This creative project has analyzed the feasibility of project #35 of the Delaware County Long Range Plan. This analysis was accomplished by determining if present capacity is adequate to accommodate traffic volumes projected using current data. Once this relationship was determined, alternatives were developed that would aid in maximizing the efficiency of traffic movement in the corridor. Eventually it was concluded that the project should be undertaken with some minor additions. / Department of Urban Planning

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Muncie's city center was the core of urban life. It was similar to many industrial cities of the late 1800s, where the central business district was the hub of activities. The urban fabric in Muncie has changed significantly over the years, making it a city with very little activity in the city center. Downtown revitalization has therefore been an important task for civic leaders in the city. There are various revitalization strategies that aid in city center revival. Some have been classified as incremental, while some as catalysts. The first approach seeks to revitalize a city center using programs that show results over a period of time. The second approach depends on the successful development of a large project like a shopping mall, convention center or a hotel that brings back life in the city center. The goal of this study is to prove the effectiveness of colleges and universities as catalysts in downtown revitalization. Researched material suggests that various communities across the United States are harnessing the resources and forming partnerships with their host universities in order to aid in downtown revitalization efforts. Traditionally, universities and colleges in the United States developed away from the city center, but physically shifting downtown has proven effective in reviving the deteriorating condition of economically deprived communities. The proposed Integration Plan is aimed at guiding as well as providing ideas to further enhance the downtown revitalization process in the City of Muncie. / Department of Urban Planning

This study has presented a comprehensive narrative and overview of the nature of and changes in civic engagement in the city of Muncie over the last 75 years. The evidence suggests that the people of Muncie today are just as involved with their community and with their fellow Munsonians as they were in the 1920s and 1930s. However, the expression of this engagement has changed in the intervening years as people have moved away from direct participation in voluntary societies and clubs such as the Elks and Masons and toward indirect participation in professionally run organizations such as the United Way and various sports leagues. Participation in the past meant attending weekly meetings and taking part in elected leadership of these groups while today's participation usually takes the form of one-time donations to and attendance at events hosted by, professionally managed organizations. / Department of Political Science

The objective of the study is to propose a strategy to revitalize Muncie's downtown through cultural tourism. This is seen as a critical catalyst to help preserve the historical fabric of the downtown.Muncie's downtown, with its historical and cultural assets, has an opportunity to attract the tourism, convention, and conference business which in turn can support hotels, restaurants, specialty shops, and entertainment establishments.In view of above, this creative project attempts to revitalize downtown through linking and promoting cultural tourism facilities like museums, theaters and festivals, convention and conference centers, and specialty shops.A transport loop connecting the tourist anchors like Ball State University, Minnitrista Cultural Center, and downtown of has been proposed. The tourist routes in Muncie and to East Central Indiana have been identified to enable the visitors to visit tourist destinations easily. Signage, and banners have been proposed along major routes to give proper orientation to visitors and also to enhance the image of Muncie.A strategy has been outlined for the preservation historical buildings through adaptive reuse. All these proposals have been incorporated as an urban design strategy. / Department of Architecture

This creative project has determined that community gardening is a vehicle for building community. The benefits for community gardens are observed by the individuals that garden, the neighborhoods that support community gardening, as well as, the cities in which these gardens flourish. This research aided the Blaine Southeast Neighborhood Association in developing and evaluating a new community gardening program designed for the Blaine Southeast Neighborhood and Muncie, Indiana. The literature review discusses the history and the benefits of community gardening which builds a strong case for groups interested in beginning a community gardening program. The guidelines developed for this research provide the framework for developing a successful community gardening program. The programs then use the criteria set forth in this research to evaluate the success the program is experiencing at reaching the goals of the program. Community Gardening is an appropriate activity for most urban communities that are experiencing a decline in the quality of their neighborhoods. This research supports this statement and demonstrates how to form a community garden successfully. / Department of Urban Planning

The purpose of this research was to describe how eight selected women administrators employed in student affairs at Ball State University utilized five leadership practices of challenging the process, inspiring a shared vision, enabling others to act, modeling the way, and encouraging the heart. There is an abundance of research on leadership, however very few studies have identified the leadership actions of women in student affairs administration in higher education.A case study methodology was used for this current research. Eight informants were purposively selected from a population of 26 women administrators employed in student affairs at Ball State University. Three interviews were conducted with each of the eight informants. Retrospective, structured, and semi-structured interviews, as described by Fraenkel and Wallen (1996) were utilized. There was not an available interview guide for use in this study, therefore one was constructed.Four conclusions were drawn from the results of this study. These included the following:1. There were a number of themes found that indicated these eight informants are relational leaders.2. The evidence collected suggested that leadership is situational, contextual, and influenced by the people involved.3. Experience was identified most often as a way these eight informants tested their own leadership skills, the skills of others, and helped others learn leadership skills.4. Learning from mentors was an important way these informants developed their leadership skills.Results of this study were not generalized beyond these eight informants. However, this study contributed new information to the field of leadership studies by describing the leadership practices of eight women administrators employed in student affairs. This study provided insights on the actions and behaviors that these informants used when exercising leadership. / Department of Educational Leadership

This study examined gender differences in vote choice, made consequential by the recent emergence of a gender gap in support for Republican candidates. Explanations of the gender gap have included the following: 1)Self-interest explanations emphasizing women's greater dependence on social services and women's support of women's issues. 2)Socialization explanations emphasizing women's more pacifist attitudes.Data for the study came from a random sample of "Middletown." Variables in the analysis included Feminism, Social Traditionalism, the Ethic of Care, support for Child Care and support for Dukakis. In order to explore gender differences in voting behavior, analyses for vote choice were done for women and men, seperately. Path analyses of women's and men's support for Social Traditionalism, child care, and Dukakis are presented in the paper. / Department of Sociology

Training staff to better meet the needs of a diverse study body is an important component of housing and residence life programs. This study at Ball State University identified the role and effectiveness of the Multicultural Advisor Program and provides suggestions on how to improve. Six focus groups allowed the researcher to explore the Multicultural Advisor Program from Resident Assistants, Multicultural Advisors, Hall Directors, and students perspectives during fall 2003 semester. / Department of Educational Leadership

This study analyzes the first year of a planned five-year implementation of Millennium Place, a HOPE VI-funded project located in Muncie, IN, focusing on those implementing it. To determine what was important in the work of those implementing it, a series of interviews were conducted with key personnel from the various agencies that collaborated in implementation. Although the participants were asked a variety of questions about their work, the interviews focused on what they found to be the biggest challenges in their work. The interviews were transcribed and methodically analyzed, and a series of reoccurring themes emerged, with the issue of control being the most prominent. Recommendations based on the findings were then developed, both for implementation as well as for possibilities for further study regarding the HOPE VI program as a whole. / Department of Urban Planning

This study has examined opportunities for reclaiming industrial brownfield sites for the communities that surround them, recreating derelict sites as community-oriented spaces that increase understanding of and restore pride in industrial and cultural heritage.The study consisted of two primary components. The first phase consists primarily of an exploration of the linkages between landscape/urban design and industrial heritage. This phase also examines and evaluates various design projects that have attempted to celebrate industrial heritage through the adaptive re-use of former industrial sites. The second phase of the study consists of the development of a master plan for the transformation of a derelict industrial site to a community space that interprets and celebrates industrial heritage. This phase includes researching the industrial heritage of Muncie, selecting an appropriate project site within the city, and developing a master plan for the reclamation of an industrial site by the community.A layered design strategy was developed for the selected site, with the end result being a master plan for a new public park. The three elements of the design strategy included industrial heritage, adaptive reuse, and improvements in the surrounding community. / Department of Landscape Architecture