year Award.
- Sarah McWeeney, a health and physical education teaching major, earned the Jean Lee/Jeff Marvin Scholarship.
- Jake Guerrieri, a health and physical education teaching major, earned the INSHAPE 2020 Major of the Year Award.
Mapping Muncie Exercise Spots
Dr. Shannon Powers of Cardinal Wellness and kinesiology student Makayla Love created a map of all physical activity options in Muncie for the city’s website.
College of Sciences and Humanities
Undergraduate Achievement Award
Senior geography major Dan Council will receive the American Association of Geographers’ Marble-Boyle Undergraduate Achievement Award in recognition of his efforts to bridge geographic science and computer science. This competitive award includes a $1,000 prize and a certificate of recognition from the association.
Read About Social Media and Polarization
The college recently investigated social media’s role in contributing to polarized discourse and political misinformation on various multimedia platforms. Political science faculty Brandon Waite and Chad Kinsella urge Americans to become “social media omnivores.” Read the story.
Alumni Spotlights
A number of proud Ball State alumni have shared with the college this semester why they chose to become Cardinals and how today they are thriving in their careers. Read our alumni spotlights.
Teachers College
Biggest Teachers College Gift Ever
A $1.45 million commitment from a Ball State University alumna and her husband represents the largest single gift in the history of Teachers College. Michelle and Jim Ryan have established the Michelle A. and James T. Ryan Family Scholarship, the Ryan Family Navigators Program, and the Ryan Fellowship for Community-Engaged Teacher Preparation. The initiatives will assist students with diverse and economically challenged backgrounds by providing financial assistance and comprehensive services. Learn more.
Ed Studies Prof Earns Accolade
Jon Clausen, an associate professor in the Department of Educational Studies, earned an Outstanding Research Paper Award from the Journal of Digital Learning in Teacher Education at the International Society for Technology in Education conference.
Indiana Academy Continues to Rank High
Honors College
Encourage Undergrads to Apply for an Award
Please encourage our creative, passionate undergraduates to apply for an Honors College award. Your letter of reference is a significant component of the student’s application.
The awards are:
- The Lawhead Student Enrichment Award
The Honors College seeks applications from Honors College students pursuing a career in education, on track to complete their third year of study in the 2021-2022 Academic Year, and poised to pursue an innovative, enhanced learning experience in the coming year. The Lawhead Award provides $3,000 toward the costs of a novel opportunity, such as attendance and participation at a professional conference, an immersive or experiential growth experience, study abroad, an internship, or another unusual experience during the coming year. Applications are due February 1, 2021. Learn more. - The James S. Ruebel Honors Fellowship for International and Innovative Experiences
The Honors College seeks applications from Honors College students poised to pursue an innovative study abroad opportunity or to pursue an innovative initiative locally. Three Ruebel Fellowships ($3,000 each) will be available to continuing Honors College students in the coming year. Applications are due February 1, 2021. Learn more.
Immersive Learning
Now Accepting Provost Immersive Learning Grant Applications
The Office of Immersive Learning has funds available for Pilot and One-Time Project and Sustained Course proposals.
These grants help faculty test immersive learning ideas or make them permanent offerings in a department’s curriculum. If you would like to explore the possibilities, the immersive learning project managers for your area can help you refine your project idea, walk you through the application guidelines, and help you build a budget that will support the work. Call your college’s project manager today to set up an appointment.
You may also contact Suzanne Plesha, Director of Immersive Learning, to arrange a meeting.
Athletics
Football Team Wins MAC West
Ball State clinched the Mid-American Conference West Division title on Saturday, December 12, with a 30-27 victory against Western Michigan at Scheumann Stadium.
The Cardinals (5-1) will play in the MAC Championship game on Friday, December 18, against East Division champ University at Buffalo, in Detroit.
The MAC Championship game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN from Ford Field. Fans can also listen on the radio in the Muncie area on 104.1 WLBC.
Watch Letterman, Manning in Peyton’s Places in January
In October, Ball State University hosted alumnus David Letterman and NFL legend and former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning as they filmed an episode of Peyton’s Places, a football-themed documentary series hosted by Manning that is produced and broadcast by ESPN.
The episode featuring Ball State is expected to air in January. We will share more information as it becomes available.
Order your Cutout for Worthen Arena
Even though you can’t physically attend winter athletic events at Worthen Arena, you can still get in on the action with an official cardboard cutout of your likeness for the stands.
Purchase one for you, a friend or family member, or even a four-legged Cardinal fan. Order your cutout.
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.
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| Achieving Academic Excellence
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Even in Digital, It Starts with a Story
Chris Taylor is a pioneer. In 2009, he launched and has since led the nation’s first digital sports production academic major with an emphasis on live sports production, cross-platform distribution, storytelling, social media, interactive and mobile media.
Digital Sports Production is a popular concentration within telecommunications, one of several majors offered through the College of Communication, Information, and Media. Students in the program produce live sporting events for ESPN and develop longform features about student-athletes. In addition, student productions have aired on national media platforms such as Fox and Comcast.
“At Ball State, storytelling is our foundation,” Taylor said. “The story truly matters. Everything is a story from the features we tell to the live events that we produce.”
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