October 14, 2021
Dear Colleagues:
As president of Ball State University, I am grateful for the many meaningful conversations that I have with so many of our graduates, our donors, and our friends.
To share some of those conversations with you, I am hosting Ball State’s new monthly podcast titled “Our Call to Beneficence,” which we launched on September 30. I chose that name for the podcast because, as the tangible symbol of our University, Beneficence reminds us of our commitment to the enduring values that define our character and that are the hallmark of the culture of our institution.
Beneficence also means the quality of doing good through service and philanthropy. With each episode, I ask my guests what beneficence means to them as they pursue fulfilling careers and meaningful lives.
So far, I’ve recorded three episodes, featuring graduates Vince Bertram, CEO of the educational non-profit, Project Lead the Way; sports journalist Don Yaeger; and author Ashley C. Ford. Next, I’ll interview the chair of our Board of Trustees, Renae Conley, the first woman to hold the position at our University. Later this Fall, I will also release an episode featuring graduate Tiara Thomas, who earlier this year won a Grammy and an Oscar for her work as a songwriter.
Below are a few more stories that I hope you will enjoy and then share. Let your friends and colleagues know how “We Fly” at Ball State.
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Sincerely,
Geoffrey S. Mearns
President
Ball State University
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Innovative changes made at the College of Communication, Information and Media
Among the key changes:
- The Department of Journalism has been renamed the School of Journalism and Strategic Communication, and the Department of Telecommunications has been renamed the Department of Media.
- Extending the reach of the Center for Information and Communication Sciences (CICS), the undergraduate Computer Technology program has been fully redesigned to align with student interests and market demands. The renamed Computer & Information Technology (CIT) program now includes an emphasis on the leadership, organizational behavior, and communication skills necessary for professional success—and on high-demand technology areas, including virtualization, cloud services, cybersecurity, and emerging technology.
- Ball State Public Media program has been reformulated, and will strengthen CCIM's efforts to provide a meaningful educational experience through unparalleled immersive learning opportunities for students.
- The introduction of two new Accelerated Masters Programs (AMP): Emerging Media Design and Development and Public Relations, whereby undergraduate students can take up to 12 credits of graduate courses, allowing them the opportunity to complete their BA/BS and MA degrees in five years.
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Fall Homecoming 2021 runs Oct. 18-23, with in-person events
Ball State University's Fall Homecoming returns with a week of fun and exciting in-person events, starting Oct. 18 and culminating with the Cardinals' football game against Miami University at Scheumann Stadium at 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 23.
Other Homecoming Week Events:
- Faculty and Staff Homecoming Reception: Thursday, Oct. 14
- Department Decorating Contest Judging: Friday, Oct. 15
- Homecoming Village-Food Truck Festival: Monday, Oct. 18
- Talent Search: Tuesday, Oct. 19
- Blood Drive: Wednesday, Oct. 20
- Air Jam: Thursday, Oct. 21
- Bed Race: Friday, Oct. 22
- Chase Charlie 5K, Parade, and CharlieTown: Saturday, Oct. 23
While all events will be in-person, some will also be accessible on social media platforms. Learn more about this year's Homecoming celebration.
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Author, Ball State graduate returns to campus for public discussion about her best-selling memoir, Somebody's Daughter
The finale in a trio of on-campus public events for Ball State University’s Fall 2021 Writer-in-Residence, Ashley C. Ford, will be a book club-style discussion at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 11 at the University’s Student Center Ballroom.
Ms. Ford, a Ball State graduate, is the author of the New York Times bestseller Somebody’s Daughter—a powerful memoir that explores her life coming of age in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with a single mother and an incarcerated father. The book was published in June by Flatiron Books under the imprint, An Oprah Book. Ms. Ford will be available to sign books after the event.
Joining Ms. Ford at the Nov. 11 event will be Ball State professor Jill Christman, who will moderate the lively discussion about Somebody’s Daughter.
Experience the event in-person, or watch as it happens by visiting bsu.edu/live. After 7 p.m., free parking is available in most campus lots and garages. Through the Writer-in-Residence program, Ms. Ford was featured at two other public events on-campus. She read excerpts from Somebody’s Daughter at Pruis Hall on Sept. 15; and, on Oct. 7, “A Conversation with President Mearns” at Sursa Hall featured a lively discussion between Ms. Ford and Ball State President Geoffrey S. Mearns. Also through the Writer-in-Residence program, Ms. Ford has shared her work and interacted with students and faculty through several non-public events. She also donated several copies of her book to multiple community partners, including Burris Laboratory School, Muncie Community Schools, the Youth Opportunity Center, Boys & Girls Club of Muncie, and the African-American Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies programs, Multicultural Center, and Office of Inclusive Excellence at Ball State.
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Ball State CAP students learn while designing, helping build affordable net-zero energy house
Student immersive learning opportunities are plentiful at Ball State University. The latest immersive learning opportunity offers many Ball State’s R. Wayne Estopinal College of Architecture (CAP) students the chance for hands-on learning while designing and helping to build an affordable, net-zero energy family home on Indianapolis’ near-eastside. By working with the Englewood CDC as a community partner on this project, Ball State’s CAP students will receive real-life experience collaborating with a team, while contributing to the robust revitalization efforts focused on quality of life, sustainability, and affordable family housing in urban Indianapolis.
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Ball State students' Historic Preservation project earns second prize in national competition
Seven Ball State University Historic Preservation graduate students completed a team project that was awarded second place in the national 2021 Charles E. Peterson Prize Competition. For this project, the students documented the Canal Pump House at Oldfields—an historic site in Indianapolis. The Ball State students’ documentation project placed higher than ones completed by competitors on structures designed by famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
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Historical Marker commemorates Ball State's Centennial
Ball State University recently unveiled its Historical Marker that commemorates the University’s Centennial reached in 2018. The unveiling occurred Sept. 30 on the south side of the Frank A. Bracken Administration Building near University Avenue. The process of applying for the marker was undertaken as a student project for the class “SS 392: State and World Connections,” taught by Dr. Ronald Morris, professor of History. The students who worked on this as a project include Taylor Kruegar, Kailyn Lambertson, Maritza Rodriguez, Payton Roush, Kortney Thalls, Makenzie Smith, and Payton Stevens.
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Campus experiences major growth, positive changes
Ball State University's campus evolution and growth, through new or enhanced buildings and facilities, are often marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony or a dedication. Here are a few recent ribbon-cuttings, and one scheduled for later this month, on our beautiful campus:
- North Residential Neighborhood (Sept. 25): North Residential Neighborhood includes four residence hall-- two new, North and North West; and two recently renovated, Botsford/Swinford and Schmidt/Wilson--a premiere dining hall, and outdoor gathering spaces.
- Foundational Sciences Building (Oct. 1): The state-of-the-art Foundational Sciences Building is home to our Biology and Chemistry departments.
- Scheumann Family Indoor Practice Facility (Oct. 2): The 84,000 square-foot practice facility was completed in April of 2021.
- Multicultural Center (Oct.23): The new 9,500 square-foot Multicultural Center located in the heart of our campus offers programs that educate the community about the unique contributions of underrepresented student populations. Take a virtual tour of the new Multicultural Center.
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Arts Alive 2021 Event Series Continues This Month
Ball State University’s Arts Alive annual event series—presented by the College of Fine Arts—continues this month with a special offering.
With the goal of making arts and entertainment more accessible to community members and students, Ball State’s College of Fine Arts has expanded the offerings in this year’s Arts Alive. Previously focusing mainly on the School of Music, Arts Alive 2021 includes events from DOMA, the School of Art, and the Department of Theatre and Dance. View the Arts Alive 2021 schedule.
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