August 28, 2025

     On August 15, during Fall Opening Convocation, I shared an important update about our University’s strategic direction: an enhanced version of Destination 2040: Our Flight Path—our institutional strategic plan, originally adopted in 2019, now revised to guide our work through 2030.

     More than a year ago, I appointed a strategic planning committee to lead a campus-wide review and refinement of the plan. That committee—composed of faculty, staff, and a student—led a consultative process that engaged thousands of people from across our campus and broader community.

     Through surveys, working groups, and open forums, you affirmed our mission, our enduring values, and our five long-term goals.

     The Board of Trustees formally approved the updated plan in June. Your input helped shape several key enhancements, including new strategic imperatives that emphasize purpose exploration, relationship-rich education, and the integration of artificial intelligence into our teaching, research, and operations.

     If you missed this year’s Fall Opening Convocation, it is available on Ball State’s YouTube channel.

     I am grateful for the many ways you contribute to our mission—and for your continued dedication to helping our students lead meaningful lives and pursue fulfilling careers.

Sincerely,

Geoffrey S. Mearns
President
Ball State University

Since launching Destination 2040: Our Flight Path in 2019, our University has made significant progress toward five long-term institutional goals. After a year-long, consultative process involving thousands of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members, we have updated and extended this plan through 2030. The revised version reaffirms our core goals while introducing new imperatives that reflect evolving priorities, such as purpose exploration, relationship-rich learning, and the thoughtful integration of artificial intelligence.

In the months ahead, Together We Fly will spotlight one goal in each issue—beginning with Goal 1: Undergraduate Excellence and Innovation. This goal affirms our commitment to providing a premier on-campus undergraduate experience. By 2030, every student will complete a culminating experience—such as a capstone, internship, or student teaching—and at least one high-impact practice like immersive learning, undergraduate research, or study abroad.

The updated plan also enhances how we support students from their first year forward: through coordinated recruitment efforts, expanded learning communities, purposeful advising, and a curriculum designed to build cultural awareness, global understanding, and real-world skills. These initiatives are grounded in our belief that undergraduate education at Ball State should be rigorous, personalized, and transformational.

Student Success Summit Scheduled Sept. 16-17; Registration Period Starts Sept. 2

The 2025 Student Success Summit, a free campus-wide event, is an opportunity to engage in cross-campus dialogue, share promising practices, and collectively strengthen our institutional commitment to student success and well-being.

The summit will take place from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. on Sept. 16, and from 8 a.m.- noon on Wednesday, Sept. 17. Sessions will be held at Emens Auditorium and the L.A. Pittenger Student Center. Registration opens Monday, Sept. 2.

This year’s theme, “From Connection to Completion: Student Success through Relationships, Readiness, and Resilience,” focuses on equipping faculty, staff, and administrators with strategies to foster meaningful relationships, support holistic student readiness, and build resilience across the student experience.

Attendees will explore how colleagues across campus are:

Keynote Speakers:

To learn more, email StudentSuccessSummit@bsu.edu.

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for Ball Honors House Expansion Set for Sept. 26

Ball State University is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly expanded Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Honors House at 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 26, at Ball Honors House, 1709 W. Riverside Ave. Visitor parking is available in the McKinley Avenue Parking Garage southwest of the ceremony. Due to construction and road closures, vehicles should access the McKinley Avenue Parking Garage by turning on to West Ashland Avenue from North Dill Street or North Dicks Street.

All are welcome to attend this public event. Immediately after the ceremony, there will be a reception and self-guided tours.

Highlights of the Ball Honors House Expansion:

Participate in the 2025 United Way Day Of Action on Sept. 12—Celebrating 100 Years of Impact

Take part in the 2025 United Way Day of Action on Friday, Sept. 12—United Way’s 100th anniversary—and help the community support Delaware County families who are ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed). To participate, register online no later than Sept. 4.

Held annually, the Day of Action is dedicated to meaningful community service. There are dozens of impactful on- and off-campus volunteer opportunities, including literacy kit assembly, snack packing, neighborhood clean-ups, hygiene drives, and hands-on support for local organizations such as Muncie Mission, Habitat for Humanity, and Soup Kitchen of Muncie. Get involved, make a difference, and be part of a century-long legacy of compassion and service.

2025 Outstanding Faculty Award Winners Announced at Ball State’s Fall Opening Convocation

Every year, Ball State presents awards to select faculty members who have made outstanding contributions to the University community. The award winners are announced at Fall Opening Convocation, which was held on Aug. 15 this year.

The 2025 winners are:

Outstanding Junior Faculty Award: Dr. Faisal Kalota, Center for Information & Communication Sciences, College of Communication, Information, and Media 

Outstanding Administrator Award: Dr. Jennifer Coy, Computer Science, College of Sciences and Humanities

Outstanding Advisor Award: Dr. Amanda Latz, Educational Leadership, Teachers College         

Outstanding Faculty Service Award: Prof. Elizabeth Truitt, Theatre and Dance, College of Fine Arts   

Outstanding Research Award: Dr. Lisa Ruble, Special Education, Teachers College

Outstanding Creative Endeavor Award: Dr. Cara Chowning, School of Music, College of Fine Arts                                    

Outstanding Teaching Award: Dr. Gen Mager, Biology, College of Sciences and Humanities

Outstanding Faculty Award: Dr. Katherine Denker, Communication Studies, College of Communication, Information, and Media                                  

Outstanding Inclusiveness Leadership Award: Dr. Mary Konkle, Chemistry, College of Sciences and Humanities

Excellence in Teaching Award: Prof. Ladelle Diekhoff, Computer Science, College of Sciences and Humanities & Dr. Kevin Gerrity, School of Music, College of Fine Arts                                       

Lawhead Teaching Award for Core Curriculum: Dr. Kat Greene, English, College of Sciences and Humanities

Rawlings Award for Distance Education: Dr. Kwang-Ho Lee, Applied Business Studies, Miller College of Business

Certification Pathways for Military-Connected Students Available

Lifetime Learning by Ball State, in partnership with SkillStorm®, offers career-focused, instructor-led certification pathways for military-connected students that help them fast-track their way into high-demand tech careers. All courses are 100 percent online, instructor-led, and designed with real-world success in mind using official AWS & CompTIA curriculum and labs. 

Learners do more than prepare for exams. They prepare for impact. These certification pathways are trusted by federal integrators, Fortune 500s, and veterans nationwide because they bring military precision to tech training. SkillStorm® is a preferred VET TEC provider and Credentialing Assistance provider, and has led hundreds of veterans into thriving tech jobs. There are 100 percent online full-time and part-time tracks in Cyber and Cloud, fully approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for GI Bill® Reimbursement.* Certification vouchers are included, and students have access to the course for 12 months. Learn more online.

*These certification preparatory courses are approved for GI Bill® reimbursement. Veterans and eligible family members may use their VA education benefits to cover the cost of training and certification. GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Zero-percent deferred billing and payment options are available.

New Programs, Resources Available for Faculty
Faculty members are encouraged to visit the Faculty Development Offerings webpage for details on programs and resources—provided by the Teaching Innovation Team—for instructors across all teaching modalities.

Offerings include certificate courses and learning communities designed to enhance instructional effectiveness. Faculty can also enroll in the self-paced course, Make Your Canvas Course Accessible, to improve accessibility for students.

Planning to record Fall lectures or develop interactive video assignments? Ball State’s video platform, Panopto, is available within Canvas. A quick tutorial is available. Also, read this blog to learn how to create, share, and store videos in Panopto. Email questions or seek additional support with Panopto at strategiclrn@bsu.edu.

Ball State Hosting First Forum on Education Abroad Regional Seminar in the Midwest 

The Rinker Center for Global Affairs will host the first Forum on Education Abroad Regional Seminar to be offered in the Midwest on Sept. 12, 2025. Forum Regional Seminars are designed to address critical and region-specific needs in education abroad. Previous Regional Seminars have taken place in Florence, London, Barcelona, Atlanta, Austin, and Rabat. As host, Ball State will welcome education abroad professionals from Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Kentucky, and more to Muncie for a drive-in seminar focused on championing education abroad amidst uncertainty and shifting priorities. Subject matter expert presenters will join panel discussions on topics such as advocacy for education abroad, mental health and resiliency on study abroad, encountering heated, offensive, and threatening (H.O.T.) moments, and universal design for accessible study abroad. Registration is open, and all Ball State staff and faculty are eligible for a discounted member rate. Contact planning committee members for more information: Mandy Brookins, executive director of the Rinker Center; Alicia Miller, director of global initiatives; or Annika Vinje, study abroad advisor.

Awards and Accolades

Beware of Email Phishing; IT Offers New Solution to Better Block These Emails

Ball State has seen a dramatic increase in email phishing scams. To fight malicious email phishing, Information Technology rolled out a new solution to better block these emails. Compared to the previous filtering that was being done, the new solution is around 80 percent more effective at blocking malicious emails. This system sends “bad” emails to a website to be “quarantined.”

However, malicious emails can still find their way into the inboxes of Ball State users. Look carefully at emails you receive and be wary of possible malicious emails. Hallmarks of suspicious emails include:

If you receive an email that you believe is malicious or if you receive something you’re not sure about, there are three options for getting assistance. You can contact the Office of Information Security by email at oiss@bsu.edu, call the HelpDesk at 765-285-1517, or seek assistance at bsu.edu/helpdesk.

For more on Information Technology’s stand against malicious emails, read this blog published by the Office of Information Technology.

Funding Opportunities Available for Faculty

The Aspire Internal Grants Program has the following monthly funding opportunities available for faculty:

Visit the Aspire website for full details and guidance on how to apply.

Applications Now Accepted for Ball State’s Top 100 Student Awards

Applications for the Top 100 Student Awards can be submitted until Oct. 12, 2025. As a reminder, no nomination is needed. All Top 100 students will be recognized at a celebration event on March 21, 2026.

Established in 2021 by the Ball State University Foundation, Top 100 Student Awards is a program that honors 100 outstanding Ball State juniors and seniors who excel in three categories: academic excellence, campus leadership, and community impact. This awards program is also an opportunity to educate students on the importance of staying connected to Ball State once they graduate, while continuing to grow the culture of beneficence.

ECAP Leases Workspace to Also Serve as Hub for Community Events, Courses

Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning is leasing the first floor of 306 S. Walnut Street in Muncie to provide extra space during the building renovation to the Architecture Building, and serve as a hub for community-oriented courses and activities. The facility will be used as a studio space, an exhibition site, and resource housing for the Center for Historic Preservation and community-oriented events. Partners from across the University have been invited to explore programming for the space. A celebratory opening is scheduled for the First Thursday event on Oct. 2, 2025. First Thursday events generally run 5-8 p.m.

Faculty Achievements

Lecture Series, ‘Entrepreneurial Experience,’ Scheduled for this Fall

Entrepreneurs will share their experiences during a speaker series hosted by the Entrepreneurship Center this Fall. These inspiring speakers—from all walks of life—are changing the world economically and socially. The entrepreneurs will share their stories, lessons learned, and advice.

Each lecture will be held at 11 a.m. in the Art and Journalism Building, Room 175, and all lectures are free and open to the public. Learn more about the speakers online. Below is the schedule:

CCIM Students Gather for Annual SuperParty, Community-Building Events

As part of the University’s Weeks of Welcome 2025 (Aug. 11-Sept. 21), the College of Communication, Information, and Media (CCIM) is holding events ranging from SuperParty to Vision Board Creation Night.

In late August, CCIM hosted SuperParty—an event that brings together the college’s student organizations and encourages students to explore and get involved. CCIM also held Chirp Guides, a volunteer initiative that places CCIM faculty and staff at locations throughout the communications buildings complex to help students find their classes and their way around campus. Throughout September, CCIM will also host a Vision Board Creation event, Dean’s Open House, and Vibe Check—an event that encourages students to connect with their peers as well as faculty and staff by playing games together.

SJSC Associate Director Earns Fellowship for 2025-26 class of AJEMC’s Institute for Diverse Leadership in Journalism and Communication

Dr. Sungwon Chung, associate professor and associate director of the School of Journalism and Strategic Communication, was announced as a Jennifer McGill Fellow for the 2025-26 class at the Institute for Diverse Leadership in Journalism and Communication (IDL). As a fellow, Dr. Chung is studying leadership and administration approaches for journalism/mass communication programs and is partnered with an administrative mentor. The fellows started the year-long program at the Aug. 7 Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) Conference in San Francisco.

Faculty Achievements

CoH Hosts Block Party Open to Everyone

The College of Health is hosting a block party from 6-9 p.m. on Sept.12 in the Health Professional Building Courtyard. There will be food trucks, live music, popcorn, snow cones, a dunk tank, outdoor games, and more. All are welcome to attend.

CoH Welcomes Dr. Jake Lauver to Leadership Team

The College of Health welcomes Dr. Jake Lauver to COH’s leadership team as the associate dean for academic and student affairs. Dr. Lauver has a strong background in academic leadership, research, and student-focused innovation, with a commitment to advancing interdisciplinary collaboration and academic excellence across health-related disciplines. Prior to his role at Ball State, he served as chair of the Department of Kinesiology and associate professor at Coastal Carolina University. During his time there, Dr. Lauver led curriculum development, supported faculty research initiatives, and expanded opportunities for student engagement. He holds a doctorate in exercise science from the University of Toledo, a master of science degree in exercise physiology from Eastern Michigan University, and a bachelor of arts degree in exercise science from Adrian College. He is also a certified strength and conditioning specialist and a registered clinical exercise physiologist. Learn more about Dr. Lauver in this CoH blog.

Changes Coming to the College of Sciences and Humanities
Three years ago, the College of Sciences and Humanities (CSH) began discussions between the dean’s office, department chairs, and faculty regarding restructuring several departments to increase faculty collaboration and centralize resources to provide real-world educational experiences that better reflect and prepare students for the workforce upon graduation. 

This academic year, CSH is launching the following new school and department:

Additionally, the classical cultures and religious studies programs are now part of the Department of History. This has resulted in two name changes:

Grants, Awards, and Scholarships

Honors College Faculty Member Releases New Book

Kelsey Timmerman, assistant teaching professor of Honors College, has released a new book, Regenerating Earth: Farmers Working with Nature to Feed Our Future, with Patagonia. The book focuses on regenerative agriculture, and chronicles Mr. Timmerman’s travels across the United States and around the world to meet farmers and activists who practice and advocate for sustainable farming methods.

Celebration Set for Sept. 9 for Bracken Library’s 50th Anniversary

All are welcome to attend Bracken Library’s 50th anniversary celebration at 6 p.m. on Sept. 9, at Bracken Library. Attendees will look back at Bracken's different decades and the changes that have occurred within University Libraries throughout the years. There will be a formal program, music, and refreshments.

Free Publishing Option Now Available for Ball State Scholars

Ball State scholars can now publish Open-Access—for free—with Cambridge University Press. That means no article processing charges, access to publishing in more than 437 peer-reviewed journals, and more visibility for your research. Ball State faculty, staff, graduate students, and the corresponding author(s) are eligible. No extra steps are required. Read more in this University Libraries blog. Questions can be directed to Emma Giles, scholarly communication and affordable learning librarian.

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