Inclusive Excellence News November 2024

In this month’s edition of Inclusive Excellence News, explore campus updates, heritage month celebrations, special recognition days, and upcoming religious holidays. Additionally, you will find a curated list of inclusive events happening both on and off campus. Lastly, you will professional development opportunities to deepen your knowledge of inclusive excellence. As always, if you would like to have anything included in future editions, please email ie@bsu.edu.

For information about Inclusive Events, visit our post here.

For information about heritage months and special days, visit our Celebrating Diversity post.

For information about ways to increase your inclusive excellence knowledge, visit our Professional Development post.

Inclusive Excellence CoLLAB (Consult, Listen, Learn, Assess, Build)

CoLLAB sessions offer faculty, staff, and administrative teams to collaborate directly with the Office of Inclusive Excellence, advancing our shared goals of inclusive excellence across the university. To support these efforts, OIE dedicates time every Tuesday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., with focused support. During these sessions, you’ll have the opportunity to consult with OIE staff on ways to integrate inclusive excellence and equity principles into your programs or initiatives, whether newly launched or long-standing. Email ie@bsu.edu to signup for one of these sessions.

Inclusive Excellence News From Around Campus

Ball State Music Student Researches Way for People With Physical Disabilities to Conduct Music

By Landa Bagley 

Ethan Atterson views music as a beautiful conduit for human connections. And conducting an orchestral ensemble … well, that’s magical, Mr. Atterson said. 

But that magic could’ve eluded him if he focused solely on what he can’t do instead of what he can do. Mr. Atterson has limited arm mobility, caused by Duchenne muscular dystrophy, making it a challenge for him to use a baton as a music conductor. 

“Disabled people exist in the classical music industry. We deserve to be able to have equal opportunities in that industry, and we deserve to have the chance to prove ourselves as leaders,” Mr. Atterson said. “And by researching new methods and accommodations, I feel that chance can be made available. 

“It’s not just about me and my professors. It’s about how this will affect other people in this field and those coming into it,” he added. 

To find out more, read the rest of blog post here.

Destination 2040: Our Flight Path Updates

Ball State University, is currently in the process of updating our strategic plan Destination 2040: Our Flight Path. From President Mearns’ Ball State University News October 2024:

” Since January 2019, Destination 2040: Our Flight Path has served as Ball State University’s strategic framework for our bright future. We continue to implement this plan, with measurable progress made toward each of the plan’s five major goals. At the same time, our University has begun the process of building upon Destination 2040: Our Flight Path by developing the next iteration of our long-term strategic plan.”

“Through November 8, we are also hosting a series of open forums on our campus and in our community. The planning process continues to be inclusive, involving faculty, staff, students, graduates, community partners, and many of our benefactors.”

Our Enduring Commitment to Inclusiveness 

Nov. 11, 3:30–5 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom 

During this forum, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to share their thoughts on how we—individually and collectively—can enhance our commitment to our enduring value of inclusiveness, which we define as our “commitment to respect and embrace equity, inclusion, and diversity in people, ideas, and opinions.” To prepare for the discussion, please consider how we can develop a comprehensive set of initiatives that demonstrate our support for our complementary commitments to inclusive excellence, freedom of expression, and academic freedom. 

November Program Highlight

Mentoring is essential for college students to stay on track, succeed, and complete their degrees. At Ball State, students can explore mentoring programs that provide hands-on guidance, confidence-building experiences, and valuable career connections. Through opportunities like Cardinal Connections and the Miller Mentorship Program, students connect with experienced mentors who help them navigate academic challenges, career goals, and personal growth. For first-generation and underrepresented students especially. These mentorships foster a strong sense of belonging and resilience, critical to staying enrolled and progressing toward graduation. Visit Ball State’s mentoring website to see how these programs can help build skills and networks that support both immediate and long-term success.