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Economics

The Department of Economics supports and encourages student learning and involvement inside and outside the classroom. Your generous gifts to the department support this mission and help us maintain and expand opportunities for students pursuing our course of study.

Miller College Students at the Federal Reserve Bank in Chicago

Our students enrolled in economics participate in the National Fed College Challenge, where our faculty trains and coaches them to think and analyze like policymakers. Teams compete in Chicago every fall, where undergraduate students analyze economic and financial conditions and formulate monetary policy recommendations, molding the Federal Open Market Committee.

Another in-class opportunity is Econ in Motion, a film project led by Dr. Cecil Bohanon. Students are the actors, writers, directors, and editors for a variety of films and videos - from short clips illustrating economic concepts to documentary-style films covering economic topics in-depth, like the Scottish Enlightenment and the Dutch Tulip Bulb Mania. Many of the films students have produced have been invited to various film festivals. You can view the videos at Econ in Motion on YouTube to see the work.

Moreover, the department has students work with professors on research projects and travel to conferences to help present their work. Our students have traveled to Chicago, Las Vegas, and other major conferences. As the department continues to grow, we would like to provide more opportunities for students to engage in the research process. Just this year, the Buchanan Scholar Program expanded to provide paid opportunities for students to research topics in political economy.

Our Economics Club provides a variety of opportunities for students to experience how the content they learn in the classroom applies to the real world. The Economics Club hosts a variety of programs and speakers every year. Still, the highlight of the year is the trip to the Statehouse, where students meet with local and state politicians to understand better how economic concepts apply to public policy and law.

The Institute for the Study of Political Economy (ISPE) seeks to further our understanding of the market, political, and social processes and institutions. Under the leadership of its new director, Dr. David Mitchell, ISPE has maintained and expanded its programs. ISPE hosts a variety of speakers, from economic scholars to leading entrepreneurs who speak on issues including the value of the free market, the effects of public policy, ethics in business, and many other interesting and exciting topics. Students can have lunch with these prestigious guests to ask questions and have in-depth discussions with professionals in the field. ISPE recently hosted Frederick Douglass Jazz Works presented by Ruth Naomi Floyd, which illuminates the themes of tragedy, grief, despair, and injustice of American slavery but through the multi-faceted prism of hope, joy, perseverance, and triumph — all with Frederick Douglass’s own words. ISPE programs support students' development as well-rounded scholars and citizens of an ever-complex global economy.

Your generous donations support and maintain our existing programs and help us forge new initiatives to support student learning and engagement. One Ball State Day is a great way to impact a student's life meaningfully and provide them with the tools, opportunities, and professional connections needed to support lifelong learning and achievement. Thank you again for your generosity.

Success!
Pop it, Snap it, Share it! Benny Cutout Social Media Challenge
Faculty, staff, and student social media challenge! Share a photo of your Benny Cutout to show a window into your Ball State world. Be sure to stamp your post with #OneBallState. Two random participants will get to donate $500 in challenge funds toward their favorite area.
Completed
Leaderboard
Morning Leaderboard
The three departments/units/teams with the most donors by 10 a.m. receives $3,000, $2,000, and $1,000 in challenge funds.
Rank Prize Department Donors
1 $3,000 Theatre & Dance 125
2 $2,000 Indiana Academy 79
3 $1,000 Communication Studies 66
4 Football 65
5 Student Scholarships 61
Ended
Leaderboard
Academic Department Leaderboard
The three academic departments with the most gifts by midnight receive $5,000, $3,000 and $1,000 in challenge funds.
Rank Prize Academic Department Gifts
1 $5,000 Theatre & Dance 679
2 $3,000 Communication Studies 398
3 $1,000 School of Kinesiology 187
4 School of Music 149
5 Center for Information & Communication Sciences 122
Ended
$1,000
Dean DuBois Challenge - Miller College of Business
$20,000 in gifts to Miller College will unlock $1,000 in challenge money from Cathy DuBois, Dean of Miller College, to the MCOB Study Away and Abroad Fund.
$20,000 / $20,000 Raised
Completed
Leaderboard
College Donor Leaderboard
The college that has the most donors by midnight will receive $5,000 in challenge funds.
Rank Prize College Donors
1 $5,000 College of Fine Arts 641
2 College of Communication, Information, and Media 558
3 College of Sciences and Humanities 548
4 Miller College of Business 432
5 College of Health 389
Ended
Leaderboard
Miller College of Business Leaderboard
The Miller College academic department, with the largest increase in the number of distinct donors from last year, will unlock a $1,000 challenge from Cathy DuBois, Bryan Dean of Miller College.
Rank Prize Department % +/- Goal
1 $1,000 Marketing Department +190.00% 29
goal: 10
2 ISOM Department +142.86% 17
goal: 7
3 Applied Business Studies +100.00% 28
goal: 14
4 MBA | Master of Business Administration +91.67% 23
goal: 12
5 Accounting +46.25% 117
goal: 80
Ended
Leaderboard
Provost Marri College Leaderboard Challenge
The three colleges with the most donors will unlock an additional $250 for 1st place, $150 for 2nd place and $100 for 3rd place from Provost Anand Marri.
Rank Prize College Donors
1 $250 College of Fine Arts 641
2 $150 College of Communication, Information, and Media 558
3 $100 College of Sciences and Humanities 548
4 Miller College of Business 432
5 College of Health 389
Ended
Success!
Paint the U.S. Cardinal Red
Gifts from all 50 states will unlock $2,500 from the Alumni Council to Ball States greatest needs.
Completed
Success!
One Ball State Day Video Social Media Challenge
Share any of the One Ball State Day videos on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram Stories using #OneBallState for a chance to earn extra challenge dollars. Two participants will get to donate $500 to their favorite area. Tag @BSUFoundation or @BallStateAlumni ❤️
Completed
Success!
EPM Employee Giving Challenge
VP for Enrollment Planning and Management Paula Luff, will match dollars raised from EPM employees, up to $500, to the Jack Beyerl Student Emergency Aid Fund.
Completed
Success!
Miller College Executive Advisory Board Challenge
If 100% of the Miller College Executive Advisory Board members give on One Ball State Day, it will unlock a $1000 challenge from Larry Metzing (1970) and Dick Poppa (1974) to the MCOB General Fund.
Completed
$500
175 Gifts for Miller College of Business
If Miller College receives 175 gifts, it will unlock $500 from Michael Earley, ’78, to the SOAR Fund.
175 / 175 Gifts
Completed
Success!
First Student, Employee, Parent, and Alumni Challenge
First Alumni: Bill Jenkins, Theatre & Dance First Employee: Debra Roberts, Teachers College First Parent: Scott Fuller, Gymnastics First Student: Jayden Gillam, Christian Student Foundation
Completed
Leaderboard
Brunch Leaderboard
The five areas that raise the most money from 10 a.m. - Noon each receive $1,000 in challenge funds.
Rank Prize Department Raised
1 $1,000 Theatre & Dance $9,882.80
2 $1,000 Football $8,032.54
3 $1,000 Indiana Academy $6,463.36
4 $1,000 Men's Golf $4,685.00
5 $1,000 Men's Tennis $4,360.00
Ended
Leaderboard
Evening Donor Leaderboard
The five areas with the most donors between 8-10 p.m. will each receive $1,000 in challenge dollars.
Rank Prize Unit Raised
1 $1,000 Indiana Academy $8,142.54
2 $1,000 Cardinal Excellence Fund $7,140.00
3 $1,000 Theatre & Dance $6,951.80
4 $1,000 Honors College $6,129.18
5 $1,000 Department of Architecture $6,025.00
Ended
Leaderboard
College Gift Leaderboard
The three colleges with the biggest percentage of increased gifts from OBSD 2023 will receive $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000.
Rank Prize College % +/- Goal
1 $3,000 Honors College +80.72% 150
goal: 83
2 $2,000 Miller College of Business +69.78% 472
goal: 278
3 $1,000 College of Health +32.86% 469
goal: 353
4 Teachers College +30.59% 397
goal: 304
5 College of Sciences and Humanities -8.30% 619
goal: 675
Ended
Leaderboard
Donor Leaderboard
The five units with the most donors by midnight will each receive $1,000
Rank Prize Unit Donors
1 $1,000 Theatre & Dance 456
2 $1,000 Indiana Academy 325
3 $1,000 Football 273
4 $1,000 Communication Studies 199
5 $1,000 Soccer 163
Ended
Success!
Mentor Social Media Challenge
It’s all about who you know, and who you help! Share a story about an impactful Ball State mentor or mentee experience to X (Twitter). One participant will get to donate $500 to their favorite area. Stamp your post with #OneBallState and tag @BSUFoundation or @BallStateAlumni ❤️
Completed
Success!
1,918th Donor
The 1,918th donor will win an additional $500 to designate to the area they gave to.
Completed
Success!
LinkedIn Social Challenge
Share a One Ball State Day post on LinkedIn on April 3rd for a chance to designate $1,000 to your favorite Ball State area! Use #OneBallState and tag the Ball State Foundation!
Completed
Success!
Top 100 Student Challenges
The top two students from the Top 100 Student Awards designate $1,000 to the fund of their choice.
Completed
Success!
Foundation Employee Giving Challenge
100% participation of Foundation employees unlocks $500 from Foundation and BSUAA President Jean Crosby.
Completed
$5,000
Moving the Median Challenge
If 75 people give $100 or more to Miller College, it will unlock a $5,000 from Stefan Anderson HHD ‘93 to the Miller Leadership Academy Support Fund.
75 / 75 Donors
Completed
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Or you can contact us at oneballstateday@bsu.edu.