December invites us all to reconnect with what truly matters. As we approach the holiday and our Days of Beneficence, take time to relax, reflect, unwind, and be present with family and friends. As we celebrate the close of another year, we look forward to the continuation of the good things we’ve started in 2024 and the start of new chapters just around the corner.

Special Thanks

Thank you to President Mearns and the Board of Trustees for granting another year of Days of Beneficence. We are grateful for this benefit. We’d also like to acknowledge and appreciate our employees who continue to work throughout the holiday break. Thank you!

Happy Holidays to all of our Business Affairs family! We appreciate all of your hard work and contributions this past year.

Kudos

Join us in congratulating Angela Pickett! Angela’s position title has changed to Financial Reporting and Space Specialist, as she has taken on additional duties in Facilities Planning and Management.

News from Our BA Leaders

People & Culture- Mark Liebling

Guardian Scholar Winter Break Box Donations: 

The Office for People and Culture came together to collect a great amount of nonperishable food items, personal care items, gift cards, and winter supplies for our students in need! The Guardian Scholars program supports BSU students who experience foster care or homelessness between terms by collecting assorted items and creating winter break boxes for them. This year’s box goal was 45 boxes, an increase from last year’s goal Thank you to the Office for People and Culture team for your generosity and continued support of this initiative to serve our students! 

Employee Assistance Program: 

Life can be difficult at times— both at home and at work. Ball State wants to help you feel supported and cope with these challenges by providing free counseling sessions, self-help tools, online articles and other resources for you and your family members through our TELUS Employee Assistance Program (EAP). These confidential services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at no cost to you or your family!  For additional information, please visit the Employee Assistance Program page. If you have questions, please contact the Office for Engagement, Wellbeing and Culture (formerly Working Well) at 765-285-9355 or WorkingWell@bsu.edu 

Employee Emergency Fund: 

In 2022, Alan Finn (VP of Business Affairs and Treasurer) established the Ball State Employee Emergency Fund to support employees in times of crisis! Thanks to the generosity of fellow cardinals, the fund is able to provide financial support for employees in need of temporary emergency assistance due to accidents, fires, or other personal emergencies. For more information about eligibility and how to apply, visit here. 

Ball State Sustainability – Margaret Lo

Ball State has been included in The Princeton Review Guide to Green Colleges: 2025 Edition. The Princeton Review, within its annual College Hopes & Worries Survey, says that 60% to 80% of prospective students each year for the last decade have considered the sustainability efforts of prospective universities in their decision-making. It’s great for Ball State to be included! To learn more about the guide, please visit The Princeton Review Guide to Green Colleges.

Recycling at Ball State

Want to learn more about how we recycle at Ball State? See our new video below.

Tours

Thanks to everyone who participated in the tours this past year! We will resume tours in March with a tour of the Geothermal Plant. Stay tuned for more information.

Celebrations

Happy Birthday month to Megan Bryant, Interim Director of Payroll, and Melissa Jones, Director of Accounts Payable. We are celebrating another year of life with you both and hope you enjoy your special day!

Questions & Feedback

Do you have quotes, recommended books, recipes, photos from departmental festivities, retirement news, an exciting life event you’d like to share, or just want to provide feedback? Send your contributions or comments to Kcwebb@bsu.edu. If you’d like to be recognized for your birthday, please complete the Business Affairs recognition form here. We’d love to celebrate you!