Purpose and Rationale
Ball State’s Teachers College is extremely proud of its work to advance economic and civic education in our local communities, Indiana, and throughout our nation.
If education is a process where a society passes on the knowledge, values, and skills from one generation to another, learning is the lifelong process of transforming information and experience into knowledge, skills, and behaviors.
Mission: The Center for Economic and Civic Learning strives to innovate and improve economic and civic learning throughout local communities and our country. To improve the economic and civic life of our citizenry. To cultivate a lifelong process of transforming economic and civic information and experience into knowledge, skills, and behaviors.
Vision: To build meaningful lasting relationships and opportunities for learning that advance democracy, economic vitality and the public good.
Values: The Center for Economic and Civic Learning values:
Inclusion: Respect for different perspectives and people from different backgrounds.
Knowledge: An emphasis on research and scholarship.
Connections: A desire to build working relationships with partners in our community and throughout our country.
Leadership: The Center for Economic and Civic Learning is situated under the Office of the Dean for Teachers College at Ball State University.
Purpose: The Center for Economic and Civic Learning will advance Ball State’s mission engage students in educational, research, and creative endeavors that empowering graduates to have fulfilling careers and meaningful lives.
University Relations and Commitment: The Center for Economic and Civic Learning is interdisciplinary in nature. CECL enhances connections across campus.
Research and Scholarship: CECL has a strong focus on interdisciplinary and research and scholarship.
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
The Center for Economic and Civic Learning is aligned with Ball State University’s commitment to equity, inclusiveness, and positive community outcomes.
I. Collaboration & Connections
Goal: Build a community across Ball State, Indiana, and our nation that recognizes, supports, and fosters economic and civic learning.
Objective and Strategies
1. Develop relationships with potential collaborators inside and outside the University.
2. Create a peer network to share of knowledge, strategies, and resources that advance economic and civic learning.
3. Work to understand the economic and civic needs of our community, State and nation and develop new projects and activities to effectively address these needs.
4. Play an active role in national organizations that represent and support economic and civic learning.
II. Innovation & Leadership
Goal: Become an active and productive center for research and projects that advance economic and civic learning.
Objective and Strategies
1. Develop a list of faculty expertise in both economic and civic learning that relate to areas of interest and potential future areas of interest for funding and project proposals.
2. Integrate faculty skills and foster cross-disciplinary expertise in economic and civic learning.
3. Build the capacity for CECL to serve as a leading expert in state and national research on economic and civic learning.
4. Provide leadership for schools and universities to enhance economic and civic learning.
III. Reputation & Recognition
Goal: Achieve national recognition as a source of innovation in economic and civic learning.
Objective and Strategies
1. Disseminate CECL research and news through publications and reports.
2. Develop a comprehensive website and other systems for sharing CECL related activities.
3. Disseminate information about CECL’s projects and research capabilities to faculty and other partners.
4. Support conferences and events that further CECL’s mission.