Momper honored as trustee emeritus
“Involved is when a chicken gives an egg, commitment is what you get when a hog gives you bacon.”
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“Involved is when a chicken gives an egg, commitment is what you get when a hog gives you bacon.”
The Board of Trustees hosted an executive session at the Ball State Indianapolis Center on Monday to discuss an individual’s “status as an employee.”
The astronomy professor accused of teaching intelligent design will teach a full course load beginning this fall. Professor Eric Hedin, an assistant professor of astronomy, was at the center of the controversy. Joan Todd, executive director of Public Relations, said Provost Terry King and Professor Hedin have both reviewed the panel’s findings and are working together to ensure that course content is aligned with the curriculum and best standards of the discipline. “The university is particularly appreciative for Dr. Hedin’s active participation and cooperation during this process. His academic credentials are an asset to the university. He remains an important and valued member of our physics and astronomy department,” Todd said. The university also received some criticism for its method of reviewing Hedin and his classes, particularly from the Discovery Institute, an intelligent design organization that supports Hedin. Discovery Institute said appointing a panel to review him and his courses was inconsistent with a similar case concerning George Wolfe, a music professor who received allegations that his political ideas were being pushed into his class in 2004. Todd said the university’s responses to the Hedin and Wolfe cases are “fundamentally no different.” “It is my understanding that at that time Provost [Beverly] Pitts reviewed the concerns and determined they required no further action in the Wolfe matter,” she said. “The process in the Hedin [case] at this point are very similar in that they both involved reviews to determine the validity of the concerns, and they both are likely to be resolved informally.” Todd said the panel reported its findings to King, who then met with Hedin to gain his perspective. While previous statements indicated that very little information could be shared due to the case being a personnel matter, Todd said the university doesn’t plan to release any information regarding the review. Ball State President Jo Ann Gora said intelligent design is not a science and has no place in a science course in her statement on the case. “Intelligent design is overwhelmingly deemed by the scientific community as a religious belief and not a scientific theory,” Gora said. “Discussions of intelligent design and creation science can have their place at Ball State in humanities or social science courses.” She also said academic freedom, which had become a key word for both sides of the controversy, wasn’t an issue in this case.
This academic year, Ball State will see the largest number of immersive learning participants and projects so far, as a result of the university’s initiative.
This is the second of a three-part series regarding the Ball State athletics department and Title IX compliance. On Thursday, read about the actions of the athletics department as well as Kathy Bull's lawsuit against the university.
Ball State university officials are leery to comment on how the funding cuts for Indiana state universities will potentially affect next year's tuition.Director of Communications Kevin Burke said the university should have a better understanding of how the funding cuts could affect tuition after the Higher Education Commission's meeting Friday at IUPUI."It would be nearly impossible to determine before the meetings how it will affect tuition," he said.Burke said it was his understanding that representatives from each state university would make a presentation during the Indiana Higher Education Commission's meetings either on Thursday afternoon or Friday morning. Randy Howard, vice president for Business Affairs, and President Jo Ann Gora will participate in the meeting on Friday, Burke said.In an interview Monday, Higher Education Commission faculty representative Cynthia Baker said decisions will be made at the conclusion of Friday's meeting around noon.Indiana University administrators said in a press release they don't know how to make up the loss, but they will not raise the cost of tuition for next year in response to the governor's funding cut for state universities. IU will draw on its savings to combat the funding loss.According to the Indiana Daily Student, "IU Board of Trustees President William Cast said the university has to look at its reserves and look at what cuts it can make without cutting into the heart of the university."A press release from Inside Indiana Business stated Purdue University President France A. Cordova understands the challenges Indiana is facing. Maintaining the value of a Purdue degree while decreasing expenditures is a new challenge that will be added to the university's current efforts.Jud Fisher, Higher Education Commission secretary and District Six representative said he is confident Ball State can withstand funding loss, regardless of the amount."The university will be able to handle an awful lot," he said. "They have some good leadership. Higher education is where a good chunk of taxpayer dollars go, and that being one of the biggest [areas], it would be a choice for funding cuts."Fisher said the Higher Education Commission has a big task ahead of them to determine how funding loss will be distributed."It's difficult to think about, but its something we have to do."
Ball State university officials are leery to comment on how the funding cuts for Indiana state universities will potentially affect next year's tuition.Director of Communications Kevin Burke said the university should have a better understanding of how the funding cuts could affect tuition after the Higher Education Commission's meeting Friday at IUPUI."It would be nearly impossible to determine before the meetings how it will affect tuition," he said.Burke said it was his understanding that representatives from each state university would make a presentation during the Indiana Higher Education Commission's meetings either on Thursday afternoon or Friday morning. Randy Howard, vice president for Business Affairs, and President Jo Ann Gora will participate in the meeting on Friday, Burke said.In an interview Monday, Higher Education Commission faculty representative Cynthia Baker said decisions will be made at the conclusion of Friday's meeting around noon.Indiana University administrators said in a press release they don't know how to make up the loss, but they will not raise the cost of tuition for next year in response to the governor's funding cut for state universities. IU will draw on its savings to combat the funding loss.According to the Indiana Daily Student, "IU Board of Trustees President William Cast said the university has to look at its reserves and look at what cuts it can make without cutting into the heart of the university."A press release from Inside Indiana Business stated Purdue University President France A. Cordova understands the challenges Indiana is facing. Maintaining the value of a Purdue degree while decreasing expenditures is a new challenge that will be added to the university's current efforts.Jud Fisher, Higher Education Commission secretary and District Six representative said he is confident Ball State can withstand funding loss, regardless of the amount."The university will be able to handle an awful lot," he said. "They have some good leadership. Higher education is where a good chunk of taxpayer dollars go, and that being one of the biggest [areas], it would be a choice for funding cuts."Fisher said the Higher Education Commission has a big task ahead of them to determine how funding loss will be distributed."It's difficult to think about, but its something we have to do."
President Jo Ann Gora will host meetings with other university professors next week to discuss strengthening a dual degree program for Chinese students.
The University Education Committee approved a motion to alter the Fall Semester academic calendar by extending what is now Thanksgiving Break and eliminating what are now Fall Break and Fruesday, Laura Helms, associate dean and director of academic systems for University College, said.
The University Education Committee approved a motion to alter the Fall Semester academic calendar by extending what is now Thanksgiving Break and eliminating what is now Fall Break and Fruesday, said Laura Helms, associate dean and director of academic systems for University College.
Ball State University is providing four fully-paid scholarships for the children of Andy and Heather Cowan-Brown – the family being featured on the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" episode filmed in Bunker Hill, Ind. Oct. 21-28.
Monday morning, the University Senate Agenda Committee discussed reforms that will affect student life.The committee talked about doing away with Fruesday classes, using Cardinal Cash in the Village and possibly banning on-campus smoking.Representing the Undergraduate Education Committee, Assistant Professor of Journalism Dan Waechter suggested that the committee reevaluate the effectiveness of having Fruesday classes.University Senate Parliamentarian David Pearson said the science department was the first to suggest Fruesday."The argument came from the sciences with lab classes," he said. "They needed lab time that was being lost."Provost Terry King said another purpose of Fruesday is to avoid dropping a day of class, because the university already loses class time for Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the spring.It was then suggested that the university move Fall Break to the front of Thanksgiving Break so that students could take the whole week off. A possible effect of this plan would be reinstating Saturday finals.Matt Whitlock, chairperson of Campus Council, said SGA is looking into the possibility of using Cardinal Cash in the Village."There is some concern with giving ID numbers out in the community," he said. "We're not trying to take away from campus Dining services because we want to make it possible to use Cardinal Cash at places like the bookstores, too."Whitlock said a committee is looking into the policy at Indiana University - Bloomington, and how students can use a Cardinal Cash equivalent on Kirkwood Avenue.Campus Council is considering getting rid of smoking on campus altogether, he said."The issue is that as soon as [students] see the smoking areas, they start smoking rather than waiting until they reach the defined areas," Whitlock said.There is still debate within the council."The argument against the overall ban is that people will just smoke anywhere on campus, because they know they'll get in trouble anyway," Whitlock said.The senate said it would consider these suggestions.The committee discussed moving faculty evaluations to an online format.University Senate Chairperson Brien Smith said the handbook calls for each teacher to be evaluated by students in one course, once a year.Pearson said if the university uses online evaluations, students should not be pressured to participate."You shouldn't coerce students to fill it out online in order to get a good grade," he said.King said if they want to change the format, this is probably the best time to switch to online.Smith said there will not be a Senate meeting in November because there is no new business."I think we should be respectful of the faculty's time and not seem like we're blowing things off," he said.He suggested sending an e-mail to faulty with an explanation that things are in the system and moving along.University Senate Undersecretary Melanie Turner said it is important to have a meeting in December, though. That is when the first reading of a proposed constitutional amendment will be given. The amendment is about membership to the Public Safety Committee.The second reading will be in January, and that's when the Senate will vote on the issue.If the vote passes, Turner said, each department has to vote on it within 60 days."It's a lengthy process," she said.
The University Senate and University Council canceled their October meetings, but that doesn't mean they're not doing anything.