Campus this Spring

Although this Spring will be different, we will continue to provide our students with the high-quality educational experiences they value at Ball State. Our faculty and students are learning partners, no matter the challenges we face.

Response Plan for Spring 2021

Adjusting Academics

We will deliver courses, through all majors and programs, ranging from on-campus interactions with modified seating, to hybrid personalized instruction with alternate activities and attendance rotations, to online courses. Your schedule may include a mix of these for the Spring semester. We are taking these measures so that you can receive the premier education you expect and deserve while we protect everyone in our campus community.

Read the Return to Campus Plan for Students (see Section IV).

More details about the academic plan for Spring 2021 will continue to be communicated, but please note the following key components:

  1. The University will continue to offer on-campus instruction consistent with prevailing guidance from federal, state, and local public officials. In addition, faculty will continue to prepare courses with sufficient flexibility and adaptability as they did for Fall 2020 to account for the unpredictability of potential issues the pandemic may cause.
  2. The Spring 2021 semester will commence on Tuesday, January 19, which is one week later than was originally planned.
  3. There will be no spring break.
  4. There will be three study days scheduled for February 24, March 23, and April 14. While classes will not be scheduled on these days, they are not University holidays and some academic activities may still be held.
  5. Finals will be May 4-7, with a commencement date of May 8.
  6. These plans are subject to modification should changes be necessary to respond to the evolving health crisis. 

Students will receive more information from their course instructors about the nature of their specific courses and expectations.  Students will continue to be expected to wear face masks during in-person class sessions, with some exceptions (See Section VI in the Return to Campus Plan for the full University Face Mask Policy).

Questions?

If you have questions or concerns about your schedule, we encourage you to consult your advisor. You can look up your advisor by following step-by-step instructions on the Academic Advising website.

Find your advisor.

Campus Activities

In addition to academics, co-curricular activities should promote a sense of belonging and social integration. Our plans will provide you with a robust array of opportunities that reflect the importance of these activities to student development.

We encourage you to meet virtually whenever possible. If you must meet in person, you should observe health and safety protocols.

Student Life Plan
Recreation Services Plan

Cardinals Care Pledge

Consistent with the Beneficence Pledge, guided by our enduring values, and grounded in more than 100 years of history, Ball State University is committed to social responsibility. We view social responsibility as our collective and individual obligation to behave and act in ways that are in the best interest of others in our communities and our society.

Take the Pledge

Residence Halls

We know how important the residential experience is to you and your success as a college student. We remain committed to doing everything we can to provide an excellent housing experience. We are making important adjustments to the residence halls to help reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. The plan was created, and is aligned with guidance from government agencies, public health officials, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

We have enhanced safety procedures, which include frequent cleaning and sanitizing. We are promoting our social responsibility to help keep each other safe by practicing good hygiene.

Housing & Residence Life Plan

Dining

We are committed to creating a safe environment for you on campus. Ball State is taking several steps to advance the health and safety of students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. We are committed to providing you with an exemplary dining experience.

Our plans align with guidance from the National Association of College & University Food Services Organization, government agencies, state and local health officials, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Dining Plan

Face Masks and Other Safety Measures

Wearing a mask demonstrates your commitment to Ball State’s enduring value of social responsibility. Social responsibility calls for us to care for ourselves and for our fellow Cardinals. Since July 1, we have required that all people on campus—including faculty, staff, students, and visitors—wear face masks inside buildings, including classrooms, with limited exceptions. In outdoor settings, we require face masks if physically distancing is difficult.

To serve our neighbors, we are working closely with community partners, including local government officials and businesses, to promote safety measures such as physical distancing and the use of face masks.

Health and Safety Resources

Testing and Tracing

Public health experts have uniformly advised that testing is a critical component of a plan to stem the spread of COVID-19. We are implementing a plan to make testing readily available to you. As a result of a service agreement with Indiana University Health, the University’s Student Health Center is equipped to provide health services, including screening and testing for COVID-19 to currently enrolled students. As part of this plan, we require anyone who tests positive to self-isolate for an appropriate period of time, and we will conduct contact tracing consistent with the procedures established by the Indiana State Department of Health.

Testing Protocols
Testing Sites

Special Committees

Members

Members

The 16 members of TRUST serve in a variety of leadership roles across all of the major divisions within the institution.

  • Seth Beckman, Dean, College of Fine Arts
  • William Betts, Director of Counseling and Health Services
  • Jackie Buckrop, Special Assistant for Academic Operations and Teaching Professor of Communication Studies, Academic Affairs
  • Jean Crosby, President, Ball State University Foundation
  • Dan Forst, Account Strategist for Client Services, Marketing and Communications
  • Beth Goetz, Director, Intercollegiate Athletics
  • Jennifer Haley, Learning Center Director, University College
  • Alan Hargrave, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Director of Housing and Residence Life
  • Julie Hopwood, Associate Vice President for Business and Auxiliary Services, Business Affairs
  • Ben Irwin, Associate General Counsel, Office of General Counsel
  • Jim Lowe, Associate Vice President for Facilities Planning and Management, Business Affairs
  • Paula Luff, Vice President, Enrollment and Planning Management
  • Todd Meister, Assistant Vice President and Chief Enterprise Architect, Information Technology
  • Sue Hodges Moore, Chief Strategy Officer (convener)
  • Ro-Anne Royer Engle, Vice President, Student Affairs
  • Suzanne Rice, Assistant Dean for Public Services, University Libraries
  • Scott Truex, Department Chair and Associate Professor of Urban Planning, R. Wayne Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning

The task force is now organized into 15 “rapid response” teams that are assessing a wide variety of issues and challenges.

While drawing on their own experiences and knowledge, the members of TRUST are also consulting with other members of the campus community, with other universities and institutions, including IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital, and with national public health authorities and experts.

Guidance and Recommendations

TRUST will provide us with specific guidance on various safety measures and precautions, including:

  • physical distancing and limits on the size of gatherings
  • extensive testing and prompt results
  • contact tracing and quarantining
  • regular cleaning and sanitizing of facilities
  • protective equipment for people and spaces
  • travel restrictions