November 2020 News
Indiana Academy Spring 2021 Calendar Update
Friday, November 6, 2020
November 6, 2020
Dear Indiana Academy Community,
Indiana Academy students, faculty, and staff have taken great care in following physical distancing guidelines, wearing masks, and taking appropriate steps to reduce the risk of COVID-19. These efforts and efficient contact tracing have allowed us to keep the residence hall open and many classes in-person throughout the fall semester. As we approach the end of the fall semester, we are officially making a change to the Spring 2021 calendar to help ensure the safety of all.
The spring semester start date of Monday, January 4th remains unchanged, but all Indiana Academy classes will be virtual for the first two weeks. Residential students will move into the residence hall on Sunday, January 17th. The holidays are a time of increased travel and family gatherings. With rising COVID-19 cases in Indiana, and across the nation, returning students to the residence hall immediately following the winter break increases the risk of COVID-19 spread. Before returning to the residence hall on January 17th, all students will be asked to quarantine for 14 days and complete a self-certification form, similar to the form completed in early August.
The extended breaks, including Spring Break, will remain in place as previously scheduled on the website calendar. Students will be asked to follow appropriate safety guidelines to return to the residence hall following each extended break. This is intended to decrease the risk of COVID-19 spread and keep the residence hall a safe place for all students.
I understand you may have several questions. In the coming days, additional information will come from Dr. Jeff Smith, Director of Academic Affairs, and Mr. Paul Douglas, Director of Residential Affairs.
I thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate and adapt to changing COVID-19 conditions.
Sincerely,
Dain Kavars
He/Him/His (What is This?)
Interim Executive Director
Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities
Ball State University
Muncie, IN 47306
765-285-8126
Academy Alum Receives Distinguished Fellowship
Monday, October 12, 2020
Indiana Academy alum Stephen Taller (2009) has received the prestigious Weinberg Fellowship at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The highly competitive Weinberg Fellowship honors Dr. Alvin M. Weinberg, who was the longest serving director at ORNL from 1955 to 1973. The fellowship to cultivate future scientific leaders is awarded to new and leading young scientists and engineers at ORNL with interests in energy and energy-related science and technology challenges.
2021 National Merit Semifinalists
Thursday, September 10, 2020
Congratulations to the following seniors who have been named Semifinalists in the 2021 National Merit Scholarship competition:
Keeran Abraham
Bryce Berger
Etoile Boots
Duncan Hollandbeck
Zahra Nasir
Robert Sammelson
Shivali Singireddy
Procedures: Office of Mental Health and Support Services 2020
Tuesday, August 11, 2020
From the Office of Mental Health and Support Services
The Office of Mental Health and Support Services (OMHSS) strives to provide students with the support and resources in order to help them achieve their personal and academic goals while at the Indiana Academy. Counseling services are provided by Dr. Mindy Wallpe and graduate students form the School and Counseling Doctoral programs at BSU. They include Steven Scally, M.A., Tauralee Tenn, M.A., Emily Boswell Strain, M.A., LMHCA, Kalyn Gebhardt, M.A., and Lizi Zhong, M.Ed., M.A. and are under the direct supervision of Dr. Wallpe.
We encourage you to reach out to our office for support regarding any mental health difficulty, stressor, and/or life challenge. We want to be both a support and resource to you during your time at the Indiana Academy. We are available Monday-Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Given the guidelines in place from Ball State University and the Indiana Academy regarding COVID-19, counseling sessions will be done via teletherapy (online through WebEx) and not face to face. If you want to schedule an appointment with a counselor, please email Dr. Mindy at mcwallpe or call 765-285-5483.
What to expect once scheduled:
Once you are assigned a counselor you will be sent an email that has your counselors contact information, the date, time, and location for the appointment. You will be given an office room number in Elliott Hall basement and let into that office for privacy for your session. A link for your private teletherapy counseling appointment will be included.
Guidelines for session:
You will need to bring your laptop/tablet/phone and headphones/earbuds for your session. You will log on to the session in the privacy of the office and the counselor will return to their office and log on to begin the session.
Your video must remain on and showing your face during your session. Make sure you have the power cord for your phone/computer/tablet. At the end of the session the therapist will schedule you for your next session and send an email with the link that will be needed. The therapist will return to the office and sanitize the space.
For unscheduled appointments:
We are limiting in person contact, so if you need to talk to a counselor but do not have an appointment and you are not having thoughts of suicide, harming self, or others, please call Dr. Mindy at 765-285-5483 to address your current need over the phone.
If you are having thoughts of suicide, harming self, or others and unable to talk on the phone because of current distress, please walk down to Dr. Mindy’s office immediately and knock on the office door (WA160C located in guidance suite).
To utilize services in the OMHSS the consent to treatment must be on file. This includes the OMHSS Informed Consent 2020 and the Telehealth Indiana Academy Informed Consent 2020 forms. The forms were included in your registration materials. The form is attached if it has not been completed.
If you have been in counseling and are interested in utilizing services at the Academy please work with your current provider and sign a release of information so we can coordinate care.
If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to ask.
Interim Residential and Student Affairs COVID-19 Policies and Procedures
Monday, August 10, 2020
Academy Students and Families:
In our preparations for a safe return to campus, we have been required to make a number of interim changes to policies and procedures for students living in or entering Wagoner Hall. Please review the document linked below for some updates on what life in Wagoner Hall will look like to begin the 2020 Fall Semester. As we continue to navigate the challenges of 2020, we will keep you posted and regularly update this document. The latest version will always be available at https://academy.bsu.edu/covid19/.
Thanks,
Paul Douglas
Director of Residential and Student Affairs
Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities
Office: 765-285-8127
Front Desk: 765-285-8125
Fax: 765-285-2778
Download Interim Residential and Student Affairs COVID-19 Policies and Procedures Document Revised 8-10-20
COVID-19 Information for Students
Wednesday, August 5, 2020
Dear Indiana Academy Students and Families,
Please see the attached flier from our nursing staff regarding information and procedures related to COVID-19.
Thanks,
Paul Douglas
Director of Residential and Student Affairs
Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities
Office: 765-285-8127
Front Desk: 765-285-8125
Fax: 765-285-2778
Important Self-Certification Requirement for Indiana Academy Students
Thursday, July 30, 2020
Dear Indiana Academy Students and Families,
On Monday of this week, President Mearns made an update about the University’s plan regarding COVID-19 procedures and safe return to campus. These plans include self-screening requirements for students moving in to University housing for the Fall 2020 semester. This is one more measure the University and the Indiana Academy has put in place in response to the pandemic in preparation to safely resume on-campus living this Fall. Below you will find instructions on how to comply with the University’s requirements for a smooth transition to living on campus.
PLEASE NOTE: You need to select and complete only one of the two options listed below:
Option A
You may submit a COVID-19 self-certification prior to arriving on campus. Access this through the Following Qualtrics link.
We must receive your self-certification prior to you moving in to the residence hall.
OR
Option B
You may also present a negative COVID-19 test obtained within seven days prior to arriving on campus. Your negative test results may be submitted via email to our school nurse Tina Brinkman at cbrinkma. We must receive your negative results prior to checking-in to the residence hall. We also strongly encourage you to bring a hard copy or electronic copy of your negative test when you check-in.
Stay home if you’re sick
As a reminder, if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or you have been exposed to a positive case of COVID-19 you should not drop off your belongings, move in to the residence hall, or return to campus until you have a negative test or meet the 14-day quarantine requirement.
We encourage you to begin planning now for your return to the residence halls. We have adopted several safety measures, and this is one more. We look forward to your cooperation with these requirements and your return to campus.
If you have additional questions please reach out and we will do our best to answer your questions or guide them to those who can.
Sincerely,
Paul Douglas
Director of Residential and Student Affairs
Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities
Office: 765-285-8127
Front Desk: 765-285-8125
Fax: 765-285-2778
Indiana Academy Return to School Plan Updates
Thursday, July 30, 2020
Dear Indiana Academy Parents, Students, Faculty, and Staff,
The Indiana Academy and Ball State University care greatly about the well-being of all students, faculty, staff, and visitors. As we prepare to open the school, the safety of all in the Indiana Academy community is the guiding factor in our return-to-school plan. We are following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), and Ball State University. All of the safety protocols in place are based on science, and many of the safety protocols in place exceed the minimum standards set by the CDC, AAP, and IDOE.
On Tuesday, July 28, 2020, Ball State University Facilities and Management officials completed a thorough walk-through of Burris, where all Indiana Academy classes are held. They did an in-depth review to determine the maximum student capacity in each room to follow all CDC recommended physical distancing guidelines. This review determined that most Indiana Academy classrooms will have a maximum of 12-14 students. We have one larger classroom that can hold 16 students and three other classrooms that will have maximum class sizes below 12 students. Reducing the maximum class size in all classrooms will ensure that every student can physically distance in all directions.
The Indiana Academy is also taking the following steps, in addition to the steps outlined in the previously released return to school plan.
- We have reduced the number of 8 AM classes to reduce foot traffic when the school day is starting for the Indiana Academy and Burris.
- All class times will be shifted by five minutes so that Burris classes and Indiana Academy classes are not transitioning at the same time. For example, a 10 AM Indiana Academy class will start at 9:55 AM and end five minutes early. This will reduce the number of students in the hallways at any given time.
- We have shifted some classes to the late afternoon and early evening to decrease traffic flow in Burris.
- Masks are required for all students and teachers in all classes, hallways, and common areas.
- Disinfectant sprays will be in every classroom, and table/desk surfaces will be cleaned before the start of each class.
- All faculty will have the option of a hybrid model for their classes. The details will vary by class, but some classes will be taught entirely in-person, with some classes having approximately one day per week shifted to a virtual environment.
- UV light cleaning devices will be used nightly in all classrooms.
- Online learning options are available to students. For more information, please see the appropriate contact person below.
- All students, faculty, and staff must complete a COVID-19 self-certification form before returning to campus. More information on completing this online form for students and parents will come out later today.
- Faculty and staff with health concerns may work with Ball State University Human Resources who will in turn work with the Indiana Academy on appropriate accommodations.
- Students and families with health concerns should contact the school nurse. All faculty and staff at the Indiana Academy will be trained on identifying COVID-19 symptoms and procedures to follow to minimize the risk of transmission.
We appreciate your patience in this continuously evolving situation. If you have questions, please contact:
- Academics and Online Learning Options – Jeff Smith, Director of Academic Affairs – jsmith4
- IEP and 504 Plans – Dain Kavars, Interim Executive Director – dwkavars
- Student Life – Paul Douglas, Director of Residential and Student Affairs – pcdouglas and Bridger Fetters, Associate Director of Residential and Student Affairs – blfetters
- Athletics – Chad Wlodarek, Athletic Director – crwlodarek
- Financial Aid and Billing – Cary Witter, Budget and Administrative Coordinator – carywitter
- Any other questions? Please contact Dain Kavas, Interim Executive Director – dwkavars
As a reminder, we also continue to post updates regarding our response to the COVID-19 pandemic on our website at academy.bsu.edu/covid19.
I hope you continue to have a safe and enjoyable summer, and we look forward to seeing you in August!
Dain Kavars
He/Him/His (What is This?)
Interim Executive Director
Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities
Ball State University
Muncie, IN 47306
765-285-8126
Indiana Academy Return to School Update
Monday, July 27, 2020
Dear Indiana Academy Parents, Students, Faculty, and Staff,
As you know, information about COVID-19 and related issues is continuously evolving. This is a short update that we are collecting more information about current enrollment numbers and doing a walk-through of classrooms to determine capacity in conjunction with physical distancing requirements. That information will further inform our return-to-school planning. More definitive information/guidance will come by Thursday, if not sooner. Indiana Academy and Ball State administrators are working on addressing many of your questions. Please be assured that we have the best interest of our students, families, faculty, and staff at the center of our decision-making process.
Dain Kavars
Interim Executive Director
National Beta Competition Results
Monday, July 20, 2020
This summer, the National Beta Convention was moved online to provide students with the opportunity to compete virtually. When a student places in the top 3 in the State Convention, the representing school has the chance to participate in the same category at the National Convention. The Indiana Academy placed nine times in the State Convention meaning that we had nine opportunities to compete. Students had a twenty-five day window in June to submit their work for the National Convention, and the top ten participants in each category were recognized for their efforts.
The following students placed in the top ten for their respective competitions:
Lucy Cochard – 2nd Place 12th Grade Language Arts Testing
Andrew Pilat – 4th Place 11th Grade Science Testing
Shelby Schipper – 6th Place Onsite Painting Division II*
Izzy Wade – 9th Place Creative Writing Division II
*Division II means that the competition is completed by both juniors and seniors.
Congratulations to Izzy, Shelby, Andrew, and Lucy for their accomplishments!