President Paul W. Ferguson emailed out the university's progress report for 2015 to the campus on Dec. 7.
The report measures achievements and challenges encountered during the first year of Ferguson’s strategic plan: The Centennial Commitment. The report is the “first of its kind” according to Ferguson’s email.
The Centennial Commitment — or the 18 by '18 plan — is the university’s plan to be student-centered, community-engaged and a model 21st-Century public research university by meeting 18 goals by 2018.
Student-centered
More than 60 percent of goals related to becoming a student-centered university have either been achieved or are on target, according to the report. Thirty-six percent have seen progress, but need attention or need to be revised.
Online education, which Ferguson wants to increase full-time enrollment to 3,019 by 2018, was at 3,426 in Spring 2015. That enrollment jumped 6.7 percent in one year.
Another completed goal was for first year student retention to be above 80 percent. In 2014, it was 81.6 percent — above the university's goal of 79.2 percent.
However, for goals under the student life experiences section, the progress of only two of the seven goals — participating in a co-curricular program, which 62 percent of students did, and renovation of Botsford/Swinford Hall — were directly talked about in the report.
The progress of goals with Greek housing, employee participation in substantive wellness initiatives, participation in diversity programs, participation in cultural programs and NCAA appearances (or bowl games) by sports teams were not discussed in this section of the report.
Community-Engaged
Of the community-engagement goals, 70 percent are on target or completed. Twenty-two percent have shown progress but need attention and 8 percent need revision.
The university met its goal to bring 1,000 international students to the school. 1,299 students were admitted this year, which is the second highest in school history.
It also fulfilled its $250,000 contribution to Muncie-Delaware County’s five-year economic plan, which was one of Ferguson's goals.
A Model 21st-Century Public Research University
Around 50 percent of goals for becoming a model 21st century public research university are on target or finished. Twenty-three percent of goals show progress, but need attention and 24 percent of goals need review or revision.
The university’s sustainability efforts have been mostly successful. Five of the six sustainability related initiatives are on track.
The construction of Botsford/Swinford Hall also helped the university to accomplish some of its sustainability goals, with geothermal heating and cooling, a revolving door to keep heat/air in and natural lighting.
Areas that need attention or possible revision include enhancing philanthropy to Ball State, enhancing state and national recognition, enhancing the research profile.
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