Ball State Board of Trustees Extends President Mearns' Employment, Awards Hugh Jackman Honorary Doctorate at Meeting
MUNCIE, Ind. (The CI) - Muncie Independent Media Service (MIMS) broadcasted the Ball State University Board of Trustees meeting live on CIMuncie.org and CI Radio on May 1, 2026 at 1 p.m.
Minutes before the meeting started, student and local activist Cooper Archer spoke with College of Communications, Information and Media (CCIM) Dean Kristen McCauliff. During the interaction, a man who claimed to be security confronted Archer.
“Are you an undercover cop?” Archer asked.
“You don’t need to worry about that,” the man said. The Muncie Independent Media Service (MIMS) is unable to confirm if this person is University employed or contracted security official, a University police officer, a Muncie police officer, or a private individual.
The bald, bearded man wore all black with no visible logo, identification or equipment.
When Archer asked for his name, he refused, stating he was “security.”
After Archer asked “Will you arrest me if I keep talking?” the man said “Now I’m just going to ask you to leave” because Archer “could not keep it down.”
Later, the man backed up and did not enforce his request.
The meeting went as follows…
APPROVED - The meeting minutes for the previous meeting on February 27, 2026 were approved unanimously.
APPROVED - A motion to approve a consent agenda was approved unanimously. The Finance, Facilities, and Planning Committee, Employee Development and Well-being Committee, the Audit and Compliance Committee and the Academic Student Affairs Committee “met to consider many items that are coming before the Board now.”
Item C1 incorporated the reports and materials from those committees “will be incorporated into the official Board record for today’s proceedings.”
Item C2 approved the consent agenda, which had “several items for approval that were reviewed, discussed and approved earlier today by a standing committee of the Board,” which came to the full Board for approval.
APPROVED - Vice President for Business Affairs and Treasurer Michael Fowler introduced a modification to VEBA Trust “to add the Ball State group health plan for active employees,” which is funded under the VEBA Trust plan. Fowler also proposed the “potential use” of the OPEB Trust “to provide funding for retiree health benefits, in addition to the life insurance benefits.” This was approved unanimously.
APPROVED - University President Geoffrey Mearns requested the reappointmnet of Muncie Community School Board members “Jim Williams and Bishop Keith O’Neal” for four-year terms. Mearns said Williams and O’Neal “demonstrated an extraordinary, outstanding commitment to the students, the teachers and staff of Muncie Community Schools.” This was approved unanimously.
At the time of publication, there is no Jim Williams on the Muncie Community Schools Board of Trustees. James Williams serves as Board President.
APPROVED - Mearns requested that, on May 2, 2026, he reward Hugh Jackman an honorary Ball State Doctorate of Arts to Hugh Jackman during commencement. Mearns said Jackman “embodies the values of Beneficence—the values that are the hallmark of our Ball State University, our distinctive culture.” This was approved unanimously.
Jackman will be speaking at commencement, according to the University.
PRESENTED - Associate Vice President of Alumni Engagement and Strategy Lola Mauer and two students presented information regarding this year’s One Ball State Day fundraiser. Mauer said this one year was “our biggest,” calling the campaign “great for our students” and “great for our University.”
APPROVED - Vice Chair Julie Griffith proposed to extend Mearns’ role as University President through June 30, 2029, amending his employment agreement to do so. While this was approved unanimously, Archer said “Nay.”
Prior to the vote, Archer asked, “Can students talk about their President being reappointed?” Board Chair Brian Gallagher said, “Please be quiet. You’re disrupting the meeting.”
ADJOURNED - The meeting was then adjourned by unanimous vote.
The next Board of Trustees meeting is currently scheduled for September 25, 2026.
A video recording from MIMS’ live broadcast is below. (If you’re on our legacy Blogger-powered website, click “Switch to New” and click the article on our new Substack site to see the video.)