The board of trustees met June 14 to discuss the current and upcoming budget for students and staff, facility pay increases, benefits for staff and a new addition for the university. Two people were also recognized for their hard work and contributions to Ball State University.
The board thanked Jim Lowe with a standing ovation for his accomplishments and time spent at Ball State as he nears retirement. President Mearns and the board of all nine trustees agreed to name the East Mall after him to honor his achievements.
“[East Mall] bisects our campus and brings together so many of the facilities [on campus],” Mearns said. “It’s a pedestrian and bike-friendly pathway. It really is the connecting artery that reflects the tangible manifestation — reflects Jim’s vision for the long-term future of our campus and the connection our campus has to our community.”
A celebration will be hosted June 14 to further honor Lowe for his 37 years of work at Ball State.
The meeting also established that the map section in the Bracken Library will now be named after Paul W. Stout, former map librarian at Ball State. After serving in the Air Force, Stout was hired as a member of the Ball State faculty and brought many of his own accumulated maps to be added to the university collection.
Stout was applauded for his longtime commitment to Ball State University and for his aid in developing and expanding the collection in Bracken.
Another update regarding staff was welcoming Dr. Kathleen Washburn to the governing board of the Muncie Community Schools board. Washburn is an anticoagulation pharmacist at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital. She aids in the training of future pharmacists and is also a parent of two children enrolled at Muncie Central High School.
On the topic of staff benefits, two main points stuck out. The board discussed the recurring salary increase of three percent for staff, the same decision made a year prior. There will also be more money for promotions this upcoming school year.
Under what is called “Days of Beneficence,” the board decided for staff members to be given more time off around holidays. This first started around COVID-19. Due to additional room in the budget, faculty will receive a salary raise and extra time around the holidays.
The board agreed on a two percent increase to meal plan rates for the 2024-2025 school year. Tuition rates, housing rates and parking rates for the 2024-2025 school year were already approved June 16, 2023.
This allows the introduction of new “premium” meal plans with a higher Dining Plus value. Returning students who live in a resident hall after their first year can also benefit from the new 200-block plan that will be available. This plan provides 200 meals per semester and allows flexibility for the student to use it at any time.
A few university policies were agreed upon to comply with new state laws. There will be an assessment criteria for faculty so the classroom is a “place of inquiry” and “intellectual diversity.” A new complaint system will also be put in place if a person would like to report a staff member who may not be following the new criteria.
Lastly, the board shared blueprint plans for a Center for Innovation, which should begin construction in the fall.
The building will be located on the south side of campus, behind the foundational sciences building. The current plan details the structure to be three stories and 30,000 square feet. The building will prioritize open space where people can come together. Current plans allow for the space to tie into other buildings located in the village.
Contact Ellie Marker with questions via email @eliana.marker@bsu.edu
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