Immersive Learning is rewarding and challenging. Ball State recognizes the hard work of faculty, students, and community partners each year with awards at our showcase. Read more about the awards and criteria below.

President Mearns and Dr. John McKillip pose together holding a glass award.
Immersive Learning Outstanding Faculty Awards

IMMERSIVE LEARNING OUTSTANDING FACULTY AWARDS

2025 DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 28, 2025 - Apply on InfoReady
The Immersive Learning Faculty Awards are given in recognition of demonstrated excellence in the creation, mentoring, and implementation of immersive learning projects. Award nominations for 2024 may be made by students, faculty, staff, or administrators; self nominations are also encouraged. All immersive learning projects that occurred or were started during the Fall 2022, Spring 2023, or Summer 2023 semesters are eligible for nomination. Faculty cannot receive the award twice for the same immersive learning class; overall, preference is given to faculty who have not previously won an Outstanding Faculty Award. Faculty winners receive recognition at the Immersive Learning showcase and a $1000 prize.

See past winners here.

Immersive Learning Student Team Award

2025 DEADLINE: MARCH 28, 2025 - Nominate on InfoReady

Teamwork and collaboration are essential components of a successful immersive learning project. Each year, Immersive Learning recognizes a student team that went above and beyond the requirements of their immersive learning class to produce uncommon results for their partner and our local community.

Teams will be judged on how well they met student learning objectives for the course, created a collaborative environment, used creative problem-solving to overcame obstacles, and applied previous knowledge to produce a positive or significant impact on the community.

“Teams” may be comprised of an entire immersive learning class or could be a smaller group within a class that really stood out in their efforts.

To be eligible, immersive learning teams must be:

  • From immersive learning course in the current academic year
  • A group of three or more undergraduate students
  • Working with a community partner to solve a community challenge
  • Creating a final product, service, or other deliverable for a community partner or partners
  • Outstanding as to their level of enthusiasm, effort, and impact
  • Self-nominated or recommended by a faculty member, academic department, or community partner.

In order to be considered, nominations must be submitted on InfoReady. Winning teams will be honored at the Immersive Learning Showcase with a certificate of recognition.


OCE Community Partner Award

The Office of Community Engagement honors local businesses, community organizations, or agencies that have demonstrated excellence as partners and co-educators in Ball State’s community-engaged learning experiences.

Nominees must have partnered with Ball State faculty/staff, and students as part of one of the following community-based learning experiences:

  • Service or immersive learning
  • Community-based research
  • Internship and/or practicum

The award recipient will receive $500 and will be honored publicly at the Immersive Learning Showcase. The nomination form is available online. Nominations may be submitted by Ball State faculty and staff only. More details can be found here.

Have Questions?

Contact the Immersive Learning office so we can help at immersive@bsu.edu or use this form.