Jump Start

DATES:  August 9-11, 2023
COST:  FREE
REGISTRATION: The Jump Start programs are now full

Ball State University is excited to introduce Jump Start, a new first year transition program for incoming students enrolled in the College of Architecture and Planning, the College of Communication, Information, and Media, the College of Fine Arts, the College of Health, the College of Sciences and Humanities, the Miller College of Business, and the Teachers College. 

Jump Start participants will move directly into their assigned residence hall room, engage with faculty in the college, meet other first year students in small cohort groups, and become familiar with campus.

Each college has planned a truly unique experience for their students, focusing on aspects of their study that will help the students to be better prepared to successfully start their first year at Ball State.

Frequently Asked Questions

Jump Start Programs

Welcome to the College of Architecture and Planning (CAP) -- you're about to embark on an exciting and fulfilling journey as a new student! Although this path will require hard work, resilience, and dedication, you don't have to go it alone. Join us for Jump Start, a free opportunity before the start of school to get to know your new campus, friends, and teachers!

Over the course of three days, you will be guided by experienced mentors (first year faculty, upper-class students, alumni), learning through fun activities, developing friendships, exploring the CAP buildings, BSU campus, and Muncie. CAP Jump Start will help you prepare for success during your first year of college and beyond. We explore CAP's libraries and labs, brainstorm on how to have difficult yet effective conversations with your professors, strategize about effective practices for college success, journey to mystery locations, and more! At the end of the Jump Start program, you will have the tools and social network to start this next chapter with confidence and make the most out of your first year of college at Ball State.

Join our community of peers and mentors as we welcome you to CAP, learn about our community, and get to know the support systems that will help you achieve your dreams. Apply for CAP Jump Start today and have a fun, unforgettable experience that will set you up for success at CAP, at Ball State, and beyond!

The College of Architecture and Planning Jump Start program is now full.

JUMP START PROGRAM IS FULL  

If you have questions about the CAP Jump Start program, please email Lori Pence or Andrea Swartz.

The College of Communication, Information and Media (CCIM) Jump Start program helps communication studies, computer technology, journalism, strategic communication, and media majors establish early relationships with faculty and classmates, learn about CCIM student engagement opportunities, and explore the abundance of career paths available in a media-communications focused field. Participants in CCIM Jump Start will engage with college alumni, participate in critical thinking and problem-solving exercises, and visit a variety of companies and businesses specializing in internal and external audience communication, journalism and media.

Complete the CCIM Jump Start program is now full.

JUMP START PROGRAM IS FULL

If you have questions about the CCIM Jump Start Program, please email CCIM or call the Journalism Workshop Office at 765-285-8900.

To succeed in college as a College of Fine Arts major, you need three things: a community of friends and fellow artists to support you, talented and caring teachers to guide you, and strong working habits to ground you.

We've designed a free, three-day experience geared to help you develop all these things. It's called Jump Start, and it's free!

This year's College of Fine Arts Jump Start focuses on the theme of thinking, creating, and practicing your art "Outside of the Box" and will include opportunities to engage across many artistic disciplines and beyond the confines of traditional studios.

Students will participate in a variety of artistically focused learning activities with amazing teachers from our college, experiencing first-hand how making art, dance, music, theatre, and more outside of the confines of a "traditional" studio can inspire and invigorate your ideas, help bring them to life, and connect you with your community while you do it. You'll spend time learning about the campus and Muncie arts communities, you'll work closely with your teachers and peers, and you'll leave with strategies for success, insights into how you learn and create, and new friends to help support you.

Complete College of Fine Arts Jump Start program is now full.

JUMP START PROGRAM IS FULL

If you have questions about the College of Fine Arts Jump Start program, please email Stephanie Haglund.


The College of Health Jump Start program is an exciting chance to meet your peers, learn about our diverse programs and see interprofessional collaboration in action. Through our programming and interprofessional community clinics, see how we are helping the Muncie community and the population at large become healthier and how you can become part of this mission! You'll have time to sample some of our state-of-the-art equipment as well as participate in several other fun activities. This is an opportunity you don't want to miss!

Complete College of Health Jump Start program is now full.

JUMP START PROGRAM IS FULL

If you have questions about the College of Health Jump Start program, please email Nick Atlas.

To do well in college, you need three things: friends to support you, talented and caring teachers to take you under their wing, and good daily habits. We’ve designed a free, three-day experienced geared to help you develop all these things. It’s called Jump Start, and it’s free! 

We’ll start with a visit to our nationally celebrated Charles W. Brown Planetarium. Over the next two days, you’ll bond with other students during two days of intensive practice in thinking and working like a successful college student. You will attend classes on the shared theme of “Climate,” as viewed from four different academic perspectives (Climatology, Literature, Sociology, and Natural Resources). Taught by celebrated teachers from our college, the classes will probe multiple meanings of the word "climate" and ask you to exercise the skills of questioning, comprehension, analysis, communication, and problem-solving that underlie all learning. You'll spend a day at a nearby farm, learning about sustainable growing practices and getting your hands dirty in the soil. You’ll work closely with your teachers and your peers. And you will leave with strategies for success and insights into how you learn. 

Complete the College of Sciences & Humanities Jump Start program is now full.

JUMP START PROGRAM IS FULL

If you have questions about the College of Sciences and Humanities Jump Start program, please email Patrick Collier.

 

The Miller College of Business Jump Start program is designed to be both fun and informative! The primary goal is to assist with your transition to Ball State, your academic college, and the Muncie community. We will teach you about the different majors in Business, will help you hone in on practical skills that all college students need to be successful, and will create opportunities for you to meet other faculty, staff, and students. We will also visit a local business in downtown Muncie to give you an idea of what it’s like to work in the field. After the completion of the program, you’ll be equipped to a have a successful first year as a Cardinal. With all of the knowledge and experience you gain, you may find yourself helping other new first-year students adjust to life on campus! 

Complete the Miller College of Business Jump Start program is now full.

JUMP START PROGRAM IS FULL

If you have questions about the MCOB Jump Start program, please email Andy Morrow.

Teachers College Jump Start program provides participants with the opportunity to learn about their major, the city of Muncie, Muncie Community Schools, and the campus community. You'll find new friends in your major and get to know campus and the Muncie Community in a fun and exciting way. This opportunity is open to all majors in Teachers College, and we highly encourage first generation college students to apply!

Complete the Teachers College Jump Start program is now full.

JUMP START PROGRAM IS FULL

If you have questions about the Teachers College Jump Start program, please email Katie Crews.