Ball State University Board of Trustees Advances Village Site 2, Highlights Muncie Community Schools Progress

Topics: Board of Trustees, Capital Campaign, Muncie, President, Village Revitalization

September 25, 2026

The Ball State University Board of Trustees on Friday advanced the fifth and final component of the University's Village Revitalization Plan, authorizing President Geoffrey S. Mearns to execute a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with TRG Development for a new mixed-use development at Site 2.

The Board also received its annual update on Ball State's historic partnership with Muncie Community Schools (MCS), including continued gains in third-grade reading proficiency and a Muncie Central High School graduation rate that now exceeds the statewide average.

"The progress we continue to see in The Village and at Muncie Community Schools reflects Ball State's deep commitment to our community," said Brian Gallagher, chair of Ball State's Board of Trustees. "These are long-term investments in the vitality of Muncie and in the people who live, learn, and work here. I am grateful to the many University and community partners whose leadership and collaboration continue to move this important work forward."

Site 2, located at the southeast corner of McKinley and University Avenues, is planned as a mixed-use development featuring an expanded Ball State University bookstore on the ground floor and approximately 120 apartments on the upper floors. The residential component is intended to provide attractive housing options for professionals in the Muncie community, including employees of Ball State and nearby IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital.

Ball State selected The Ridge Group, doing business as TRG Development, following a request for proposals issued earlier this year. Under the MOU authorized Friday, the developer will prepare a final financing plan and development plan for University approval before Ball State executes a ground lease for the project.

The Site 2 agreement is the latest milestone in the broader Village Revitalization Plan. On Thursday, Ball State celebrated the opening of the new Center for Innovation and Collaboration at Site 3. The Performing Arts Center at Site 1 is expected to celebrate its grand opening in December, while The Cantio Hotel, also part of Site 1, is expected to open early next year. Construction also is underway on Village Green at Site 4, a new public gathering space in the heart of The Village, and Village South at Site 5, a residential neighborhood that includes 25 owner-occupied townhomes and single-family homes.

The Board also heard from MCS leaders about continued academic progress across the district.

On Indiana's IREAD-3 assessment, which measures third-grade reading proficiency, MCS students achieved an 86 percent passing rate in 2026, up from 65 percent in 2022. For the first time during the Ball State-MCS partnership, every MCS elementary school recorded a passing rate above 80 percent.

Muncie Central High School also expects to have a 94.5 percent graduation rate when figures become certified-that's an increase from 81 percent in 2023 and three percentage points higher than last year's statewide average. Muncie Central students also earned 4,791 college credits during the 2025-26 academic year, saving families more than $814,000 in tuition costs, while 48 students earned associate degrees.

President Mearns also recently reappointed Dr. Kathleen Washburn and WaTasha Barnes-Griffin to the seven-member MCS Board of Trustees. Dr. Washburn was selected from nominees submitted by the mayor of Muncie, while Ms. Barnes-Griffin was selected from nominees submitted by the Muncie City Council. Under the partnership's governance structure, President Mearns appoints those two members, while the Ball State Board of Trustees appoints the other five upon his recommendation.

"I am grateful for the continued progress we are making through these important partnerships," President Mearns said. "The transformation of The Village reflects the vision and hard work of colleagues across our University and of many partners throughout our community. And the outstanding student outcomes at Muncie Community Schools reflect the leadership of the MCS Board and administration and, especially, the dedication of the teachers and staff who serve our children every day."

Both initiatives advance a central commitment in Ball State's strategic plan, Destination 2040: Our Flight Path: to mobilize and lead partnerships that strengthen Muncie and the surrounding region. The plan specifically calls for continued collaboration with MCS to improve student outcomes and for the revitalization of The Village to enhance quality of place.

"Our University has a responsibility to use our people, our resources, and our partnerships to enhance the vitality of the community we call home," President Mearns said. "I am proud of what we have accomplished together in The Village and in Muncie Community Schools, and I look forward to the continued progress these partnerships will make possible for our students, our friends and neighbors, and our community."