Students needing to self-report their status related to COVID-19, please follow the steps below:

  • Students instructed to quarantine by someone other than Ball State Contact Tracers or the Student Health Center, should complete the Student Quarantine Self-Report to notify the University of your status.
  • Students who received positive test results from any provider other than the University's Student Health Center or IU Health must self-report that they have tested positive through the Ball State COVID-19 self-reporting form.

Quarantine and isolation on or off Ball State's campus requires strict adherence to guidelines established by the University and the CDC. Find answers to frequently asked questions about the quarantine and isolation process for students below.

COVID-19 is a contagious respiratory illness caused by a new coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. People with COVID-19 sometimes have a cough, fever, feel like it’s hard to breathe, or even lose their sense of taste or smell. Other symptoms include congestion or runny nose, diarrhea, headache, nausea or vomiting, muscle pain or fatigue, sore throat or chills. Symptoms range from mild to severe and may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure.

Isolation is used to separate people infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, from people who are not infected.

People who are in isolation should stay home until it’s safe for them to be around others. In the home, anyone sick or infected should separate themselves from others by staying in a specific “sick room” or area and using a separate bathroom (if available).

  • People who have COVID-19
  • People who have symptoms of COVID-19 and do not need hospital care
  • People who have no symptoms (are asymptomatic) but have tested positive for infection with SARS-CoV-2

People who test positive and are directed to isolate must stay home except to get medical care.

When in isolation:

  • Monitor your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign (including trouble breathing), seek emergency medical care immediately.
  • Stay in a separate room from other household members, if possible.
  • Use a separate bathroom, if possible.
  • Avoid contact with other members of the household and pets.
  • Don’t share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils.
  • Wear a mask when around other people, if you are able to.

Quarantine is used to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others. Quarantine helps prevent spread of disease that can occur before a person knows if they are sick or if they are infected with the virus without feeling symptoms. People in quarantine should stay home, separate themselves from others, monitor their health, and follow directions from their state or local health department.

People who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 — excluding people who have had COVID-19 within the past three months.

  • Stay home for 14 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19 or from the time you were notified that you are a close contact.
  • Watch for fever (100.4◦F), cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19.
  • If possible, stay away from others, especially people who are at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19.
  • You were within six feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more.
  • You provided care at home to someone who has COVID-19.
  • You had direct physical contact with someone who has COVID-19 (hugged or kissed them).
  • You shared eating or drinking utensils with someone who has COVID-19.
  • Someone with COVID-19 sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on you.

Students who are directed to isolate or quarantine, may do so at their permanent resident (home), if feasible. Some factors to consider include whether your permanent resident includes people at higher risk for severe illness, your ability to isolate or quarantine without exposing others, and access to reliable WiFi to be able to complete your coursework.

Students living in the residence hall must inform their hall director. To contact the hall director, students should call their residence hall front desk. This will begin the process to move you to quarantine or isolation temporary housing.

It is likely that your residence hall director will be the one directing you to quarantine if you are identified as a close contact through the contact tracing process. If this is the case, you will also be contacted by the Ball State contact tracers.

You should isolate or quarantine at your current residence and follow CDC guidance for quarantine and isolation. You may also choose to return to your permanent residence, if appropriate.

Students are advised to have a quarantine bag which includes:

  • toiletries, eyewear and medications (prescription and non-prescription)
  • thermometer
  • laptop
  • text books
  • pillow & blanket
  • sufficient clothing to last 2 weeks
  • electronics and chargers
  • any items for entertainment
  • anything that will make your stay more comfortable
  • snacks that you like

Close contacts are required to quarantine for 14 days from the time of exposure to positive person. If that information is unknown. You must quarantine for 14 days from the time you received notice that you are a close contact. You may also consult CDC guidance on quarantine for specific scenarios to determine when you can end quarantine.

The health care provider who ordered your test should inform you of how long to isolate. If you did not receive that information with your positive results, please follow-up with the health care provider. You may also consult CDC guidance for more information on isolation.

Faculty will receive a notice from the Dean of Students that you will be out for an extended period of time. Faculty will not be informed of the exact date of your return or why you are out. The notice to faculty will also include that you will communicate with them to request course accommodations during the period you are away from campus and class.

Students enrolled in online courses are expected to participate in their courses.

Yes, you are expected to complete coursework as determined by the instructor during quarantine or isolation. Students are responsible for maintaining communication with faculty.

If you are too sick (symptomatic) to complete your coursework as expected, please communicate with your faculty.

If you are having difficulty or experiencing obstacles, you may contact the Office of the Dean of Students at dos@bsu.edu or call 765-285-1545 during business hours.

Students in quarantine or isolation may use the Virtual Screening Clinic that is available through the IU Health Virtual Visits app. Download the Indiana University Health Virtual Visits app (in the App Store or Google Play store) or enroll on your computer.

You will need to enroll using the “sign up” option and complete your personal profile. If you have private insurance, please include your insurance information when you enroll. You must use your current address, and personal cell phone number when enrolling in the app. You are encouraged to use a non BSU email address that you check on a regular basis.

If you are in quarantine or isolation housing, use your residence hall address and NOT your quarantine housing address.

Most roommates may meet the criteria of a close contact; being less than 6ft from an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 for 15 minutes or more. Close contacts of positive cases must quarantine for 14 days and monitor for symptoms.

You may also consult CDC guidance on quarantine for specific scenarios to determine when you can end quarantine.

If you live in the residence hall or University Apartments, you must immediately notify the hall staff.

Yes. If you are symptomatic and awaiting a test you must quarantine pending the results of your test.

If you live in the residence hall, please notify your hall director so you can be moved to quarantine housing pending the results of their test. 

Yes. Close contacts who are directed to mandated quarantine must remain quarantined for 14 days even if a COVID-19 test comes back negative.

Yes, you should quarantine and so should your roommate while they await their test. Most roommates would meet the criteria of a close contact; being less than 6ft from an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 for 15 minutes or more. Close contacts of positive cases must quarantine for 14 days and monitor for symptoms.

Students instructed to quarantine by someone other than Ball State contract tracing or the Student Health Center should complete the Student Quarantine Self-Report to notify the Office of the Dean of Students of your status. The Dean of Students staff will assist with faculty notification, which will also be sent to the student. 

Yes. A symptomatic person who is awaiting a test or test results should quarantine pending the test results.

Yes. Students in quarantine may leave to get tested for COVID-19 if a health care provider has recommended you are tested.

You are permitted to accept contactless deliveries only. However, you should be clear with the delivery person that it must be contactless. Wear a mask and maintain a six-foot distance. All care should be taken to not expose someone else to the virus.

No. While in quarantine you must separate yourself from others. However, you may step outside to get fresh air for a brief time, wear a mask and ensure you are more than six feet from anyone else. You may also stay connected to your friends and family by phone, video chat, etc.

No. Students in quarantine and isolation are not permitted to have visitors or guests.

A Cardinal Navigator is a student who volunteers to be a peer support and resource for students in quarantine. A Navigator is made available to students in quarantine to provide virtual assistance via phone video chat. They will check-in with students regularly, respond to questions, and help connect them to campus resources to support their academic progress while in quarantine. Students in quarantine will have the option to have a Navigator assigned to them.

Residence Hall Students Assigned to Quarantine or Isolation Housing

You should check your Ball State email regularly for communication about your quarantine or isolation status. You will receive an email the day before you are supposed to check-out with instructions of how to do so. If you are released from by a medical provider prior to your scheduled departure, you can notify the University by completing the check out form.

If you are in quarantine or isolation housing and you are leaving to quarantine or isolate at your permanent residence you should complete the Isolation/Quarantine Check Out Form. 

Residence hall students who are assigned to quarantine and isolation housing may use the Ball State shuttle to get back to campus or arrange your own transportation.

Residence hall students with a meal plan will receive an email from the Office of the Dean of Students which include directions to arrange meal delivery from Dining Services for students with a meal plan. Students should only complete this form once. Your scheduled meal deliveries will discontinue when you submit the Isolation/Quarantine Check Out Form.

Students who do not have a meal plan must arrange with friends to get meals and food. You may also use contactless food delivery options.

If you are in quarantine or isolation housing and you are leaving to quarantine or isolate at your permanent residence, You should complete the Isolation/Quarantine Check Out form.

Submit a room repair request or call University Apartment office at 765-285-5095.

For medical and other emergencies, call 911 or University Police Department at 765-285-1111. When you call, you must inform the dispatcher if you have tested positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19.