Ball State Residents
Several practices and policies are employed at Ball State University to ensure as safe a community as possible, but the key element is student cooperation.
Students are responsible for locking their room, even if just going down the hall, during sleep, or leaving the room unattended. Exterior doors are locked at night, and doors leading to living areas are locked 24 hours a day. Residents entering and leaving halls after hours should make sure that entrances are secured and locked. Doors should not be propped open. Unauthorized entry should not be permitted. Students are not allowed to exit a residence hall through the emergency doors/fire exit except during an emergency.
Suite bathroom doors should not be tampered with in any way. For your own safety, tape or other materials may not be used to compromise bathroom door locks.
It is important that students are security conscious in the halls, on the campus, and in the community. Residents should be aware of their actions and the potential danger that could be inflicted on other persons or property. The violation of a safety policy will result in residence hall probation and/or termination of the housing contract.
Visitors or Guests
Ball State University implements several practices and policies to keep the community as safe as possible.
Guests or visitors staying on campus are responsible for locking their room including: while going down the hall, while sleeping, or when leaving the room unattended. Exterior doors of all residence halls are locked at night, and doors leading to living areas are locked 24 hours a day. Guests or visitors entering and leaving the hall after hours should make sure that entrances are secured and locked. Doors should never be propped open and unauthorized entry should not be permitted.
Exiting through emergency doors/fire exists are only permitted during an emergency.
Emergencies
9-1-1
University Police
765-285-1111
Muncie Police
765-747-4838
The University will post information and continual updates on our official emergency management Twitter account, @ballstate_alert.
This Twitter account also provides emergency updates to anyone outside of the University (i.e., parents, media).
How to Set Up Mobile Alerts for Twitter
If you would like to receive the tweets being shared during an emergency:
- Follow @ballstate_alert on Twitter.
- Click on the three dots next to the follow button or at the top right corner ("More user actions").
- Select "Turn on mobile notifications" to get instant notifications.
Emergency call boxes are in classrooms and other places around campus where it is inappropriate to place a regular telephone. The call boxes work like a telephone and dial the University Police Department once the button is pressed.
Also, call boxes will receive alerts and say them aloud during emergencies. This happens almost instantaneously across all call boxes on campus.
Press the ‘Call’ button to be connected to University Police.
Additional Safety Information
The Ball State Annual Fire and Security Reports can be found here.
Your residence hall is your home away from home, and it’s important to work with your fellow students to keep it safe.
Some suggestions:
- Carry your student ID and room key with you.
- Lock your door and take your key every time you leave your room.
- Never give your keys or your student ID to anyone, even your best friends.
- Do not prop open any doors in your residence hall complex.
- Do not let strangers into the hall or into your room.
- Report suspicious people in the hall immediately to the hall desk, any hall staff member, or to University Police.
- Escort your guests at all times.
- Know the telephone numbers for your Resident Assistant and Residential Learning Coordinator.
- Close and lock first- and second-floor windows when you leave your room.
- Do not hide door keys outside and do not loan keys to friends.
- Do not leave valuables such as your ID, wallets, music players, or cell phones for all to see.
Each residence hall has an electronic card access system that limits entry to only residents of the hall. In addition, restrooms on all female floors have ID card readers that allow only residents of that floor to enter the facilities. If you have a guest, you must accompany your guest at all times. After midnight, all guests must register at the community check station and have a photo ID.
Familiarize yourself with the Indiana Lifeline Law and Ball State’s Good Neighbor Policy. Students are always encouraged to call for emergency assistance as needed, even at the risk of disciplinary action for one’s own conduct. When another person is in need of critical care or when a situation otherwise warrants an emergency response, call 911 immediately. The Good Neighbor Exception provides students the opportunity for university disciplinary action to be waived if they risked revealing one’s own violation of the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities to seek medical or other emergency assistance for another person in distress.
Below are some important university guidelines that have been established to ensure a safe and pleasant environment for your conference or special event at Ball State University. Please share this information with your participants.
Alcohol/Drugs
In consideration for the welfare of the campus community, the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages as well as the use, possession, distribution, or sale of drugs--except when taken under a doctor's prescription--are prohibited.
Smoking
Ball State University is a smoke-free campus, creating a healthier environment for living, learning, and working. Smoking is prohibited in all university buildings and outdoor campus areas except designated locations.
Chaperones
For youth groups staying in the residence halls, the university requires the sponsoring organization to provide adult chaperones. These persons must live in the residence halls during the event and oversee the behavior of the participants. A minimum requirement is one chaperone per 50 participants.
Building Courtesy
If you are assigned meeting space in an academic building, please note that regular university classes are in session, and absolute quiet and order must be maintained when entering and leaving these buildings.
Personal Property
Ball State is not responsible for the property of guests or sponsors of conference events. The sponsoring agency and its participants are encouraged to check their insurance coverage before the event.
Personal Items Left Behind
Our only method of returning personal belongings is by Federal Express collect. Conference participants should carefully check their rooms before checking out to be sure they have all of their items.
Guest Mail
Mail is not delivered to residence halls during the summer. Conference and camp participants who wish to receive mail during their event should have it addressed to:
(Name of Event)
Conferences and Special Events
Ball State University
Muncie, IN 47306-0135
Mail received after the event is over will be returned to the sender.
Food Service
Conference staff will deliver meal cards to the conference coordinators before the event. Participants must present their meal card to be admitted to the dining room. Shoes and shirts are required at all times in the dining rooms.
Food/Beverages
Under no circumstances may food or beverages be carried into any university dining facility. All food and beverage service must be provided by Residence Halls Dining Service or University Banquet and Catering. No private group sales are permitted in any building on the campus. Exclusive contracts for food and beverage vending are negotiated by the Purchasing Office. Conference groups may NOT sell food and beverages to their participants under any circumstances.
University Police officers are on duty around the clock every day. Emergencies of any type--illness, injury, fire, or security--may be reported by calling 911 or 285-1111 (dial 5-1111 from a campus phone).
Emergency telephones are located across campus to enable you to easily call for help when you need it. The phones are mounted on poles across campus and marked "emergency" with a blue light on top. To use the phone, press the button and talk into the speaker.
For your safety, learn the locations of the emergency telephones, especially those along the routes you usually take in the evening and after dark.
Emergency Phone Numbers
University Police |
911 or 5-1111 |
From a cellular phone on campus |
285-1111 |
Muncie Fire Department |
765-747-4877 |
Muncie Police Department |
765-747-4838 |
Emergency Medical Services |
765-747-7790 |
Poison Control |
1-800-382-9097 |
Ball Memorial Hospital Switchboard |
765-747-3111
|
Specific emergency information for each hall can be found below.
In accordance with the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities, students and/or guests are expected to provide appropriate identifications (university identification card (ID) or driver's license) when requested by a university representative or employee. Those who cannot show appropriate identification may be asked to leave the residence halls immediately. Misuse of the university ID card by allowing others to gain hall access is prohibited. Students and/or guests are required to show their ID when entering the residence halls through the community check-in stations.
Residents are allowed to have visitors (any gender) with the approval of their roommate.
Guests (non-residents of a particular hall) are expected to follow all policies of the University and instructions of University employees. Residents are responsible for their guests and all actions of the guests while in the halls. Guests found in violation of residence hall or University policy will be asked to leave University property immediately. Guests must be escorted at all times in any area other than the main lounge. Overnight guests (non-residents of the building, including other residence hall students) need to be registered with the desk while the desk is open. Keys will not be issued to guests. A maximum of one (1) guest per room resident may sleep in a room for a total room maximum of four (4) nights ONLY with the permission of the roommate.
Guests from the ages of 13 and under the age of 18 must have parental/guardian permission to stay as a guest of a student living in a residence hall. The student host is responsible for ensuring their guests have the appropriate permission and are registered. Parental/Guardian permission forms are available online and at the residence hall front desks. Guests age 12 and under may not stay overnight in the residence halls (unless the guest is a legal dependent of the resident) and must leave the building no later than midnight.
Guests are not permitted to permanently live in the residence halls. If a guest is found to violate the spirit of the policy by living in the halls, they will be trespassed from the hall and the resident may face disciplinary charges.