Bold. Recognized. Vibrant. Passionate. Immersive. Green.
These are words used to describe the Ball State University of today; but it hasn't always been this way.
Five years ago, Jo Ann Gora, along with a dedicated task force, developed and implemented Ball State's Education Redefined 2007-2012 strategic plan to advance the university.
The plan had four goals: promote academic excellence among undergraduate and graduate students seeking a rigorous learning experience; support and reward faculty and student scholarship of discovery, integration, application and teaching; address local, state, national and international needs through activities that foster collaboration and mutually beneficial relationships with diverse constituents; improve the university community's quality of life.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Terry King said the plan, which was created with the intention of being specific, focus and resourced, was the first of its kind.
"The 2007-2012 strategic plan was almost a revolution for the institution. It set out specific strategies for the institution with identifiable objectives and measurable outcomes," King said. "-And that was different; it'd never happened before here."
As of last month the university was on track to meet 98 of the plan's 104 outcome measures. While King finds success in these results, a new task force has been pressing forward with the new agenda-Strategic Plan 2012-2017-since winter 2011.
According to Associate Vice President of Facilities Kevin Kenyon, the focus of the new strategic plan, while it builds off of the foundation of the old plan, is slightly different.
"It turns a little bit more to the academic side of this institution and adapting to the changes and relatives that are out there," Kenyon said.
The new strategic plan draft includes goals for providing high-quality educational experiences, becoming a leader for educational innovation, investing in a vibrant and integrated university community and advancing Indiana through student engagement and faculty expertise.
"While the first plan was more revolutionary, this one is more evolutionary," King said. "This plan is still focused on differentiation via quality."
The plan will be finalized on July 1, so to ensure students are able to participate in the feedback process the task force will hold open meetings, starting today, April 27 from 9-10 a.m. in the Student Center Forum Room.
"We are being very strategic and very accountable in looking at the implementation part of this plan so we can identify any issues," task force member Tom Taylor said. "We want to make sure they are being executed well and that there is transparency about that."
Additional open meetings are scheduled from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. on May 1 and 3-4 on May 3 in Cardinal Hall A.
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