October 27, 2022
Stories of GratitudeI want to express my gratitude to our department chairs and program directors for all the work they do. Their efforts affect nearly every level of our campus community and are at the heart of what we do at Ball State University. They engage and work closely with their college deans and unit leadership to fulfill our University’s mission.
The duties of our department chairs and program directors can vary among units. Their work, though, generally includes mentoring faculty and students, overseeing unit budgets, guiding curriculum innovations and revisions, engaging alumni, and seeking industry partnerships for internships and grant opportunities. Chairs and directors are responsible for promotion and tenure and annual salary and merit reviews, scheduling faculty and courses each semester, and recruiting and hiring faculty and staff. They respond to concerned parents and student complaints. And the list of their duties and responsibilities goes on from there.
Add onto that the tasks beyond their typical duties they take on out of necessity. For example: one chair recently missed a meeting to cover his department’s main office because the administrative staff member was out of the office dealing with a family emergency. It’s clear our department chairs and directors have a long list of responsibilities and tasks, plus “other duties as needed.” It’s also clear that they come to work consistently with energy, enthusiasm, and dedication to our University’s mission. They don’t just do their work. They do their work very well.
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Sincerely,
Geoffrey S. Mearns
President
Ball State University
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Our Call to Beneficence Podcast
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Next Episode of Our Call to Beneficence Features author, educator, business advisor, Ball State University graduate Stedman Graham
New York Times bestselling author, educator, business advisor, and Ball State University graduate Stedman Graham ’89 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. Graham is chairman and CEO of S. Graham and Associates. As an educator, Mr. Graham has been a distinguished visiting professor at numerous colleges and universities around the nation. Mr. Graham, who earned his master’s degree in Education from Ball State in 1989, is a former adjunct professor at the Northwestern Kellogg School of Business, where he taught the course, “The Dynamics of Leadership.”
All episodes of the Our Call to Beneficence podcast are available online, as well as on multiple platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Subscriptions and reviews are also encouraged to help grow the audience for this podcast.
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Open Enrollment runs Oct. 25 through Nov. 10
Employees who take advantage of University-provided healthcare benefits should review their coverage needs and re-enroll as needed.
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Prepare early for W-2 by updating your employee information
The 2022 electronic form W-2 will be available online for active employees in early January. Be on the lookout for an email notification when the 2022 electronic form W-2s become available on the Self Service Banner (SSB). Learn how to access and print your W-2 by visiting the Access Employee Information | Ball State University webpage. The Office of Payroll and Employee Benefits can assist employees with printing their W-2s. For assistance, come to Room AD G28 in the Administration Building.
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Holiday calendar includes 2022 Days of Beneficence
The Fiscal Year Holiday calendar has been updated to include the 2022 Days of Beneficence. These four additional days will occur during the coming holiday season on Monday, Dec. 26 through Thursday, Dec. 30, 2022. The Days of Beneficence are not a part of our annual holiday schedule; they have been approved by President Mearns and Board of Trustees for 2022.
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Basic Spanish course for employees to be offered in Spring 2023
Human Resources, in partnership with the Department of Modern Languages and Classics, is announcing a new course offering for basic/conversational Spanish designed just for Ball State employees. This course is free for all employees.
This class will meet for the entire Spring 2023 semester (16 weeks) on Mondays (in-person), Wednesdays (in-person), and Fridays (online assignments) from 12-12:50 p.m. During this course, learners will practice the language for work-related situations (with step-by-step pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar support) and focus on basic speaking and listening skills. In addition to speaking the language, there will be some reading, writing, and cross-cultural discussions.
As growth in Ball State’s Latinx student and employee populations continue to grow, this will be a great resource to engage with and support the University’s Spanish-speaking community on and off campus. To register for this course, please fill out this form. Questions about the course can be directed to Dr. Chin-Sook Pak or Breanne Holloway.
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Show your gratitude
Consider being intentional about giving thanks. One way to show gratitude is to recognize a Ball State faculty or staff member using the Lifeworks Recognition feature. Another way is to set up a Gratitude Wall in your department. Reach out to Working Well in Human Resources for ideas.
To use Lifeworks’ Recognition feature:
- Log into Lifeworks (use your Ball State username/password)
- Select the colleague (or colleagues) you want to recognize directly from the news feed by name, or by choosing them from the Colleague Directory. If you don’t see their name, that means they haven’t logged into Lifeworks yet.
- Pick the best badge for your recognition and add your message.
For added creativity, select “Add image” and choose from the selection of GIFs. - Hit “Post” and see the recognition celebrated on the news feed.
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| Ball State's Response to COVID-19
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All employees are strongly encouraged to get a COVID-19 vaccination and then attest to their full vaccination using our online form. For more COVID-19 information, plans, and resources for faculty, staff, students, and campus visitors, visit the Ball State Cardinals Care website.
On-Campus Vaccination Clinic Open Each Thursday in September
In September, the vaccination clinic in Ball State’s Interprofessional Community Clinics (ICC) will be open from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. each Thursday, except Thanksgiving Day, for the remainder of the Fall 2022 semester. Visit the University’s Cardinals Care page to learn more.
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‘Student Success Summit’ has successful first year
Almost 600 Ball State community members attended the University’s first-ever Student Success Summit, held Sept. 15-16. The summit was planned and hosted by Dr. Susana Rivera-Mills, Dr. Jason Rivera, and a team of University college colleagues.
The summit kicked off with a keynote address by Dr. Timothy Renick, senior vice president for Student Success and Professor of Religious Studies at Georgia State University. Dr. Renick noted that to support all students, institutions must work across silos and think more intentionally about the holistic needs of our students. He also affirmed that Ball State is on the right trajectory in its student success efforts. His address gave way to meaningful conversations among faculty, staff, and students about student success initiatives at Ball State.
Attendees reported that they relished the opportunity to come together for the common purpose of student success—and that the summit allowed for the development and growth of many connections among colleagues about teaching and learning.
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Government Relations
Stay Current on the Latest Statehouse News
The Office of Governmental Relations 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.
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R. Wayne Estopinal College of Architecture and PlanningCollege of Architecture and Planning hosts Guest Lecture Series in November
Nov. 7 - Sekou Cooke
4 p.m. in Room 100 of the Architecture Building
Sekou Cooke is an architect, urban designer, researcher, and curator. Born in Jamaica and based in Charlotte, North Carolina, he is the director of the Master of Urban Design program at UNC Charlotte.
Nov. 14 - Marlon Blackwell, Sappenfield Guest Lecture
5 p.m. Lecture in Room 100 of the Architecture Building
(4 p.m. Reception in Architecture Gallery)
Marlon Blackwell is an architect in Fayetteville, Arkansas; and the E. Fay Jones Distinguished Professor at the University of Arkansas.
Nov. 28 - Alexandra Lange
4 p.m. in Room 100 of the Architecture Building
Alexandra Lange is a design critic and columnist for Bloomberg CityLab.
Published Work- Sean Burns, assistant professor of Architecture, and Matthew Wilson, assistant professor of Architecture, co-authored and co-edited the book entitled, “Understanding Site in Design Pedagogy.” They contributed the chapter entitled “Sites of Alternate Origin: Design Ideation Under a New Austerity.”
- John West, assistant professor of Urban Planning, contributed a chapter entitled “The Political Economy of Abandoned Property: Structure and Agency in Land Banking Practice in Muncie, Indiana” in the book Political Economy of Land, edited by Mika Mika Hyötyläinen and Robert Beauregard.
Miller College of BusinessPublished Work
Kelsey Brasel, Robert M. Hoffer Distinguished Professor of Accounting, co-authored a paper accepted for publication in the Journal of Forensic and Investigative Accounting. The manuscript is titled "Dilutive Effects of Management Attitudes and Client Importance on Auditors' Fraud Risk Assessments: Are Skeptical Auditors Less Susceptible?".
Imran Syed, assistant professor of Management, recently had a second article accepted for publication. "When 'Good Enough' is Not Good Enough: The Role of Maximizing or Satisficing Decision-Making Styles, Innovation Behavior, and Entrepreneurial Alertness in the Pursuit of New Business Opportunities" will be published in the Journal of Small Business Strategy.
College of Communication, Information, and MediaSJSC honors Its graduates, students, and colleagues
The School of Journalism and Strategic Communication (SJSC) partners with the SJSC Alumni Society each year to recognize faculty, alumni, and friends who are making a lasting mark on the industry and supporting our students and school initiatives. On Oct. 6, SJSC celebrated some of its most talented alumni, students, and colleagues in the industry during the annual SJSC National Writing Awards luncheon. Read more in this press release.
Stedman Graham ’89 visits Ball State as part of Letterman Lecture Series
New York Times bestselling author, educator, business advisor, and Ball State University graduate Stedman Graham ’89 visited Ball State as part of the David Letterman Distinguished Professional Lecture and Workshop Series. During his visit, he led a workshop with College of Communication, Information, and Media’s (CCIM) student leaders exploring how to overcome challenges in leadership positions and how to best manage roles to ensure the success of others.
Ball State Daily News marks its 100th anniversary
The Ball State Daily News celebrated a century of innovation with its 100th anniversary dinner on Oct. 20. Just over 100 years ago, The Ball State Daily News debuted on campus as The Easterner, a “live paper from a live school.” Times have changed: the “Normal School” that the Easterner served is now Ball State University. And The Easterner has become the Ball State Daily News. Additionally, the College of Communication, Information, and Media’s (CCIM) Hall of Beneficence Awardees were honored at the dinner for their outstanding success in their professional or creative endeavors and significant contributions to the college and community. Read more in this CCIM blog.
College of Fine ArtsPublished Work
College of HealthTwo ‘Zoom Lunch and Learn’ sessions scheduled in November
The Department of Social Work is hosting Zoom Lunch and Learn sessions that are open to the public and will be eligible for one Continuing Education Unit (CEU) through Social Work. Cost is $10 for professionals, no charge for students. Topics, times, and dates of each session are as follows:
- Childhood Obesity - 12:30-1:30 p.m. on Nov. 4
- Voting is Health Care - 12-1 p.m. on Nov. 11. Register Here.
Free screening for kidney disease slated for Nov.7
Kidney disease is a “silent killer.” Ninety-six percent of people with mild chronic kidney disease (CKD) do not know they have it, and 48 percent of people with severe CKD are unaware. To address this, the Ball State Chapter of Kidney Disease Screening and Awareness Program (KDSAP) will host a free community screening event at 5 p.m. on Nov. 7 at Harvest Christian Church, 1010 Centennial Ave., in Muncie. Screenings are conducted on a walk-in basis, no appointment necessary. For more information, contact Dr. Shannon Powers by email or at 765-212-1488.
College of Sciences and HumanitiesNeuroscience to be offered as a minor
The Department of Psychological Science is launching a new minor: Neuroscience. The interdisciplinary neuroscience minor will provide students with foundational knowledge of the organization, development, and function of the nervous system and how this relates to behavior and cognition. The minor is composed of courses in psychology, biology, mathematics, philosophy, and speech pathology.
Published WorkTeachers CollegeFaculty, Alum News- Five Ball State University faculty and one alumnus traveled to New Cairo, Egypt, in August as part of a partnership with the El Rabwa Network. They learned about Egypt’s culture and education system while sharing educational research, insights from American K-12 schools, and ideas for future implementation. Learn more.
- Pleasant View Elementary School in Zionsville, Ind., led by principal Dr. Stacy Smith, Teachers College alum, received a 2022 Excellence in Early Literacy Award at the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) Educational Excellence Awards Gala. The school was awarded up to $410,000 to sustain initiatives that support student success.
Federal approval of educator pipeline received
Teachers College received federal approval of a state-registered apprenticeship supporting the educator pipeline. Participating in the program will allow students to graduate a year early, earning a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Special Education. Learn more.
Indiana Academy continues to earn strong rankings
The Indiana Academy’s ranking on Niche.com remains strong. 2023 K-12 school rankings include:
#1 Public High School in Indiana
#1 College Prep Public High School in Indiana
#15 Best Public High School Faculty in the Nation (out of ~20,000)
#44 Best Public High School in the Nation (out of ~20,000)
Learn more.
University LibrariesUniversity Libraries makes searching for journal articles even easier
University Libraries has purchased and implemented new linking technology, LibKey—which works with University Libraries’ journal subscription data to provide quick, one-click access to full-text journal articles through OneSearch, academic databases, and even Google Scholar.
All Ball State students, faculty and staff can download and install the LibKey Nomad browser extension to their browser of choice. LibKey Nomad, whether on or off campus, provides one-click access to full-text journal articles the University Libraries subscribe to wherever they are available. LibKey Nomad is easy to install and works across all websites including, Google Scholar, Google Search, journal publisher platforms and Wikipedia. Download the plugin, conduct research, and look for the Nomad buttons on the website to easily access the libraries’ content. “Download PDF” or “Provided by Ball State University” buttons appear when full-text content is available.
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