The Board of Trustees met this afternoon to approve recommendations proposed in committees.

Academic and student affairs

The board approved a new bachelor of architecture professional degree and a master's of social work. Former College of Applied Sciences and Technologies dean Mitch Whaley also gave information regarding the College of Health.

The five-year, 154-credit-hour bachelor's of architecture professional degree is an alternative path to licensing, with an estimated $8,000 in savings to students who forego the traditional bachelors program.

The new degree path will be a driving factor in employing Ball State graduates within the state and contributing to the Indiana economy, board chair Rick Hall said.

The master's of social work will be a 36-credit-hour advanced standing program for graduates with a bachelor's of social work. For graduates of other programs, the master's degree will be a 57-credit-hour traditional program.

Although one committee member noted that there are three other master's of social work programs in the state, provost Marilyn Buck said Ball State does not currently offer one.

Committee members said the rationale for this degree is spot on, citing how the master's inclusion of gerontology will be in demand with aging populations of baby boomers.

Whaley highlighted key areas of focus for the board, including an emphasis on simulation spaces for students to practice in before determining patient outcomes in real situations.

The new building to house the College of Health will include facilities to complement areas of study. The facilities include an athletic training education lab, an audiology clinic, a nutrition assessment lab and a simulation and information technology center.

Whaley also identified short and long-term challenges for the College of Health. These include establishing a college identity and securing funds for equipment and technology.

Finance, facilities and planning

Bernie Hannon, vice president for business affairs and treasurer, reviewed retiree benefits, the Campus Master Plan and state funding.

Dean of the College of Fine Arts Robert Kvam proposed that the choral hall in the Music Instructional Building be renamed in honor of Hilary Hahn and the Hahn family. There will also be scholarships awarded to rising senior strings students with the remaining.

“You think of all the violinists in the world—[Hahn] is easily in the top 5," Kvam said.

Hannon proposed two retiree benefit plans for full-time faculty who have worked at Ball State for at least 15 years, regardless of whether they are contract or faculty. The two plans cover life insurance and healthcare.

There was no action taken on the Campus Master Plan, but Hannon informed the board and the committee of its progress. Today, Hannon briefed the board on developments with the Health Building, a proposed green space to complement Emens renovations and plans to demolish and replace LaFollette Complex.

Hannon also gave a presentation on state funding handed down to Ball State for new trustees. The state of Indiana funds Ball State based on four metrics: overall degree completion, on-time degree completion rate, at-risk degree completion (pertaining to graduating students with pell grants) and high-impact degree completion (which are usually STEM degrees).

Full board

The board approved all motions recommended in committee.

At the end of the meeting, interim president Terry King discussed his retirement plans. Charlene Alexander, the associate provost for diversity and the director of the office of institutional diversity, announced her retirement.

The next board of trustees meeting will be May 5, the day before spring graduation.

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