Ball State University Dorms: A Comprehensive Guide to On-Campus Living
Making students feel welcome on campus is one of the main goals of the Office of Housing and Residence Life. There’s a plethora of information to absorb when it comes to living on campus in the residence halls. This guide provides an overview of Ball State University (BSU) dorms, covering various aspects from room types and amenities to policies and procedures.
Residence Hall Options and Features
Ball State University (BSU) dorms are similar to most college housing options. Most on-campus residence halls include singles, double, and suites. Floor plans vary from residence hall to residence hall. The Ball State University (BSU) dorms dimension depend on the residence hall. This information is usually contained in one of the dorm room tours of Ball State University (BSU) on CampusReel. You’ll have to watch the CampusReel videos to see for sure.
North West Residence Hall
Opened in the 2021-2022 Academic Year, North West Residence Hall is Ball State University's newest residence, located in the North Residential Neighborhood. Each floor features fully equipped kitchens and spacious lounge areas with TVs. Residents have access to music rooms, a game room, and a modern fitness area. The coed hall offers semi-private bathrooms and loftable furniture, allowing students to personalize their living spaces.
Living Learning Communities (LLC)
Living Learning Communities (LLC) are where academics and residence life converge.
- The Education LLC: The Education LLC gives students an opportunity to examine educational topics related to early childhood and elementary education through field trips, workshops, and discussions while taking classes with other students who are considering the teaching profession in Early and Elementary Education teaching and Family and Child Studies.
- The Art LLC: The Art LLC gives students majoring in art the opportunity to live with others exploring the design world.
- The CCIM LLC: Students living in the CCIM LLC can expect an environment that focuses on exploring the different careers associated with communication, information, and media.
- The Nursing LLC: The Nursing LLC is dedicated to students considering nursing as a career within the College of Health.
- The STEM Living-Learning Community: Students in the STEM Living-Learning Community join a supportive environment in North Residence Hall. In this stimulating, intellectual, and social atmosphere, students have access to computers, 3D printing, laser cutters, virtual reality equipment, and collaborative workspaces.
Move-In Information
Starting a new year on-campus is an exciting time and there are important details regarding move-in day that incoming and returning cardinals need to be aware of. As you prepare to settle into your new home away from home, we want to ensure that your transition is as smooth as possible. Move-in day on Ball State's campus is truly exciting!
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Important Dates
To ensure a smooth transition into campus life, move-in days for first-year students are Sunday, August 16 and Monday, August 17.
Move-In Tips
Arrive On Time: Follow the specific instructions or arrival time provided by your group leader. By following these steps, you’ll ensure a seamless move-in experience.
Follow Directional Signage: When you arrive on campus, there will be directional signage for each residence hall.
Utilize Move-In Equipment: We will have bellhop style carts available for students to use at our halls. These are usually in high demand, so please be patient with our staff if you are wanting/needing one and need to wait until one becomes available.
Park in Designated Areas: When you arrive on campus, park only in designated areas. Use the family parking map to locate yellow or green lots (outlined in red) where you can park while assisting with move-in. Students must move their cars to their designated parking spots as soon as possible. Vehicles not moved by the end of the day may be ticketed or towed.
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Campus Shuttles: Campus shuttles will be running beginning the week of move-in with limited routing.
Driving Directions: Please follow the directions below to avoid construction and road closures.
- I-69 N to Exit 241 IN-332: take a right onto IN-332 S for 7 miles; take a right on Tillotson Ave; take a left on Bethel Ave; take a right onto McKinley Ave; take a left into the G1 Yellow Lot.
- I-69 S to Exit 241 IN-332: take a left onto IN-332 S for 8 miles and take a right onto Wheeling Ave; take a right on Neely Ave.
Prepare for Weather: Some things such as the weather are completely uncontrollable come move-in day. In case of rain or bad weather, please come equipped and prepared to cover your own belongings. Our Housing and Residence Life staff will do our best to ensure an effective and easy move-in process for all.
MicroFridges: To enhance your convenience during move-in, MicroFridges are scheduled to be delivered directly to residence hall rooms prior to your arrival on campus. Once your housing assignment has been finalized, our office promptly communicates this information to the approved MicroFridge vendor to ensure a smooth and efficient delivery process.
Room Amenities and Personalization
Students living in the residence halls have furniture in the room that is loftable or stackable. No purchase or renting from an external source is permitted nor necessary. To loft or stack furniture, a rubber mallet is recommended to help with the process. When lofting or stacking furniture in a student room, one window must remain completely free and clear of obstruction. Student rooms are checked for loft policy violations periodically. Hall directors reserve the right to require students to remove a loft that does not meet safety guidelines. Loft/bed units must be taken apart and removed from the hall when instructed to do so by hall staff. Loft disassembly must take place before the start of quiet hours at the end of each semester. Room occupants are responsible for any and all damages caused by the assembly or disassembly of such units. Lofting your bed can be a great utilization of the space in your room! Students can request a bed rail for their lofted beds upon arrival on-campus. Requests can be made at their residence hall's front desk.
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Air Conditioning
Woodworth Complex is the only housing location on campus without centralized A/C. We understand that some students with medical needs may require air conditioning in buildings without central air. Please do not bring a roll-away or freestanding air conditioning unit for your room as these will NOT be allowed. Plan to follow the established program in place.
Bicycles
A student may store a bicycle (unicycle, etc.) in their room provided it does not create an unsafe condition and the roommate has given permission for storage. Students are responsible for any damage incurred from storage of the bicycle (i.e., rooms, hallways, common areas, elevators). Bikes may not be stored in hallways, lounges, kitchens, or any common area in the residence hall, unless designated as such. Two-wheeled motorized vehicles (i.e., scooters, mini-bikes, mopeds, motorcycles, etc.) are not allowed within the residence halls.
Students are encouraged to register their bikes with the University Police Department - bikes that are registered are less likely to be stolen, and if stolen are more likely to be recovered and returned to their owners. The office of Housing and Residence Life strongly recommends students to purchase and use metal U Bolt Bike Locks to reduce the risk of their property being stolen.
Bicycle Registration
To keep your bike safe on campus, we strongly recommend registering your bike with the University Police Department. The increasing popularity of bicycling as a sport and a means of transportation has made bicycles an easy target for thieves. It is estimated that over 1.5 million bicycles are stolen every year. Nowhere is bicycle theft a bigger problem than on college campuses. Bikes that are registered are more likely to be recovered and returned to their owners if they are stolen.
The bicycle registration program is essentially a database of bike information - the owner’s identification along with the brand, model, serial number, and color of the bicycle. You will need to provide your bike’s serial number in order to register it. These are generally stamped onto the bicycle frame (not on wheels, etc.).
Refrigerators and Microwaves
Each student may bring a small refrigerator and microwave with them to their room in the residence halls. Students who choose to bring a refrigerator from home need to make certain that it is no more than 5.0 cubic feet.
Policies and Procedures
Mandatory On-Campus Living
All first-year students are required to live on campus at Ball State University. All students are required to live in university housing for two semesters unless they will be 21 years of age prior to the beginning of the term for which they are enrolling, have 24 or more semester hours of Ball State University accepted credits achieved after their graduation from high school, are married or are a custodial parent of a dependent child, or are living with their parents in the parents' primary residence within a 60-mile radius of campus. The address of the parents at the time of a student's application for admission to Ball State will be considered the parents' primary residence. Students who live with their parents within a 60-mile radius of campus. Students with primary custody of a minor child. Students who are in a marriage recognized by the State of Indiana. Ball State students who have lived in university residence halls for two semesters but not achieved 24 credit hours. All students who believe they qualify for an exemption for any of the reasons above must complete and apply for an exemption online. This exemption request should be received by our office no later than 30 days (about 4 and a half weeks) prior to the beginning of the first semester of enrollment. If you are a student with special accommodations/needs pertaining to housing, please reach out to the Office of Disability Services.
Students with Reduced Course Loads
Students whose course loads fall below 9 credit hours need the permission of their building’s Residential Learning Coordinator to remain living in the residence hall. Permission to remain in the hall is at the discretion of the appropriate housing staff. Documented and undocumented behavior may be used in considering whether permission is granted.
Residence Hall Closures
Each residence hall closes for identified breaks implemented into the academic semester - find more out about when those are and what action is required of students. There are several action items required of residents that need to be met before being able to officially leave the residence halls at the end of the Academic Year.
Advertising in Residence Halls
Advertising in the residence halls is a way to gain exposure on campus. Ball State University student organizations and activities and campus departments, who wish to advertise in the Residence Halls must submit a PDF copy of their document via our form. It is required for posters/flyers/advertisement requests to be submitted at least two weeks prior to the advertised event. Submissions will not be considered for distribution if they do not meet timeline requirements. Those seeking to advertise in the residence halls are responsible for printing their own materials. Advertisements brought to the Office of Housing and Residence Life without prior approval will NOT be accepted. Those who bypass all pre-approvals will have their organization/department/company reported to the Office of Housing and Residence Life and may have future requests for posting denied. All ads or flyers received from commercial enterprises are not permitted in our halls. Markings or postings on exterior surfaces of residence halls and complexes are prohibited; this includes but is not limited to writing messages on walls using chalk or posting flyers/banners/etc. with tape.
Student ID Cards
A student's Ball State ID card is their lifeline on campus. If a student misplaces or loses their identification card, a temporary key card may be requested from their residence hall's front desk. This card will not enable the student to eat in the dining service; however, it will give the student access to their hall.
Emotional Support Animals (ESA)
Ball State University recognizes the importance of emotional support animals (ESA) for individuals. To have an ESA in the halls, students must first seek approval through the Office of Disability Services. Owners are permitted to keep an ESA in on-campus housing, including both residence halls and apartments, on a case-by-case basis as a reasonable accommodation for a documented disability after prior approval. The Owner should contact the Office of Disability Services as early as possible to allow time to gather and review all necessary documentation. The Owner should make their request at least 30 days prior to the start of the academic term (Fall, Spring, and/or Summer). Once the Owner’s ESA has been approved, the Office of Housing and Residence Life will work with the Owner to provide the accommodation. Ball State University and the Office of Housing and Residence Life have the discretion to determine where an Owner will be housed (hall, room, etc.).
Laundry Facilities
Laundry facilities are located in each of our buildings for residents to utilize! Our washers use laundry detergent pods that are "HE" for high-efficiency washing machines. This helps our machines with the washing process and makes it easier for transporting detergent. The cost per wash load is $1.75 and $1.50 to dry for one hour.
Custodial Services
Custodians maintain buildings on a weekly, routine basis. A community area is defined as any space and/or area outside a students' room. This includes but is not limited to stairwells, hallways, restrooms, lounges, elevators, entranceways, public lounges, recreation areas, and dining rooms. Each floor has a designated custodian. Custodians remove trash from trash rooms, clean common areas, and clean restrooms daily (Monday through Friday). Students should not leave any personal belongings in community areas unless secured in bathroom lockers.
Common Area Usage
Residence hall lobbies, lounges, and common areas including those that are shared with Ball State University Dining are reserved for residence hall students' use only. University organizations may not reserve or meet in any residence hall lobby, lounge, or common area, nor may a resident of a residence hall reserve or meet in their hall lobby or lounge for the specific purpose that supports a university organization. All lobby, lounge and/or common area programs or meetings must be sponsored by Housing and Residence Life staff (Resident Assistants, and Academic Peer Mentors) or hall council sponsored activities that are supervised and operated by Housing and Residence Life employees or hall council members.
Computer and Printing Access
If needed, communal computers and printers are available for students living in the residence halls to use. Printers inside residence halls are also compatible with PrintSmart Remote Printing! PrintSmart enables the option for students to print campus-wide, easily and conveniently submit print jobs online, and release print jobs through MobilePrint. Printing in the halls will pull from the student's on-campus printing allotment. Additionally, the formerly designated computer lab space inside of the residence halls are currently being modified.
WIFI Connection
If you're having trouble with the WIFI connection in your residence hall room be sure your device is connected to the bsuconnect wireless SSID, and not bsuguest. The bsuguest network is for guests to campus, not intended for Ball State students or staff. It is a limited bandwidth with minimal access permissions. Students, faculty, and staff that are using a wireless network connection are encouraged to use bsuconnect. Bringing a computer from home to use in your room or on campus is also allowed.
Elevators
All of Ball State’s residence halls have elevators within the buildings. When elevators are out of service due to misuse by students, those students identified as being responsible for the misuse will be charged for the service call of the elevator company employees.
Safety and Security
The safety of our residents is atop priority. Hallways must remain clear. If you discover a fire - no matter how small - immediately pull the nearest fire alarm and notify the front desk staff, a Resident Assistant (RA), or the Residential Learning Coordinator (RLC). Each hall has a front desk with available amenities for residents to utilize. A staff comprised of resident assistants (RAs) and hall desk staff work various shifts throughout the day and evening to assist residents. Exterior doors of the hall 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.
Furniture
Furniture should not be dismantled or removed from its designated space to another area of the hall. Students who have moved items from the public areas (i.e., hall lounges, study areas) to their rooms will be charged $5 each day until the item is replaced or returned. Charges begin at the time it is determined the item is in a student room. The daily fee is in addition to an initial charge of $5 for each item moved to a student room. When necessary, room searches may be instituted to locate public area furniture. Student room furniture must also remain in the rooms. Removal of room furniture may result in replacement charges.
Ice Machines
Every residence hall has an ice machine available for residents.
Married Students
A married student whose spouse does not live with them may be housed in the residence halls only if the spouse is located a substantial distance from Muncie. Permission for a married student to live in a residence hall must be obtained in advance from the Associate Director for Residential Learning. Visiting spouses must observe guest policies.
Prohibited Items
The following items are either prohibited or are allowed with restrictions in the residence halls. Power strips and extension cords (Multiple-outlet connections are prohibited unless they are a "temporary" power strip (or box) with a built-in circuit breaker, carry an Underwriter's Laboratory (UL) approval, and have a maximum load of 15 amps. Power strips with surge suppressors do not meet this standard unless they have a built-in circuit breaker. Power strips should not be used in a built-in circuit breaker. Power strips should not be used in a series (one power strip plugged into another). Extension cords are allowed provided they are UL approved, in good condition, and plugged directly into a power strip equipped with built-in circuit breaker.
Recycling Program
Students living in the residence halls are encouraged to participate in our in-hall recycling program. When you throw away your trash from your room, separate the paper, plastic, glass, and metal items and pitch those items in the marked recycling box in your hall's trash room. The custodians will keep recycled items in separate bags, but will place these items with trash in the same trash bins outside the buildings, which is called commingled trash.
Maintenance Requests
Learn more about the types of requests that can be made. If your request is an emergency (i.e. flood, serious injury scene) please contact your hall desk or Residential Learning Coordinator.
Sustainability
We have a focus on sustainability to make sure our campus and halls are here for generations. Students are responsible for disposal of their own trash, or trash that accumulates in their rooms.
Wheelchairs and Mobility Devices
A student may store a wheelchair and other mobility devices in their room provided it does not create an unsafe condition in the room and the roommate has given permission for storage. Students are responsible for any damage incurred from storage of the device (i.e., rooms, hallways, common areas, elevators). Mobility devices may not be stored in hallways, lounges, kitchens, or any common area in the residence hall. Noyer Complex provides a common storage location for wheelchairs on a as needed basis and as space permits.
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