By Nancy B. Carlson

The first comprehensive capital campaign Ball State conducted began in 1987 and was called Wings for the Future. The campaign raised $44 million, boosting the morale of internal stakeholders and improving the scholarly reputation of the school nationwide.

What? How could fund-raising affect professionalism and intellectual rigor? Usually, scholars think of the development staff as "suits," or "salespeople" for the university. Many faculty members don’t even know the development executives by name or face. Yet the Wings campaign helped "raise the bar" in faculty expectations, in recruiting and in productivity. These positive effects happened by creating endowed chairs and distinguished professorships that have greatly enhanced our reputation.

In my own telecommunications department, the presence of our two endowed chairs, first Steve Bell, former ABC news anchor, and next Richie Meyer, former PBS board member and CEO of Dallas’ KERA-TV, has inspired all of us to in TCOM raise our student performance expectations.

Since Richie’s arrival, we’ve begun a film festival and a Taiwanese exchange program. Since Steve arrived, we are broadcasting live television newscasts nine times a week on cable access channels. I know I’m not the only old-timer who has benefited from the endowed chairs and distinguished professorships. The existence of those positions attracts high-level applicants and allows us to compete with institutions that pay higher salaries for sought-after scholars.

Another change brought about by the first capital campaign was the creation of generous pots of money for faculty development. Between $250,000 and $300,000 a year goes to faculty and departments from the 21st Century Fund for Faculty Development, the George and Frances Ball Fund for Academic Excellence and the International Endowment Fund. Visiting with people from other institutions has reminded me Ball State is much blessed with these faculty development funds.

Now the second campaign is underway. Called Above and Beyond, this one will serve as another watershed event for change at this institution. Out of $90 million expected, one-third will be spent on student scholarships and another third on innovative academic programs. We will enjoy teaching the higher quality students as well as have opportunities to be a part of an innovative and creative project. Maybe those "suits" over in development are OK.