CLASS students on lawn

Kick off your Ball State journey while developing leadership skills through the CLASS program! During this three-day program, you will reflect on your expectations of college, meet fellow first-year students, and learn about the campus and the resources it has to offer. Your upper-class leaders will help you sharpen your leadership style and get connected to involvement opportunities on campus and in the Muncie community. 

Sponsored by the Office of Student Life and the Dr. Kay Bales Excellence in Leadership Program, CLASS is a Ball State tradition that has helped thousands of new students ease into college life. Past participants have gone on to serve in a wide variety of prominent campus leadership roles. The CLASS experience continues in the fall with an optional 1-credit hour course focused on building leadership and social skills to assist with the transition of the first year, alongside peer leaders. More information about this course will be provided to CLASS registrants.

Direct any questions you may have to Assistant Director Olivia Vecchiolli in Student Life, 765-285-2621.

Program Dates

Program Dates:  August 2025 - specific dates will be updated in April

Please note that four other Summer Bridge Programs – Accelerate, CARDS (Connecting Accessible Resources with Disability Services), Early Start, and REACH – take place during the same dates as CLASS, so if you are registering for this program, you cannot register as a participant in any of the other four.

Program Fee

$135.00 (includes meals, lodging, and activities)

Registration

 Registration will open on April 4, 2025.

Itinerary for 2024 

  • Morning & Afternoon - Check-in and move into residence halls
  • Late Afternoon - Welcome! Meet your small group members and leaders
  • Evening - Keynote speaker with small group reflections
  • Morning - Diving deeper into leadership - A CLASS workshop with the keynote speaker
  • Afternoon - Small group leadership and career development activities
  • Evening - Dinner at the Ball State President's house and evening socials
  • Morning - Service in the Muncie community
  • Afternoon - Small group leadership wrap up and goal setting
  • Evening - Night at the Rec Center

For More Information

Contact Olivia Vecchiolli in the Office of Student Life.

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