With budgetary tightening and reductions in state appropriations, schools across the country are feeling the pressure to increase research programs to bring in more funding. And Ball State is no exception. The tension arises over the argument that the more a school emphasizes research, the less time most professors have to dedicate to teaching classes and serving students.
But Ball State isn't known as a leading research school. At Ball State, students are the major achievers.
While grants are a significant means of making those accomplishments happen, Ball State should never lose its focus on meeting student needs through the highest quality of teaching.
On Thursday, President Jo Ann Gora named the university's next provost, who will greatly affect budgetary decisions - including those that pit research priorities against teaching priorities.
Provost Terry King has thus far shown a great interest in putting students first, and he doesn't seem overly enthusiastic about changing the face of Ball State.
"There is certainly some really strong research gong on [at Ball State] already," King said Wednesday. "The question is do you want to expand that beyond those programs? It really depends on the aspirations of the university and programs."
It's refreshing to see a new hire to the administration who isn't pushing preconceived notions about how to run this university. King plans to visit campus in April to get to know more administrators, faculty and students and find out what's best for the university.
The Daily News hopes King will see Ball State as a student-centered school with a focus on helping students achieve their personal goals. There's a reason the slogan "Everything you need" worked for so long.
One of King's first official duties will be to help revise the university's strategic plan, which will determine the goals Ball State will strive for in the next several years. This includes whether Ball State will develop into a research school or will continue on the path it's been successfully following so far.
While there's no way to tell what plans King will advocate in the drafting of the strategic plan and university budget, we certainly hope the student focus he discussed during his March 15 forum will dictate the direction he leads this university.
It's possible Ball State will need to seek external financial support more vigorously in upcoming years to meet its budgetary needs, but that should not come in the way of its student focus. Research efforts certainly help the university, but they're not the only way Ball State can find the funds it needs to survive.
As King himself said, "You can't research your way out of poverty."
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