Dear Colleagues:         

     Two years ago, Ball State University publicly launched “Our Call to Beneficence,” the most ambitious comprehensive fundraising campaign in our University’s history. Philanthropy would help us empower our students, support the work of our faculty and our staff, and serve our friends and neighbors.

     Back then, I said we would raise more than $350 million during this campaign. Already, we have raised more than $330 million.  

     Our progress is impressive and inspiring. It’s the result of the generosity of more than 58,000 donors. I am grateful for this generosity. Each donor’s story is unique. But the common thread is a desire to make a meaningful difference in the life of another person. 

     As we head into the final stretch of this campaign, we can build on that momentum together. I hope that—with gratitude in their hearts and legacy on their minds—other people will be inspired to support our ambitious vision by making a gift.

     Every gift is an investment that will positively impact the lives of people for generations to come. To make a gift or for more information, including frequently asked questions, visit the campaign's website or email campaign@bsu.edu.

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

Sincerely,

Geoffrey S. Mearns
President
Ball State University

Ball State University graduate Megan Johnson, a fourth-grade teacher at Central Elementary School in Plainfield, has been named the 2026 Indiana Teacher of the Year by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). With 18 years of experience in upper elementary classrooms, Ms. Johnson is passionate about ensuring her students develop the strong literacy foundations needed for lifelong success. She graduated from Teachers College in 2007, majoring in elementary education.

Read more in this IDOE press release.

Ball State University held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 26 for the newly expanded Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Honors House at 1707 W. Riverside Ave. in Muncie. The ceremony was followed by a reception and self-guided tours.

The expansion and renovation enhance the home of the Honors College with new and updated learning and gathering spaces. The project adds 1,750 square feet of new educational areas and renovates 840 square feet of existing space, including a modern classroom, three faculty offices, and a student collaboration area.

This project was made possible through the generosity of more than 30 donors. The principal donors are Rich and Linda Berthy, whose $1 million gift supported the expansion and established the new Charles J. and Erika A. Berthy Wing—named in honor of Rich’s parents. Rich Berthy, chairman and CEO of Big Sky Trust Company and founder and former CEO of Foreside Financial Group, LLC, and his wife also fund scholarships for Honors College students.

Building on years of steady growth, the Honors College welcomed about 620 new freshmen this Fall. Overall enrollment has now surpassed 1,600 students—the highest in its history. The Ball Honors House is also home to the Virginia B. Ball Center for Creative Inquiry and the Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships, which provide opportunities to students and alumni across disciplines.

Read more in this Ball State press release.

Ball State University welcomed 3,733 new freshmen this Fall. This is the third consecutive year the University has enrolled a freshman class larger than its pre-pandemic average. Overall, University enrollment this year is more than 20,200 students—an increase of about 1,400 students compared to three years ago. 

The incoming freshman class is academically strong, with an average high school GPA of 3.58. Nearly 46 percent of freshmen are Pell Grant-eligible, 29 percent are first-generation students, and 91 percent are Indiana residents. Graduate enrollment also remains strong, with approximately 5,800 students enrolled.

Read more in this Ball State press release.

Significant gains in literacy and high school graduation rates over the past year are among the many signs of continued progress within the Muncie Community Schools (MCS) district—progress strengthened by the historic partnership between Ball State University and MCS.

On the state’s IREAD-3 assessment, which measures third graders’ reading proficiency, pass rates in the district increased to 79.2 percent—more than nine percentage points higher than last year and double the state’s overall growth. Every MCS elementary school is now in the state’s high-growth quadrant, and Grissom Elementary posted one of the largest improvements, rising from 46.6 percent passing in 2024 to 79 percent in 2025.

The district also reported its highest high school graduation rate since 2019, topping 90 percent.

Read more in this Ball State press release.

Three Ball State University faculty members have received National Science Foundation grants to support their impactful work:

The Department of Construction Management and Interior Design is part of Ball State’s Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning. The Department of Chemistry is part of the University’s College of Sciences and Humanities.

Ball State University has introduced a new Talent Pipeline Toolkit designed to help communities and businesses across Indiana more easily access University resources that support workforce development and local economic growth.

The toolkit, developed by Ball State’s Office of Governmental Relations and Industry Engagement, centralizes information about the University’s wide range of programs and outreach initiatives. It provides a user-friendly, digital “one-stop shop” to help local leaders—from chambers of commerce to county officials and business executives—discover opportunities to collaborate with Ball State in ways that are simple, accessible, and impactful. Many of these programs are designed to be accessed directly in communities across Indiana.

The Talent Pipeline Toolkit is available now on Ball State’s Industry Engagement website at bsu.edu/industry/engage. Read more in this Ball State press release.

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