The Office of Purchasing Services can help you with any procurement needs you have related to our COVID-19 response and transition.

For more information, please read our Purchasing Services FAQs. 

Facilities Planning and Management will continue to clean and sanitize public spaces such as restrooms, hallway, stairwells, elevators, etc.

Facilities Planning and Management will continue to clean and sanitize general purpose classrooms.

Employees are responsible for consistent sanitizing of surfaces in and around their offices. Facilities Planning and Management will continue to provide routine removal of trash and carpet sweeping.

Elevator capacity in all elevators will be reduced to allow for physical distancing. Capacities will be posted on all floors.

We are cautiously optimistic that we will be able to resume recognizing our Spring graduates in person in May 2021. We will continue to award degrees when they are earned, and all students who graduate will continue to receive their diplomas by mail. Additional information is forthcoming.

For questions related to commencement, visit the Commencement website. 

To the degree possible, minimizing physical contact and maintaining some distance from other humans can limit exposure opportunities.

In the meantime, non-essential in-person meetings should be limited to 10 persons or less, and individuals who are at greater risk should not attend in-person meetings. Whenever possible, meetings should be conducted virtually.

Review the University's Event Management and Community Engagement Guidebook for questions regarding events or gatherings.

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

We have suspended all University-sponsored/funded international travel until further notice.

An employee can request an exception from the President. Exceptions will only be granted in rare circumstances.

OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL

University-sponsored/funded domestic travel outside the State of Indiana for faculty, staff, and students is suspended. An exception can be requested from the appropriate Vice President or Dean. When making decisions regarding requests for exceptions, Vice Presidents and Deans will consider the destination, reason for travel, duration, and how important it is to the University’s mission.

IN-STATE TRAVEL

University-sponsored/funded travel within the State of Indiana is allowable in a manner consistent with standard University and departmental policies and practices. However, utilizing alternatives to physical travel is encouraged where practicable (e.g., having a phone conference instead of traveling off campus for a face-to-face meeting). In addition, based on future governmental directives and guidance, the University may further restrict University-sponsored/funded travel to higher-risk areas within Indiana as the pandemic progresses. 

Information Technology provides resources and information for you if you need to work from home or teach students remotely. Learn more.

Visit Working Well for a variety of resources available through Lifeworks.

Yes, you may be informed by your supervisor that your position is essential to the University’s operation.

This designation may vary depending on the time of year and many factors. For example, food service personnel are essential if students are on campus but may not be during break periods when students are not present; however, positions like Animal Caretakers and Police Officers are always essential. Meanwhile, other positions may be deemed essential but can be performed virtually/remotely, such as accounting or payroll functions.

Refer students who are on campus and suspect they may have been exposed to COVID-19 to call the Student Health Center for an appointment. The Health Center will follow established protocols. If the student tests positive for COVID-19, the Dean of Students will be notified as appropriate.

Symptoms may be flu-like, ranging from mild to serious, and include:

  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

If you experience symptoms, as with all contagious illnesses, isolate yourself to limit the potential for exposure to other people and do not come to work.

Take the following actions:

  • Notify your supervisor that you are ill and will not be able to work.
  • Isolate yourself to keep from potentially exposing other people.
  • Seek medical advice from a medical professional by calling ahead before visiting a health facility or consider virtual medical services such as LiveHealth Online.

Yes, you may qualify for a leave of absence. Contact Brittany Busko to apply. You may be eligible for pay under the federal Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act, your own accrued time off, or short-term disability if you are medically unable to work due to COVID-19.

Yes, the University is asking employees to stay home if they are ill, and supervisors may ask employees who report to work with symptoms to return home.

The symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough, and shortness of breath.

The decision to send an employee home will be made on a case-by-case basis, and if possible, in consultation with Human Resources.

As with other forms of Influenza or contagious illnesses such as colds, maintaining a reasonable distance from the person is a starting point.

Other suggestions include:

  • Do not shake hands or make other physical contact.
  • Offer the individual a mask if you have one or a tissue and ask the person to cover their mouth and nose if they should need to cough or sneeze.
  • Use a sanitary wipe after the person has left to wipe those areas of your work station that the person has touched.
  • There may be situations in which a meeting can be rescheduled to a time when the person is feeling better or the business can be conducted by phone or email. Do not hesitate to offer this suggestion if it is appropriate.
  • You may not require the student or employee to self-isolate, but you can bring the situation to the attention of your unit head for further investigation.

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides resources for these types of life events. Call 1-888-465-1324 for assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The EAP provides confidential, short-term counseling at no cost to the employee and immediate family. Additionally, employees enrolled on a Ball State-sponsored Anthem health care plan may use the LiveHealth Online Psychology