MUNCIE, Ind.— Ball State’s long-term project Destination 2040, calls for the enhancement of campus engagement, community partnerships, graduate and undergraduate education.
This process to develop a strategic plan began in January of 2018, when President Mearns appointed a small yet representative committee. The process called Spread Our Wings has expanded to a much larger project. President Mearns is encouraged by how the process has developed over the past few years.
“There’s widespread support for continuing to implement the strategies that are in the plan that was developed in 2018-2019 with some adjustments and maybe some new additional strategies,” President Mearns said.
Each year, strategic imperatives are put in place to be executed by the end of the school year. This year, President Mearns and his planning committee are conducting forums for more input about the plan. He believes that receiving feedback is a critical part of the planning process.
“We wanted to give people, students, faculty, staff, alumni and others many opportunities to share their ideas so that when we complete the plan in of 2025, everyone feels apart of the planning process,” President Mearns said.
The most recent forum was held at Muncie Central High School and was open to the public. President Mearns presents this plan through an interactive presentation, allowing participants to share their ideas with one another.
Using iClickers, prompts and conversation, Ball State alumni Jena Ashby feels these forums are inclusive.
“The best thing to come out of this plan is that people feel like what they said is represented by what is in the plan, so that when they see it, nothing feels surprising. Nothing feels like ‘I don’t understand where that came from,’” Ashby said.
Surveys are another form of feedback that have been used to develop the plan with over 1,400 responses. The next forum is set to take place on Oct. 24 in the Emens Hospitality Room. For more dates and information about the plan, visit bsu.edu.
Contact Kahmara Munn with comments at kahmara.munn@bsu.edu
