Graduate School | Capital Campaign | Ball State University

THE POWER OF Beneficence

Dr. Robin Phelps-Ward giving a speech at a Graduate School event

CHANGE LIVES. GIVE TO
Graduate Students

If you attended graduate school, you know how intimidating it can be. Classes are more difficult. Reading lists are longer. The increased responsibilities of adulthood crowd in. For students from historically underserved backgrounds, the experience can be even more daunting or prevent them from enrolling in the first place. However, if you attended graduate school, you also know just how valuable it is.

Our vision is two-fold. We will improve recruitment of underserved students by creating a more inclusive environment. And we will boost retention and graduation by better supporting our students financially and academically.

Graduate school will always require long nights and hard work, but we can reduce the financial and cultural barriers many students must overcome. Please help our deserving graduate students find their pathways to success.

YOU HAVE THE POWER To Change Lives

Fellowship Award Winner: Charlotte Mohn

"What first interested me about my graduate program was its strong emphasis on both applied work and research, which aligned perfectly with my career goals. The possibility of pursuing a double major was also a significant draw, allowing for a broad and interdisciplinary education. Additionally, the program director’s expertise and renowned research in the field added to my interest. I was also impressed by the various opportunities available within the program."

Charlotte Mohn, MS '24

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“While getting my MA in linguistics from Ball State, I had the opportunity to take courses with an extremely diverse group of people. I remember sitting in an evening course and realizing that between the small group of us, we represented multiple countries and spoke numerous languages. These experiences gave me a cultural sensitivity that has had a huge impact on my choices.”

- Angela Tomasello, ’16, MA ’18, Graduate Student

FUNDING Opportunities

A GRADUATE STUDENT SUCCESS FUND: $500K

Unanticipated and emergency circumstances happen. A loss in family income, an accident, or illness can create a financial emergency for students that impacts their ability to continue their education and achieve academic success. With your help, we will create a Graduate Student Success Fund that will provide up to $1,500 in emergency funding for students in crisis.

Two graduate students studying out on the lawns

MORE MENTORING FOR UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS: $1M

People from historically underrepresented backgrounds continue to be underrepresented in university faculty and corporate leadership roles nationwide. To help address this problem, we have created talent pipelines that recruit more underrepresented students into graduate-level programs, support them in their educational goals, and encourage research. With your help, we will fuel Ball State programs including:

Pathways, a mentoring program that matches undergraduate and graduate students with faculty, staff, community professionals, and distinguished alumni.
Action Research Collective, which helps underrepresented students develop research skills.

Graduate students getting some facetime with their Pathways mentor

SUMMER RESEARCH GRANTS: $500K

A perennial problem for graduate students on assistantships is how to continue research in the summer while their assistantship funding is paused. Many students work long hours at jobs that hinder them from making progress. With your support, an endowed fund will provide summer grants between $3,000 and $4,000 so students can sustain the momentum of their education and research.

Graduate student presenting research findings

DEDICATED GRADUATE STUDENT FELLOWSHIPS: $2.5M

Ball State does not currently offer graduate student fellowships. Fellowships pay the student a stipend and cover tuition without requiring any work in return, allowing them to fully engage in research and education.

Graduate student posing for photos in their laboratory

GRADUATE STUDENT HUB: $500K

We will create a space in West Quad where graduate students can study, meet in groups, and receive support services like counseling and advising, or access a food pantry.

NAMING OPPORTUNITY

Name the Graduate School: $5M

140+

Graduate Programs

4.5K

Graduate Students

1st

U.S. graduate school to earn learner support certification from Quality Matters, a nationally recognized standard of best practices for online and blended learning.

Help deserving graduate students find their pathways to success.

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