Intellectual capital: the university role in building the economy.

• Author: Gora, Jo Ann M.
• Position: Viewpoint

THE OVERARCHING ISSUE casting a shadow across nearly every conversation about Indiana's future is the economy, and it will continue to be that way until Indiana begins to enjoy the fruits of statewide efforts to grow a more sustainable economic base. We must make Indiana a place that creates positive ripples rather than gets caught in the ripple effect of problems originating outside our state.

Toward that end, I agree with Gov. Mitch Daniels, who said during his State of the State address, "Economic recovery in Indiana will ultimately depend on the acumen, hard work and bravery of free men and women pursuing their dreams in the marketplace."

A college education is a vital part of helping Hoosiers develop the acumen or intellectual capital necessary to succeed in today's knowledge-based economy. At Ball State University, our core mission will always be to provide outstanding educational opportunities for our students. But we also play a vital role in helping the state solve its economic woes through applying research and scholarship in real-world situations.

Our outreach efforts are embodied in "Building Better Communities," an umbrella for the array of activities that extend the university beyond its traditional role to help communities across the state develop economic capacity: While the name for this initiative may be new, the concept is not--Ball State has worked in 60 Indiana counties over the past 30 years to enhance quality of life and economic vitality. However, we recently ramped up our efforts with the assistance of $2.4 million in quality-initiative funding appropriated during the last biennium, appointing a director and hiring staff, and having them initiate conversations with communities throughout Indiana to define their needs and to match those needs with Ball State expertise and resources.

In addition, a $1.5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. led to the creation of our Business Fellows program, another facet of "Building Better Communities." This year, 13 faculty-supervised student teams are engaged in...