Ball State’s current university-wide initiatives include the following:
Immersive Learning
Intense, collaborative, hands-on
immersive learning experiences in every academic college extend education beyond the classroom. Immersive seminars and projects bring groups of students, faculty mentors, and community partners together to develop a tangible outcome or product-such as a film, business plan, product design, or exhibit. These student-driven experiences sharpen teamwork and communication skills, connect students with industry professionals, and provide a portfolio of work that will give graduates an advantage in the job market.
Digital Exchange
The
Digital Exchange, created by a second $20 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., explores how digital technology can innovatively and continuously promote the exchange of information in both educational and commercial environments. Four new immersive learning institutes drive this initiative:
Institute for Digital Entertainment and Education (IDEE),
Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts and Animation (IDIAA),
Institute for Digital Fabrication (IDF), and
News Research Institute (NRI).
Building Better Communities
Launched with $2.5 million in funding from the Indiana Legislature, Building Better Communities spurs economic development and quality-of-life advancement in Indiana by extending Ball State's strengths in applied research and hands-on, immersive learning to community projects across the state. Through the collaborative work of students and faculty, this campuswide initiative matches the university's expertise and resources to the varied needs of Indiana’s cities, towns, and counties.
Business Fellows
Funded by a $1.5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., the Business Fellows Program links teams of students and faculty mentors with Indiana businesses and organizations on projects that help the community partners improve services, increase business, develop new job opportunities, enhance quality, or boost competitiveness. In the process, students develop professional experience and connections that increase the likelihood of them pursuing employment in Indiana after graduation.
Strategic Planning
A university-wide task force was appointed in 2005 to develop a new Strategic Plan to guide Ball State into the next decade. The resulting report outlines a bold plan to advance the university to a new level of distinctiveness. The vision calls for improving the quality of the student body, providing meaningful immersive learning experiences for undergraduates, continuing to build and sustain high-quality academic programs, and fostering a university community that is both vibrant and supportive.
Working Well
Growing out of the university’s strategic planning,
Working Well at Ball State University is a health enhancement program designed to support Ball State employees in improving or maintaining healthy lifestyles and to optimize health care resources. The program includes the Start Where You Are walking initiative, Weight Watchers at Work, and cholesterol and blood pressure screenings.
Inauguration Scholarships
Forgoing a traditional inauguration ceremony, President Jo Ann M. Gora used the $150,000 saved, plus additional funds provided by donors, to present special scholarships to 25 Indiana high school students of high ability. Learn more about the Inauguration Scholars and their donors.