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 Associate Dean of the Graduate School Stephanie Simon-Dack.
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 Live Orientation Events
Live Online Welcome via Zoom
As you look forward to starting your studies at Ball State, please join the Graduate School for a virtual orientation! Join Dr. Adam Beach, Dean of the Graduate School, Dr. Stephanie Simon-Dack, Associate Dean of the Graduate School, and Dr. Robin Phelps-Ward, Faculty Fellow for Inclusive Excellence for the Graduate School as they welcome you and your fellow graduate students to Ball State. You only need to register for one session; the material presented will be the same. All times are Eastern.
Wednesday, August 18, 2021 from 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM: REGISTER HERE
Thursday, August 19, 2021 from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM: REGISTER HERE
Live On-Campus Tour and Picnic
Join your fellow graduate student peers for a tour on campus that highlights graduate student spaces. After the tour you are invited to a welcome picnic in the Quad. Since we are hosting this event multiple times, you only need to register for one. All times are Eastern.
Wednesday, August 18, 2021 from 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM: REGISTER HERE
Thursday, August 19, 2021 from 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM: REGISTER HERE
Wednesday, August 25, 2021 from 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM: REGISTER HERE
Thursday, August 26, 2021 from 10:30 AM- 12:00 PM: REGISTER HERE
Live Online Workshops via Zoom
Tuesday, August 31, 2021 from 11:00 - 12:00 PM: REGISTER HERE
You’re Here for a Reason: Cultivating Equity & Community in Graduate School. This session is led by Dr. Robin Phelps-Ward, Assistant Professor of Higher Education and Faculty Fellow of Inclusive Excellence for the Graduate School. Session goals will 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
Wednesday, September 8, 2021 from 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: REGISTER HERE
Research Ethics and Navigating the IRB as a Graduate Student. This session will be co-led by Dr. Thomas Holtgraves, Professor of Psychological Science, and Se Na Lim, Human Research Protection Program Manager. Session goals will include:
- Learning to identify and navigate appropriate research ethics as a graduate student researcher
- Learning to understand the expectations around academic and research honesty
- Learning the Institutional Review Board guidelines and expectations for submitting your research project for review
Thursday, September 16, 2021 from 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: REGISTER HERE
Set Yourself Up for Success: Managing Conflict with Peers and Supervisors. This session is led by Mary Moore, Senior Lecturer of Communication Studies. Session goals will include:
- Learning to embrace conflict as productive and necessary
- Learning your default conflict style and strategies to de-escalate for positive outcomes
- Learning approaches and strategies for resolving conflict with other graduate students and faculty supervisors