Weeks of Welcome

Weeks of Welcome takes place in two phases:

August 16–23, 2026:
All first-year students move in early and participate in a required, structured Weeks of Welcome program focused on community building, campus navigation, academic readiness, and connection to Ball State resources. Please see below for mandatory sessions. For event specifics, please sign on to Be Connected. 

Tuesday, Aug. 18

• Commuter Welcome (Mandatory if you are commuting)

• Freshman Convocation

• Academic College Programming

• Living Learning Community Kickoffs

• Floor Meeting (if you live in a residence hall) 

Wednesday, Aug. 19

• Academic College Programming

• Living Learning Community Kickoffs

Thursday, Aug. 20

• Gallup Clifton Strengths Kickoff

• Campus Picnic

• Honors College Convocation & LLC Kickoff

• Chirp Chirp Pep Rally & Volleyball Game

Friday, Aug. 21

• Community Services Opportunities

• Safety & Wellness Event

• Rock the Halls

Saturday, Aug. 22

• Student Organization Activity Fair

• Fan Jam

August 16 – September 25, 2026:
Weeks of Welcome continues as a campus-wide experience with events and programs for all students, leading into Family Weekend.

Move-in for first-year students will take place on Sunday, August 16 and Monday, August 17. Returning students will be able to move in later in the week. More detailed move-in information, including policies, procedures, sign ups, etc. will be shared by Housing and Residence Life later in the spring semester. Be sure to keep an eye on your Ball State email for updates.

Ball State’s academic calendar has shifted, creating an opportunity to better support first-year students before classes begin. By welcoming students to campus earlier, Weeks of Welcome provides dedicated time for community building, campus navigation, and connection to resources—helping students start the semester feeling confident, prepared, and connected.

Weeks of Welcome is a six week-long transition program for all incoming first-year students that starts before the first day of classes. It is designed to help students build community, feel confident navigating campus, and prepare for a successful first semester at Ball State.

Programming includes:

• Residence hall–based experiences

• Small-group sessions led by trained student leaders

• Large-scale campus traditions and celebrations

• Academic and resource-focused workshops

• Opportunities to explore and connect with academic colleges, faculty, and advisors

• Social events designed to help you meet people and have fun

At Ball State, we know how important it is for your transition to include a variety of experiences that help you connect to the people, places, and traditions that will help you be successful in your first year and beyond. We have moved beyond a single week of activities to Weeks of Welcome because there are so many experiences we want to introduce you to, it will take a lot more than one week.

We encourage all students new to campus to attend these optional (unless otherwise noted) events to make the most of their first six weeks on campus. These events will provide the following...

• Cardinal Spirit–generating school spirit for BSU Athletics and Student Organizations
• Campus Geography–familiarizing students with campus locations
• Academic Focus/Motivation–gearing up for college academic success
• Campus Culture–acclimating students to independent life, inclusive environments, and BSU culture and traditions
• Campus Resources–introducing important student services which promote safety, health, and belonging
• Social–students meeting students; having FUN!

Each day will include at least one required Weeks of Welcome program. In addition, students will have multiple optional sessions to choose from both within and outside their residence halls—ranging from Living Learning Community kickoffs, programs hosted by their Academic College, Grocery Bingo and other social events, to drop-in hours at Cardinal Central and more.

Students are able to view their Weeks of Welcome programming on Be Connected, with full schedule access available one week prior to their scheduled Orientation date. Students should ensure they are signed up for all mandatory sessions (many of which will be pre-loaded), as well as select 2-3 additional sessions each day. 

Weeks of Welcome events will be available to view on Be Connected around Admitted Students Day in April. At that time, you’ll be able to browse events and groups without logging in or having an official Ball State account.

One week prior to your Orientation date, you’ll gain full access to Be Connected using your Ball State credentials through both the web and mobile app. For more instructions on downloading the app or accessing the website, please check out our Be Connected Webpage. Once logged in, you can begin adding events and sessions to your personal calendar—from Orientation through Weeks of Welcome. 

We encourage students to take time after Orientation to review the schedule with friends or support individuals and build a plan that works best for them.

• Confirm your enrollment with Undergraduate Admissions

• Schedule your Orientation date

• Review move-in details and important dates with Housing and Residence Life

• Watch your Ball State email for Weeks of Welcome updates

• Check back soon for the full Weeks of Welcome schedule

Ball State University is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible Weeks of Welcome experience for all students. If you need an accommodation to fully participate in Weeks of Welcome events or activities, support is available.

Students are encouraged to:

• Contact Disability Services (Phone: 765-285-5293) to discuss ongoing or campus-wide accommodations

• Reach out to event hosts directly for event-specific needs

Requesting accommodations early helps ensure that appropriate supports can be arranged in a timely manner. If you have questions about accessibility or need assistance identifying the right contact, Disability Services and Weeks of Welcome staff are here to help.

To stay up to date with everything Weeks of Welcome has to offer, be sure to follow Ball State Student Life on Instagram (@bsu_studentlife).

We’ll be sharing timely updates, event highlights, important reminders, and answers to your questions throughout the summer and during Weeks of Welcome.