Graduate students are a vital part of our academic community. Their success and engagement at Ball State are among our highest priorities — and it all starts before enrolling in classes or arriving on campus.
To help new students transition to graduate student life at Ball State, the Graduate School puts together orientation resources to supplement your academic department’s orientation. We also have resources intended for both our online and on-campus students.
If you have any questions, please contact the Graduate School.
Visit our Digital Orientation Website
For New On-Campus, Online, and International Graduate Students
As soon as you receive your Ball State username and password, you can log into our digital Orientation for Graduate Students.
You will be able to track your progress as you work your way through the orientation modules, such as how to register for courses and how to find your advisor. It’s full of information that you can always revisit when you need it — 24/7.
Start Orientation
Additional Orientation for International Students
The University’s International Student Services office offers a separate, mandatory orientation for international students. International students are also invited to participate in the Pre-arrival orientation and attend the orientation reception and resource fair. Learn more about orientation for international students.
Graduate Student Orientation Events
New Student In-Person Orientation with Zoom option for Online students
On Thursday, August 18, 2022 students received a welcome message from Dr. Adam Beach, Dean of the Graduate School, Dr. Robin Phelps-Ward, Interim Associate Dean of the Graduate School, and the Pathways GA's, as they welcome you and your fellow graduate students to Ball State. You can view a recording of the live event here!
On-Campus Tour and Picnic
New incoming graduate students were joined by their fellow graduate student peers for a tour on campus that highlighted graduate student spaces. After the tour they were invited to a welcome picnic. We offered three opportunities during the week of August 15.
Extended Orientation Online Workshops
Wednesday, August 31, 2022 from 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Professionalization and LinkedIn. This session will be led by Brandon Bute from the Career Center. Session goals include:
- Learning what LinkedIn is and how it can help you
- Learning to set professional goals
- Learning to discuss academic accomplishments in professional contexts
Thursday, September 8, 2022 from 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Research Ethics and Navigating the IRB as a Graduate Student. This session will be co-led by Adam Kriska and Sena Lim from the Office of Research Integrity. Session goals include:
- Learning to identify and navigate appropriate research ethics as a graduate student researcher
- Learning to understand the expectations around responsible conduct of research
- Learning the Internal Review Board guidelines and expectations for submitting your research project for review
Tuesday, September 13, 2022 from 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Cultivating Equity and Community in Grad School. This session will be led by Dr. Robin Phelps-Ward, Interim Associate Dean of the Graduate School. Session goals include:
- Learning to describe your own social identities and how they influence your experience in the university community
- Learning to identify and disrupt microaggressions and discrimination
- Learning to relate your social identity with current and future graduate school experiences