BALL STATE UNIVERSITY

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1 BALL STATE UNIVERSITY THE UNIVERSITY Ball State is a bold, strong university that seeks a leader to build upon its achievements over a transformative decade. The university has proven success strengthening its national visibility, enrollment profile, diversity of the student body and faculty, the vibrancy of the campus, and philanthropic support. Ball State, a state-assisted university, is comprehensive and categorized by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a research university, high research activity (RU/H). The university enrolls more than 20,000 students and has distinguished itself with a distinctive approach to teaching and learning called immersive learning. In its recent capital campaign, Ball State Bold, the university raised more than $210.8 million during the worst economic conditions in a generation. The total exceeded more than all previous campaigns combined and closed more than five percent above goal. The annual budget is now approximately $450 million. The university is entrepreneurial in its culture. As an example, it is nearing completion of the nation s largest closed loop district geothermal system. The project has attracted interest from more than 40 universities, public, private, and government entities. With 3,800 employees, including 950 full-time faculty members, the university attracts approximately $20 million in external research funding. In , the university had 17 nationally ranked and recognized programs. At the end of implementation of a five-year strategic plan in 2012, that number had grown to 54. The university has also made great strides in student success with steadily increasing retention and graduation rates. Ball State s tradition of innovation and entrepreneurship was woven into the fabric of the institution at its founding. In the 19 th century, Muncie business leaders envisioned a local college to help boost the city s development. Among the visionaries were Frank C. Ball and his brothers, young New York industrialists who had moved to Muncie looking to expand their glass container business. A small, private teacher training school opened in After the community s efforts to sustain the college failed, the Ball brothers purchased the land and buildings of the defunct institution and donated them to the State of Indiana. This gift became the Indiana State Normal School, Eastern Division, which opened in 1918 to meet Indiana s need for more and better teachers. In recognition of the Ball family s generosity, the Indiana General Assembly changed the school s name to Ball Teachers College in 1922 and then Ball State Teachers College in The winged statue Beneficence stands on the campus as a tribute to the family.

2 Page By the 1960s, the regional teachers college had begun to attract faculty from outside the Midwest, and students sought majors in areas such as business, architecture, and other emerging disciplines. Enrollment and funding surged with national trends, and new facilities and degree offerings were added. In 1965, the Indiana General Assembly renamed the college Ball State University, acknowledging its phenomenal growth in enrollment and facilities, the variety and quality of its educational programs and services, and the anticipation of the broader role it would play in the state s future. The university is located in Muncie, Indiana, one hour northeast of Indianapolis. VISION Ball State University seeks to become recognized for providing bright and curious students a holistic learning experience that occurs both in and out of the classroom; for being relentlessly focused on learning outcomes; for embracing and solving today s greatest educational challenges; and for bringing fresh and pragmatic thinking to the problems facing communities, businesses, and governments in Indiana and beyond. MISSION As a public research university, Ball State focuses on students and high-quality, relevant educational outcomes. Disciplinary knowledge is integrated with application. The university does this in a manner that fundamentally changes students, researchers, and its external partners, who look to the university for guidance. They transform information into knowledge, knowledge into judgment, and judgment into action that addresses complex problems. STRATEGY Ball State University will continue its efforts to differentiate itself from other public universities by enhancing the quality of the academic experiences offered to all students, by attracting students of even higher quality, by supporting strong faculty and academic programs, by enhancing a vibrant university community, and by providing a distinctive impact on the economic well-being of the state of Indiana. VALUES The university is committed to the traditional values of the academy: freedom of inquiry, imparting knowledge, and advancing the frontiers of knowledge, all for the purpose of bettering society and individuals. As a creatively pragmatic institution, it seeks to articulate its distinctive place in an increasingly diverse and interconnected world while holding these values dear. External forces will continue to shape the role of higher education. Ball State seeks to lead rather than follow, with the following aspirations as its guide: It challenges:

3 Page the current educational paradigm; its students to question assumptions and extend boundaries; disciplinary constraints; and itself to be strategic with limited resources. It advances: critical thinking and creative problem solving; scholarship and creative activity; coherent, integrated student experiences; and innovative built spaces and campus infrastructure. It embraces: accountability, adaptability, and agility; engagement with communities across Indiana; diversity and inclusion; and a high-quality working and learning environment. At Ball State, faculty are more than just educators they are entrepreneurs. Combining topflight talent with the top-notch resources the university has to offer, its students and faculty inject endless energy and creativity into what they teach and how they learn. The result: a university ranked twice among up-and-coming colleges and universities by U.S. News & World Report, placing Ball State among institutions that made the most promising and innovative changes in the areas of academics, faculty, student life, campus, or facilities. Breadth + Focus To fulfill its mission of fundamentally changing its students, researchers, and external partners, Ball State offers comprehensive academic opportunities, including about 180 undergraduate majors and pre-professional programs and more than 100 master s and doctoral degrees. Its programs in accounting, architecture, telecommunications, landscape architecture, education, entrepreneurship, and online master s degrees in business and nursing are consistently ranked among the best in the nation. This excellence is only possible because of the quality of its faculty and their commitment to teaching. The university offers its academic programs through its seven colleges: College of Applied Sciences and Technology College of Architecture and Planning Miller College of Business College of Communication, Information, and Media College of Fine Arts College of Sciences and Humanities Teachers College

4 Page Immersion + Exploration Ball State believes that for an educational experience to be successful, it should be just that an experience. So the faculty have made a unique commitment to immersive learning programs that incorporate research, projects with community partners, and capstone experiences into the curriculum. Acting, musical theatre, and telecommunications students participate in talent showcases in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Students in its entrepreneurship program face the ultimate pass or fail test to graduate, they must pitch a business plan that a panel of experts deems viable. Impact + Engagement Ball State is an integral part of the community and economy of Muncie and Indiana. In addition to preparing the state s entrepreneurs, teachers, health care providers, scientists, designers, artists, and media and technology professionals, its projects and research drive innovation throughout Indiana. And its Building Better Communities initiative partners students and faculty with business and civic leaders on development projects that make its state a better place in which to live, work, and do business. Technology + Innovation Emerging media are deeply ingrained in its academic and immersive learning experiences. Ball State is home to the leading experts in the field, and the university provides them with top-notch facilities to conduct truly groundbreaking research. To continue its leadership in this area, Ball State is investing more than $20 million into ensuring that its students have access to innovative and entrepreneurial opportunities in emerging media across the curriculum. And its growing emphasis on new ideas, technology transfer, and commercialization provides the support faculty need to bring their ideas to market and benefit Indiana s economy. RANKINGS AND RECOGNITIONS Respected organizations have repeatedly been impressed by Ball State s programs. Its supportive environment, its cutting-edge facilities and technology, its investment in emerging media, and its commitment to sustainability are: Ranked eighth among up-and-coming colleges and universities in 2011 by U.S. News & World Report, placing Ball State among institutions that recently made the most promising and innovative changes in the areas of academics, faculty, student life, campus, or facilities. Named one of the best universities in the Midwest by The Princeton Review for nine years. Classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a research university, high research activity (RU/H).

5 Page Ranked sixth in the nation for improvement in graduation rates among public research institutions between 2001 and 2008 by The Chronicle of Higher Education (published December 2010). Featured in The Princeton Review s Guide to 322 Green Colleges: 2013 Edition. Recognized for the fourth year, Ball State is the first public institution in Indiana to be listed among the most environmentally responsible colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada. Recognized for first-year programs by U.S. News & World Report for the 10 th year in a row. Ranked in the top 20 for graduate programs in business, education, and nursing and in the top 30 for bachelor s degree programs in the 2014 U.S. News & World Report "Best Online Programs." Ranked eighth by U.S. News & World Report among its 2013 Best Online Bachelor s Programs for Veterans. In online graduate programs best for veterans, it was eighth in MBA and education and 12 th in nursing. Won the 2009 Academic institution of the Year Award from the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA). Listed among six universities committed to social justice in the December 2009 issue of Architect Magazine. Named a Military Friendly School for the past five years by G.I. Jobs, placing it in the top 20 percent of all schools nationwide, and one of only 60 Military Friendly Universities by Military Advanced Education Magazine in Among the first sites chosen by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation to participate in a program intended to help overhaul teacher education and encourage exceptional teacher candidates to seek long-term careers in high-need classrooms. The Strategic Plan Education Redefined 2.0: Advancing Indiana ( has four key goals: IMMERSIVE Provide distinctive, high-quality educational experiences. Ball State will provide a distinctive educational experience, from undergraduate to graduate, traditional to online, where theory and knowledge are tested through practical application. Immersive learning opportunities bring talented and focused students together with engaged faculty to create unique, high-impact learning experiences. OBJECTIVES: 1. Continue to strengthen the academic profile of the student body. 2. Focus clearly on student success. 3. Place immersive learning at the center of a Ball State education. 4. Be strategic in graduate and undergraduate offerings. 5. Foster student-faculty collaboration at the graduate and undergraduate levels. 6. Successfully implement a cohesive, holistic core curriculum at the undergraduate level. 7. Be a university that attracts a diverse student body, faculty, and staff.

6 Page INNOVATIVE Become a recognized leader for educational and disciplinary innovation. Ball State will become a recognized leader in innovative pedagogy and curricula, successfully synthesizing learning and scholarship. Leadership will be evidenced through national rankings and recognitions. OBJECTIVES: 1. Increase the number and range of academic programs and faculty members that are nationally ranked and/or recognized. Place particular emphasis on innovating pedagogy and curricula, synthesizing learning with scholarship, and leveraging built environments, technology, and media. 2. Improve disciplinary scholarship and gain recognition for scholarship of teaching and learning. 3. Create innovative online and blended programs informed by research and scholarship. 4. Be recognized for scholarly activity of our faculty members, particularly in targeted areas of strength. VIBRANT Invest in an increasingly vibrant and integrated university community. Students will benefit from a collegiate experience that is a holistic learning opportunity, facilitated by faculty and staff in a high-quality work environment. Professors and students remain at the center of teaching and learning while technology and facilities as well as cocurricular activities (speakers, social and cultural offerings, civic engagement and outreach, fitness activities, and living-learning communities) are integrated into student learning goals. The university community will reflect the diverse and interconnected world in which we live. OBJECTIVES: 1. Ensure that the Ball State educational and student life experience is distinctive, consistent, and integrated. 2. Foster an environment where the university and community seamlessly work together to achieve common aspirations and goals. 3. Continue to position the university as a steward of the environment by building on the university s expertise and success in sustainability. 4. Provide a high-quality work-life environment that encourages faculty, staff, and student achievement and positions the university to attract and retain talent on a national scale. ENGAGED Advance Indiana through student engagement and faculty expertise. Ball State will continue to emphasize learning and scholarship that synthesize disciplinary knowledge with application to today s most complex challenges. Students and faculty will turn knowledge into judgment and judgment into action through projects and programs that benefit business, community, and government partners across the state.

7 Page OBJECTIVES: 1. Ensure statewide engagement efforts are cohesive, well coordinated, and broadly recognized. 2. Connect academic programs with employers in the state to create more synergy between educational offerings and the needs of a knowledge-based economy. 3. Leverage university expertise to increase the competitiveness of Indiana s communities and businesses. 4. Be a leader in the advancement of education reform in Indiana. 5. Enhance commercialization with new opportunities and strategies. 6. Provide a strategic array of in-person, online, and hybrid educational offerings that meet the increasingly diverse needs of the state of Indiana. THE PRESIDENCY Ball State University is at an exciting point in its history. This vibrant univeristy is well positioned to continue to excel and is poised to enjoy its growing reputation as an excellent academic institution. The new president will be expected to continue to build on the many fine qualities of the university, become personally vested in its future, continue to raise the university profile, and carry this important message throughout the state of Indiana and beyond. The president must lead faculty and administrators toward collaborative enhancement of the university's academic achievements and strong reputation. The president should communicate to Indiana's citizens and public sector how the university plays a critical role in the economic and cultural development of the state. The president will be expected to strengthen partnerships with the education, research, and business communities as well as raise funds from private sources, government grants, and contracts. Ball State University has a strong and cherished tradition of protecting academic freedom and the vigorous discussions of ideas. It is extraordinarily proud of the success it has enjoyed as a student-centered, teaching-focused university, as it continues to strengthen its graduate programs and increase its research funding. Its leader must be one who can eloquently convey the importance of the quest for knowledge in a community of learners, of higher education to the broader community, and of the enrichment of a diverse environment. Personal qualities of integrity and unquestioned ethical behavior, humor, and vision are essential, as are sound judgment, considerable stamina, a commitment to collaboration, and openness and trustworthiness. While it is recognized that no single individual will have all the desired characteristics, tangible evidence of qualifications would include: an earned terminal degree, an impressive record of scholarly achievements and evidence of scholarly publications; proven managerial or administrative experience in a comparably complex organization; being a visionary with bold ambitions for Ball State;

8 Page exceptional communication, relationship-building, and diplomatic skills, and the desire and capacity to interact successfully with members of the Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni, legislators, business leaders, community leaders, parents, and others who are key to the continued quality of the university; a record of successful initiatives that reflect sound planning, imaginative and sensitive implementation, and effective follow-through; the ability to help plan and communicate personally the benefits of higher education to excite and motivate the university's many audiences, especially the local community and the alumni; the willingness and ability to make frequent, hard decisions following collaboration and compromise, if necessary; a commitment to equal opportunity and institutional diversity at the faculty, staff, and student levels, and a demonstrated record of minority recruitment and retention; a proven ability to select outstanding team members, delegate wisely, earn their respect, empower and support them, and plan with them and others for the future of the university; exemplary skills and a successful record in raising substantial private and public funds ; evidence of support and focus on issues of sustainability; an appreciation for the importance of intercollegiate athletics; and the desire and ability to access national and international forums to make known the achievements of the university. All correspondence should be directed in confidence to the university s executive recruitment consultant: Jerry H. Baker Baker and Associates LLC 4799 Olde Towne Parkway Suite 202 Marietta, GA jbaker@baasearch.com Ball State University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer and is strongly and actively committed to diversity within its community.