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Saturday, September 30, 2006
Journalism Department, Room 384,
Art and Journalism Building Minutes
Guests: Roger Lavery, Dean, College of Communication, Information, and Media; Doug Blemker, Graduate Assistant, Department of Journalism
The meeting was called to order by President Brian Hayes at 9:40 a.m. Referring to the minutes of the January 14, 2006 meeting, he asked for corrections or additions. There being none, Juli Metzger moved to accept the minutes as presented, Sarah Maisto seconded, and they were passed by voice vote.
New member of the board of directors, Sarah Swan, was introduced; and guests Roger Lavery, Dean, College of Communication, Information, and Media; and Doug Blemker, Graduate Assistant, journalism department, were welcomed.
Lavery expressed appreciation for the work of the Alumni Association and the Journalism Alumni Society. The College of Communication, Information, and Media (CCIM) consists of the departments of journalism, telecommunications, and communication studies and the Center for Information and Communication Sciences. The 2005-06 CCIM Annual Report was distributed, and Lavery presented an overview. He reported that CCIM is a signature program for Ball State University. The college, with the support of a Digital Exchange grant through Lilly, anticipates launching the News Research Institute. The new Communication and Media Building currently under construction is scheduled to open in the fall of 2007. The building, located between the Ball Communication Building the Robert Bell Building, will provide much-needed space for the university's emerging digital media content production facilities and will bring together all four departments of CCIM into a three-building conjoined complex.
Business
Committee Updates. The respective committees met via phone conference.
Nominating Committee Report—Committee Members: Brian Hayes, Pam Records, and Deborah Robinson, Dan Waechter, Marilyn Weaver, and Charlotte Shepperd. Hayes presented the 2007 Board of Directors slate as follows:
President: Brian Hayes (2007-2008)
Vice President David Knott (2007-2008)
Alumni Council Representative: Sarah Maisto (2007-2008)
Jennifer Ross, '05, news editorial program, was nominated as a new member-at-large [need term].
Juli Metzger moved to accept the 2007 slate as presented, the motion was seconded by Jim Grim, and it was approved by voice vote.
Mentoring Committee Report—Committee Members: Brian Hayes, Heather Perry, Pam Records, Deborah Robinson, Dan Waechter, Marilyn Weaver, and Charlotte Shepperd. Sheryl Swingley is an ex-officio member. Records reported that an e-mail solicitation will be done to discern what alumni might want to be part of a department mentoring program (there are approximately 1,700 journalism alumni e-mail addresses currently on file). Promotion of the program and an invitation to participate will go through Phoenix. The next step is to determine a timeline. The launch goal is Spring 2007. Shepperd encouraged the board to share any alumni e-mail information with the Alumni Association.
Recognition/Professional Development Report—Committee Members: Stephanie Berry, Jim Grim, Brian Hayes, Sarah Maisto, Pam Records, Dan Waechter, Marilyn Weaver, and Charlotte Shepperd. Grim reported that the committee recommends involving the Journalism Alumni Society as a co-sponsor of the Young Professionals' Career Panel, Wednesday, October 11. Other recommended action includes:
─sending a push e-mail to journalism alumni eliciting their interest in returning to campus to speak to journalism classes;
─having some alumni (starting with board members and past two years' award winners) write why their BSU experience was so critical to their success and post it on the Web site. This would also help with our recruiting new students;
─showcasing Journalism Alumni Society board of directors and alumni who are active in their professions and also active supporters of the department;
─updating the department Hall of Fame kiosk, editorially and technically. The board can assist in bringing the updates to reality and needs to form a committee to keep the kiosk project moving along.
Weaver reported that the kiosk needs to be re-designed and checked for accuracy. The project could take an estimated 100 hours to complete with a cost of $80-$100 per hour.
Regional Outings/Reunions Report—Committee members: David Knott, Sarah Maisto, Dan Waechter, Marilyn Weaver, and Charlotte Shepperd. Maisto reported that the reunion will be scheduled for 2008. The committee will finalize dates and plans for the reunion. Discussion of other outings included investigating the possibility of an event at the Indianapolis Colts Complex between now and Spring 2008; and tagging onto regional outings that are being planned through other alumni professional/constituent groups. Opportunities for regional events include Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, the Michiana area, and Adams-Wells counties.
Lavery announced that the college plans to sponsor an alumni event in Indianapolis in conjunction with the new regional center sometime in the coming months and that Journalism will be involved.
Shepperd emphasized that the board needs and is encouraged to attend BSU Alumni Association events.
Department Update
Dan Waechter reported that pre-journalism numbers are up, and number of minors are in a steady decline, due to the fact that beginning in the fall of 2005, students could no longer have minors in journalism, P.R., or advertising. Weaver added that the department is in the process of assessing whether to offer a minor in the future.
Weaver continued that the department has been offering classes since the mid-1970s in the Indianapolis area. We offer courses "leading to a degree," Weaver noted, adding that IUPUI has come on very strong with journalism offerings. As they are going forward with a proposal to the Higher Education Commission, we are looking at the prospect of entering into a cooperative arrangement with IUPUI; however, there are many issues to work through and Weaver will keep the board apprised.
Mary Spillman has joined the department as a tenure-line faculty member. She has been a contract faculty member. With a background in new media, Spillman will direct the digital media minor and serve as advisor to Ball Bearings.
The search continues for a faculty member for the P.R. program. Mel Sharpe will retire officially December 15.
There are three Professional-in-Residence programs scheduled this semester, including the Constitution Day program. Larry Dailey, distinguished professor at the University of Nevada/Reno, will be a Professional-in-Residence this fall. There will also be panel discussions planned for P-in-R activities, including an event with both P.R. and advertising professionals. The target audience will be freshmen and sophomores.
Michael Becker from iLoop will provide the last P-in-R program for the semester in November. He will work with the Center for Media Design.
The department has been in the new journalism building for five years and is still using much of the same equipment. A request has been made and approved, so there will be nearly $250,000 in updates coming to the department.
Bob Pritchard replaced Mel Sharpe as P.R. sequence coordinator this year. Pritchard was honored by the university as an outstanding professor this fall. Other faculty who have received university honors include Jennifer George-Palilonis and Vince Filak.
The department is actively engaged in Business Fellows projects. Last spring there were two projects, one with the Marion Chronicle-Tribune and one with the Muncie/Delaware County Chamber of Commerce. This year, two projects are underway: one with St. Lawrence School and Church in Muncie and another with a minority company in Fort Wayne.
The David Knott Scholarship is fully endowed and ready to be presented to students.
Alumni Council Update
Sarah Maisto reported that the Alumni Council had met Saturday, September 9, at the Alumni Center. Special guest was Ben Hancock, new vice president for University Advancement. He gave an overview of what the University Advancement area will be doing in the coming months, including achieving the goal of securing Ball State as a national model.
Election took place for next year's officers and naming of new Council at-large members. Charles Green, from Fort Wayne, will be 2007 president of the Alumni Association.
Matt Bare, 2006 Homecoming general chairman, presented a review of this year's Homecoming activities. Homecoming weekend is October 20-21.
There are two new professional staff members on the Alumni Association staff. Michelle Johnson is the new director of Special Events. Among her duties include direction of Homecoming and regional outreach, in addition to working with Greek groups. Steve Fulton has been named Director of New Media and will oversee the Association Web site, as well as having other related responsibilities.
The Association initiated an Alumni Involvement Index four years ago. It is a tool that helps us identify alumni by their involvement with the university. We can all help by supplying updated information, including e-mails, and through events and activities we conduct through the Journalism Alumni Society.
The next Council meeting is in January 2007.
Other Business
Graduate assistant Doug Blemker presented an overview of Phoenix. In an effort to spotlight alumni, the board members were requested to provide personal bios and photos. Grim, Hayes, and Maisto have submitted their bios. After highlighting the board, the effort may continue by expanding to other alumni.
Award nominations are needed, especially for Hall of Fame. The board was asked to forward names to Diane Blankenship or to Weaver.
Earl Conn's wife, Christine, passed away September 13. Dr. Conn's address will be sent to the board for members to send condolences.
Future Dates
Saturday, January 27, 2007 Journalism Alumni Board of Directors Meeting
Tuesday, April 3, 2007 Journalism Alumni Awards Luncheon
Saturday, September 29 Journalism Alumni Board of Directors Meeting
(Tentative, pending Alumni Council meeting date)
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:50 a.m. Following the meeting, individual and group photos were taken.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane Blankenship Charlotte Shepperd, Secretary
Journalism Alumni Assistant Journalism Alumni Liaison
