Members Present: Amy Bradburn, Corine Carr, Suzie Huber, Bonnie Johnston, Jackie Johnston, Jama Kirby Montgomery, Marla Kurtz, Mike Landram, Jeanine LeMaster, Rae Ann O'Neill, Alice Spangler, Sue Taylor, Linda Wallace, and Diane Williams.

President Linda Wallace called the meeting to order at 1:15 p.m.  She thanked all present for their participation with the sixth Career Mentoring Day.

Following a motion by Jama Kirby Montgomery to approve the June 5, 2003 meeting minutes, Suzie Huber seconded, and the minutes were unanimously approved as written.

DEPARTMENT UPDATE

Alice Spangler distributed an FCS Fact Sheet and reviewed student enrollment, new curriculum offerings and student activities:

• Family & Child has the greatest increase in enrollment (from 71 to 98 students).
• Two new minors are available in Fashion Merchandising and Apparel Design. Residential Property Management offers a new minor and a master's degree (first nationwide). RPM is testing a pilot, on-line course.
• A grant from the Community Foundation of Muncie/Delaware County was received for work with low-income women in purchasing professional clothing.
• A search is underway to fill new faculty position in Interior Design.
•   The FCS Courtesy Corps has been organized. Pat Zeabart is working with about 25 students who will serve as ambassadors for the department.
• Jane Brooks, University Development representative for the college, has been reassigned and a new representative will be appointed.

ALUMNI COUNCIL UPDATE

Jackie reported the following from the September 6, 2003 Alumni Council meeting:

• The BSUAA is working on efforts to be of more service to alumni.  Electronic email services and on-line event registration continue to be utilized.
• Pre-Game Football rallies were hosted by the Alumni Association for each Cardinal home football game this year.  Over 300 attended the first two rallies.   
• Financial cost-cutting measures and their effect on the budget were reviewed.  Changes were made in the Ball State Alumnus magazine production. It was reported that Cardinal License Plate revenue continues to be significant and Cardinal Corner continues to remain solvent.
• Fall 2003 enrollment is up and the student retention rate is good, as the quality of students attending BSU increases.
• The University received a gift of $17.1 million from the Wallace T. Miller, Jr. estate. This is the largest single individual gift in Ball State's history. The College of Business has been renamed the Miller College of Business in honor of the donor, and it continues to be housed in the Ralph Whitinger building.
• 2003 Coach of the Year Award recipients were announced: Mike Holman, Lawrence Central High School, Boy's Track; Steve Kearney, Chesterton High School, Girl's Track; Tim Cleland, Delta High School, Girl's Track; Jennifer Mascari, Culvert Academy, Softball; Ron Murphy, Richmond High School, Boy's Golf; and Bill Stout, Pendleton Heights, Baseball.
• Homecoming-The BSUAA sponsored golf carts used as Parade entries, and the board expressed interest in entering the 2004 parade if the BSUAA sponsors them again.  Joy Robbins, a charter member of our FCS Alumni Society, and the FCS Department Chair at New Castle High School and owner of Image Improvement, was a Benny Award recipient honored at the Alumni Association Awards Dinner.

OLD BUSINESS

E-Mentoring Program—Sue Taylor and Linda Wallace will prepare a thank you letter to alumni who indicated a willingness to participate in the pilot program. Future development of this program will be conformed to a course setting. The department has applied for a Lilly grant for funding of this effort.

FCS History Committee—Alice reported that a meeting will be scheduled.

Communique Newsletter—Marla Kurtz reported that materials are in the editing process and that the projected mailing is December.

NEW BUSINESS

2003 FCS Career Mentoring Day Review—Diane Williams reported that the attendance was 444, the highest on record.  The event was an overall success.

• It was noted that this year there were more out-of-state alumni speakers for the breakout sessions.
• It was recommended that next year the breakout sessions be expanded to include a FCS Business session.  The board agreed. Alumni speakers could be members of the Indiana FCS Business Professionals group. Space should facilitate approximately 25 people for this session.
• Because of the continued growth of this program, space facilitation is a concern. Discussion included possibly combining two smaller sessions into one room.
• Sue requested more Board assistance in acquiring alumni speakers for the breakout sessions. The lists of alumni will be generated earlier so that board members can begin making contacts in May. FCS faculty will be requested to suggest speakers in February and/or the third week of a semester, to better accommodate their schedules.
• A discussion followed about inviting businesses that have student practicum and/or internship programs to network with the students. It was suggested that this could be a separate FCS event hosted at the Alumni Center or FCS department. The board agreed to look into this further.

FCS Alumni Event—Suzie Huber suggested three possible locations: Maple Leaf Duck Farm in Warsaw, Classic Kitchen in Noblesville, and Indiana State Museum and Ayres Tearoom in Indianapolis. The board recommended that Suzie organize two outings and select dates in 2004 for trips to Maple Leaf and the State Museum. Only a limited number can be accommodated at Maple Leaf Farm kitchen. Lunch would be at a local restaurant after the tour. Indianapolis area alumni would be invited to the other outing. The Planning Committee includes Suzie, Jama, Jeanine LeMaster, Sue, and Linda.

Sue reported that Foundation Account #3905 has a balance of $392.28. (Consider this account when making your year-end gifts). Disbursements included plaques for Spring Alumni Awards and student awards. The Award of Achievement has not yet been presented to Angela Ahrendts of Liz Claiborne, NY. Sue stated that ideally Angela would be on campus to receive it in the next year. It was suggested that the award could be presented when Fashion Merchandise students travel to New York and photos be taken for alumni publications.

OTHER BUSINESS

FCS Alumni Survey—Many of the suggestions of the 1998 Survey have been initiated into current programs, and it was agreed to survey FCS alumni again, via email.  Corine Carr agreed to prepare survey questions for the board to review at the next meeting. The BSUAA will send it electronically to alumni.

• The next Board meeting is January 13, 2004 at Pine Valley Pizza Hut on Dupont Road in Fort Wayne.

There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 3:20 p.m.