April 24, 2017
Indiana lawmakers completed their work April 21 on the budget that will guide the state for the next biennium, including fully funding Phase II of Ball State University's STEM and Health Professions Facility Expansion Project.
The project will allow the foundational sciences academic programs to grow on campus and will serve as a vital pipeline to the state's life sciences sector.
“We are immensely grateful to the General Assembly for its trust in Ball State and its support of the work our dedicated faculty and staff do each day with our talented students,” said Interim President Terry King.
The total project cost for the new 175,000-square-foot facility will be $87.5 million, funded through bonds, and will advance the university's priorities on providing students with educational opportunities in cutting-edge environments that simulate the worlds in which they will work after graduation.
State approves $2 million for Launch IN
Additionally, legislators approved a total of $2 million for the Launch IN and Ball State University partnership that promotes and helps to develop entrepreneurial innovations across the state.
Ball State, in cooperation with its partners at Launch Fishers, has been a standard-bearer for this important program that works with community leaders to understand and embrace a nontraditional approach to business development.
Many Ball State alumni are leading by example in this arena, and students and faculty and staff join them in developing and providing further evidence of the value of a creative, entrepreneurial mindset.
Ball State receives budget increases for next 2 years
Lawmakers have reaffirmed their commitment to Ball State as a whole, with 3.2 percent and 1.7 percent increases, respectively, for fiscal years 2017-18 and 2018-19.
State appropriations represent about a third of the university general fund budget. Prudent management of these funds will allow Ball State to remain competitive in the marketplace as we continue to develop and maintain innovative programming and high-demand courses of study.
“The work of our talented faculty and staff, the support of our alumni and friends, and the remarkable accomplishments of our students all combined to help tell Ball State's compelling and inspiring story, and it is one that clearly resonated with legislators,” King said.