If a student received only 20 percent of the financial aid the state promised him, it's not likely he'd be motivated to continue his education. After six years of continuously being under-funded, he would be commended simply for not breaking down.
And that's exactly the position Ball State University is in.
With six years of relatively miniscule allocations for repair and rehabilitation funds, Indiana has forced Ball State to maintain its academic buildings and facilities - which are used on a daily basis - with financial support of less than half what the university deserves. And the university is still standing.
If the state's own formula for determining how much Ball State should receive dictates that the university needs $12 million, it's disappointing and discouraging for the university to receive only $5.2 million of that. Continued funding at this reduced rate, according to Kevin Kenyon, associate vice president of Facilities, Planning and Management, "isn't going to get us out of the hole we are in."
This is a matter of leaking roofs and buildings without sprinkler systems. Many of the essential water and electrical systems are aging and in need of replacement. Kenyon said none of these repairs are threats to student or employee safety, but they're also not superficial: They are needed repairs.
The limited funding is a clear indication of how the state prioritizes and supports it's educational institutions - making that "brain drain" phenomenon less of a mystery.
One major concern is water leaking into classrooms and offices. Without some of these repairs being made on a permanent basis - in place of the temporary "patching" currently being performed - the living and learning community of Ball State will be significantly crippled. And it'll be hard to take pride in the educational process when a steady stream of water begins leaking from the roof of your classroom onto the chalkboard, erasing all traces of your progress.
Beyond the fact that current state funding is simply unrealistic, Ball State has proved its ability to conserve funds - at least when it comes to repairs. In fact, according to the financial report, "Due to the University's prudent financial stewardship, Ball State University's ratio of debt service to operating appropriation ranks lowest of all the state universities in Indiana."
So not only will Ball State prioritize the money its given and spend conservatively, the reparations for which it is requesting money are necessary and of some concern. If the state cannot find and allocate the funds Ball State needs, there are bigger problems in Indiana than leaky windows and roofs.
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