October 31, 2024

     As you know, we have embarked on a consultative process to develop the next iteration of our long-term strategic plan, Destination 2040: Our Flight Path.  

     To ensure an inclusive process, we have engaged faculty, staff, students, alumni, community partners, and many of our benefactors. We distributed surveys to gather valuable insights and information that will shape the strategic imperatives guiding our work through 2030. We received approximately 5,000 survey responses. Additionally, we are hosting a series of open forums on campus and in the community through November 11.  

     I am grateful to our 2024 Strategic Planning Committee members for their contributions, to the survey participants, and to the 130 people who served on one of our strategic planning working groups. I am also grateful to the people who attended our forums, and those who helped coordinate and staff the forums.

     The time, energy, and thoughtfulness invested in this process—coupled with the broad participation through surveys and forums—will help shape the strategic imperatives that will keep us on a course for a bright and successful future.

     I anticipate that we will distribute a draft plan for additional feedback early next year. Our goal is to present the final proposed plan to the Board of Trustees at its meeting in May 2025.

Sincerely,

Geoffrey S. Mearns
President
Ball State University

Groundbreaking Ceremony for Performing Arts Center in The Village Set for Nov. 14
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Ball State Performing Arts Center will be held at the corner of McKinley and Ashland Avenues in Muncie at 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 14. The Performing Arts Center, which will be located on the northeast corner of University and McKinley Avenues, is the catalyst for the University’s revitalization plan for The Village, a commercial district immediately adjacent to Ball State’s campus. The center is expected to host more than 160 University performances and draw more than 35,000 attendees to The Village annually. Additionally, the center will connect to The Cantio, a new select-service hotel. Construction of the center is expected to be completed by Fall 2026.

Help Shape the Next Iteration of Ball State’s Strategic Plan; Participate in a Forum
Ball State is working on the next iteration of its strategic plan. Faculty and staff are invited to participate in a series of on-campus open forums to build upon Destination 2040: Our Flight Path. Each forum will focus on a specific topic and provide valuable insights to guide the strategic planning process through 2030. The series—which included an Oct. 16 forum, where off-campus community partners were welcomed—concludes with the final two forums scheduled for November:

A draft plan will be shared for feedback early next year.

Fourth Season of ‘Our Call to Beneficence’ Kicks Off With Guests Dr. Roy Weaver, Paris McCurdy
Ball State President Geoffrey S. Mearns kicked off the fourth season of his monthly podcast “Our Call to Beneficence” with two new episodes featuring two Ball State graduates as guests: Dr. Roy Weaver in September and Paris McCurdy in October. Both episodes are available now.

Dr. Weaver was an impactful leader at the University’s Teachers College, including time as the college’s associate dean (1983-1993), dean (1993-2009), and interim dean (2017-2020). As dean, Dr. Weaver oversaw the Ball State Office of Charter Schools, the Office of Charter School Research, Burris Laboratory School, and the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities, among other areas. Additionally, Dr. Weaver has been an associate professor of curriculum at Ball State, later becoming a full professor and earning the Teachers College Career Achievement Award.

Mr. McCurdy has been the director of community diversity initiatives in the University’s Office of Inclusive Excellence since 2016. Among his many achievements, he is one of a few former professional athletes who have played in two major American sports leagues. Mr. McCurdy played in the NFL and later in the NBA. Also, he is well-known for being a key player on the 1989-90 Ball State men’s basketball team that made it to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 round. 

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

Register for November, December MyBallState Information Sessions
You are invited to register for an informative session on navigating and personalizing MyBallState, Ball State University’s new central digital platform. Learn tips and tricks for streamlining your access to key University services such as daily tools, resources, and important campus events and updates. The session will include time for questions to be answered. This session is ideal for faculty and staff who want to make the most of MyBallState’s features, but all MyBallState users are welcome.

Register online to attend any of the four upcoming session dates:

Lifetime Learning Launches Two Courses to Support K-12 Educators
In collaboration with faculty from Ball State’s Teachers College, Lifetime Learning offers professional development courses to enhance educators’ professional growth and amplify the classroom experience for K-12 students. Two new courses will help ensure student success and instill a love of learning:  

November Faculty Workshops Open for Registration
Faculty Development Offerings provided by the Division of Online and Strategic Learning are available this Fall to all faculty, regardless of the teaching modality. These programs enhance the effectiveness of faculty members’ teaching practice. 

The following synchronous opportunities will be offered in November, supplementing ongoing faculty support. 

Enroll for Employee Benefits by Nov. 6
Open enrollment for the 2025 calendar year runs Oct. 22-Nov. 6. A link to the online enrollment system can be found on the employee benefits webpage (click the red “Log in to Enroll” button).

Enrollment is required for the following benefits for 2025:

Certification or verification is needed for the following:

Except for the benefits listed above—and if no other changes are made during open enrollment—employees’ 2024 insurance elections will continue in 2025. 

All benefit-eligible employees will receive in the mail an Open Enrollment Decision Guide for 2025, which includes information on plan changes and other general information. The guide will also include a schedule of the open enrollment events, which is posted on the employee benefits webpage.

Volunteer Opportunities Can be Found With MOM
Motivate Our Minds (MOM) is an afterschool enrichment program for children in grades K-8. The program has various volunteering opportunities during the school year. Currently, MOM seeks volunteers to help in the garden space and drive one of the four buses that transport students from their local schools to Motivate Our Minds at 2023 E. Highland Avenue in Muncie. Sign up to volunteer online.

Business Affairs Launches Podcast, ‘Beyond the Title’
“Beyond the Title” is a new podcast recently launched by the Division of Business Affairs. Hosted by Alan Finn, Ball State’s vice president for business affairs and treasurer, this podcast features conversations with Business Affairs employees who will share stories about their work and reveal who they are as individuals. Episodes are available online.

Senior Director’s Work Featured in History Channel’s Ancient Aliens
John Fillwalk, senior director of the Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts (IDIA) Lab in the Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning, is merging cutting-edge digital technology with archaeological research. IDIA’s latest project involves bringing to life through digital modeling Pumapunku—an ancient temple in the pre-Incan city of Tiwanaku—offering new perspectives on one of the world’s most mysterious archaeological sites. This work was highlighted in a recent episode of Ancient Aliens, produced by the History Channel. IDIA’s work was also featured on the History Channel’s Universe series. Depictions of Ancient Rome and Stonehenge were developed using 3D technology, making it possible to “experience” them virtually today. Read more in this Ball State blog.

ECAP Graduates Win Honorable Mention in International Competition
Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning graduates Ricardo Ayala, ’24, and Ben Fusco, ’24, won Honorable Mention (Student Category) in the second phase of an international design competition exploring 3D printed housing. In Phase 2, the design challenge asked for a tiny home duplex that could be built for the Community First Village (formerly a homeless community) in Austin, Texas. Icon sponsored the competition.

Ball State Has Role in Rural Empowerment and Development Program
Indiana Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, in collaboration with the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA), has launched the Rural Empowerment and Development (RED) program. Developed in partnership with Ball State University’s Indiana Communities Institute (ICI) and the Center for Business and Economic Research, the RED initiative aims to strengthen community engagement and help local teams implement actionable projects. Through RED, communities receive hands-on leadership and economic development coaching from ICI. The program begins with an intensive multi-day session and ongoing support over several months. Participating teams will analyze data, review existing plans, and work alongside ICI to uncover growth opportunities and solutions for their communities.

Horwitz Nobel Prize Panel to be Held Nov. 13
The Institute for the Study of Political Economy (ISPE) will host the annual Horwitz Nobel Prize Panel at 5 p.m. on Nov. 13 in the Whitinger Building, Room 144. At this event, Ball State faculty will deliver concise talks on the groundbreaking discoveries and achievements recognized with the 2024 Nobel Prizes. Renowned as the pinnacle of intellectual achievement, the Nobel Prizes are awarded in six fields: physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, peace, and economics. This panel honors the memory of Dr. Steven Horwitz, founder of ISPE, and offers a unique opportunity to delve into the world-changing ideas celebrated by this prestigious award.

Professor Emeritus Receives Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award
Dr. Dom Caristi, professor emeritus of media, will return to Slovenia again as a Fulbright Professor in Spring 2025. Dr. Caristi, who received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Award in Media and Journalism, will share his expertise with students at one of Slovenia’s oldest and largest higher education institutions, the University of Ljubljana. Dr. Caristi was also a Fulbright Professor in Slovenia in 1995 and Greece in 2009. Read more in this Ball State press release.

CCIM Studios Renovated, LED Volume Wall Installed
Studios C, D, and E in the Ball Communication Building received a major update with new technology. Highlights of the upgrades include a white cyclorama wall with special lighting that allows users to quickly manipulate the look of their set, a refreshed greenscreen, and the addition of a multi- and single-camera production setup. These changes further display the University’s reputation as a leader in innovation, especially with the installation of an LED Volume Wall. The wall provides a range of opportunities, from projecting backdrops to creating immersive, responsive backgrounds and scenes, as seen in episodes of the “Star Wars” series “The Mandalorian” and HBO’s “House of the Dragon.” Read more in this Ball State press release.

Professor Served as Panelist at International Design Leadership Summit
Shantanu Suman, associate professor of art (graphic design), was invited to be a panelist at the International Design Leadership Summit hosted by AIGA San Diego/Tijuana, Oct. 23-26 in San Diego. San Diego and Tijuana have been designated the 2024 World Design Capital (WDC)—the first binational designation and the first time a U.S. city has received this prestigious recognition. As part of this year-long celebration, the International Design Leadership Summit will bring together leaders from global educational institutions and design organizations, including the International Council of Design (ICoD), The Graphic Artists Guild, AIGA chapters across the U.S., and Tijuana Design Week.

Professor Releases New Songs
Mei Zhong, professor of voice, has released three new songs. Listen here:

‘Habits’ Podcast Starts its Third Season
The Healthy Lifestyle Center has kicked off the third season of its “Habits” podcast with an episode focused on alcohol and alcohol-use disorder. This episode—available now—features three experts: Dr. Joseph Bartholomew, assistant professor of social work; Maddie Campbell, assistant director of health promotion and advocacy; and Suzanne Swierc, director of health promotion and advocacy. This episode and others released this past Summer are available online. Or search for “Habits by HLC” on podcast platforms.

Next Speaker Series Event Scheduled for Nov. 14
The College of Health is holding another Speaker Series to highlight the research and expertise of our faculty. The next installment features Dr. Larry Gerstein, George and Frances Ball Distinguished Professor of Psychology-Counseling. Dr. Gerstein is also the director of the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies. His talk, “Want to live outside the U.S.A.? Secure a Fulbright Appointment,” is scheduled for noon-1 p.m. on Nov. 14 in the Health Professions Building, Room 301. 

Journal Publishes Article Co-Authored by Professor of Psychological Science and Students
Dr. Daniele Nardi, associate professor of psychological science, and nine students co-authored an article about the differences in spatial orientation and proprioception in people of different sexes and weights. This article, “Individual Differences in Proprioceptive Reorientation: a Study on Body Characteristics and Posturography”—published in the journal Spatial Cognition & Computation—found that males and heavier individuals are better at navigating sloped surfaces than females and lighter individuals, suggesting that body mass may influence how people navigate their environments. This complex, collaborative study gave these students a rewarding learning experience and an impressive accomplishment to put on their resumes. Of the nine students, five are graduate students, three are undergraduates, and one is a teacher-scholar student.

Department of Political Science to Host Election Night Watch Party
The Department of Political Science, Student Government Association, and Voting System Technical Oversight Program (VSTOP) will host an election night watch party from 6-10 p.m. on Nov. 5 at the L.A. Pittenger Student Center in Cardinal Halls A-C. All students, faculty, and staff are welcome to attend. Refreshments, games, prizes, and expert analysis will be provided as the election results come in. 

Publications, Accolades, and a Special Event

Reel Inclusion Series Holds Public Screening, Discussion of Film, ‘Defining US: Children at the Crossroads of Change’
The Reel Inclusion film series continues with a screening and discussion of “Defining US: Children at the Crossroads of Change” at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 13 in the Multicultural Center’s Multipurpose Room. This film offers a glimpse into some of America’s largest schools. Learn more about this event and the film online. Questions can be directed to the Office of Inclusive Excellence at ie@bsu.edu or 765-285-5316. The Reel Inclusion series is 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.

Naming Ceremony, Reception for Map Collection Scheduled for Nov. 21
University Libraries is hosting a ceremony and reception to celebrate the naming of the Paul W. Stout Map Collection. The event will be from 6-7:30 p.m. on Nov. 21, with remarks given at 6:30 p.m. in the GIS Research and Map Collection area on Bracken Library’s second floor. Refreshments will be served. All are welcome to attend. Paul W. Stout served as Ball State’s map librarian from 1976 until his retirement in 2003. His commitment to building and preserving unique maps and atlases gave University Libraries the extensive collection used by students and faculty today.

Student Success Outreach Events Scheduled
This Fall semester, student success coaches are piloting a new workshop model that incorporates skill-based topics into an outreach structure. The structure allows students to visit tabling events in high-traffic campus locations at their convenience. These outreach events highlight common issues—including motivation, procrastination, and time management—in an easily accessible environment that allows the students to determine the timing of the interaction while allowing them to schedule follow-up appointments with coaches or other success partners immediately. Upcoming outreach events include:

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