There’s a plethora of information to absorb when it comes to living on campus in the residence halls! From hall cleaning schedules, sending mail to an individual on campus, and what is and isn’t allowed in the residence halls – utilize the following information and become knowledgeable of on-campus life at Ball State University.

GENERAL INFO

Advertising in the residence halls is a way to gain exposure on campus. It is required for those wanting their advertisements/posters/flyers displayed in the residence halls to receive approval from the Office of Housing and Residence Life (HRL) prior to distribution across campus.

FILL OUT FORM

Submission Process

  1. 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. Posters/flyers/advertisements that have NOT been submitted via the online process will NOT be accepted or distributed in the Residence Halls. 
  2. 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. Once the form is complete, please allow up to three (3) business days for the Office of Housing and Residence Life to process the submission. 
    • Upon review, posters, flyers, and advertisements will receive an email to the address provided in the submission form with maximum quantities and dimensions for distribution. 
  3. Those seeking to advertise in the residence halls are responsible for printing their own materials. Once printed, the posters/flyers/advertisements need to be delivered to the front desk at the Office of Housing and Residence Life located on the Second Floor of North Dining Hall.
    • For our staff to accept your posters you will be required to show your posting request processed email from our Office. 
  4. Following delivery, these advertisements will be distributed and posted in the residence halls.  

Advertisements brought to the Office of Housing and Residence Life without prior approval will NOT be accepted. Advertisements taken directly to the Residence Halls will not be accepted or hung up.


The Office of Housing and Residence Life’s Residence Hall Advertising Policy has been established to serve as an organizational process for postings on the “Not for Public Posting” boards located in the Residence halls and university apartments.

  • 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. Advertisements without pre-approval by HRL will be immediately removed.
  • All ads or flyers received from commercial enterprises are not permitted in our halls.
  • All ads or flyers received by campus-affiliated organizations or departments will be posted in their designated space within the common areas of the halls only.   
  • 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. Items not specifically addressed to an individual cannot be placed in student mailboxes. All bulletin boards in HRL are considered “Not for Public Posting.”

A student's Ball State ID card is their lifeline on campus. Students should always make sure to keep it on them as it will be required as a source of entry and identification in the residence halls. 
 
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. Failure to return the card within the time designated by the front desk will result in a replacement fee. 
 
A replacement BSU ID Card may be obtained by visiting the ID Card Office located in Bracken Library, Room BL 001. 

Learn More About Ball State ID Cards 

Ball State's room and board contract is considered a legal, binding document, and students are strongly encouraged to review the contract entirely prior to submitting a cancellation.

REVIEW THE HOUSING CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS 

Students needing to cancel their housing contracts are required to complete a contract cancellation form on the housing portal. 

How to submit a contract cancellation:

  1. Log-in to the online housing portal.
  2. Navigate to the far left of the red top navigation and click the three horizontal lines. 
  3. Once that is expanded, scroll down to the “forms” option. 
  4. On the forms page, use the drop-down option (bottom left of the page) and select “Residence Hall Forms” and save and continue. 
  5. The next page will then give you the option to begin the “Contract Cancellation Request.” 
  6. Complete the form and make your official request to cancel your housing contract.  
  7. You will then receive a confirmation email once processed by the Office of Housing and Residence Life.

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. If possible, the Owner should make their request at least 30 days prior to the start of the academic term (Fall, Spring, and/or Summer). 

CONTACT THE OFFICE OF DISABILITY SERVICES 

 If a request is made after an initial housing assignment has been made, or during the academic term, the Owner may be required to relocate to a different room and/or building in order to accommodate their request.

VIEW OUR POLICY 

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. Students can use quarters, however, we recommend students download the laundry mobile app Speed Queen.

Speed Queen also allows students to select the building they want to do their laundry in, see machine availability, time left on a cycle, and even receive a text when laundry is done. By utilizing the app, students can use a credit card to pay for their laundry.

How to get started with SpeedQueen
1. Download the app from the App Store or Google Play
2. Set up your account with SpeedQueen
3. Add your location by typing in the school’s code: BSU001
4. Find your building and choose your designated laundry room.
5. Get started by loading money onto your account and begin a load of laundry.

To watch how to utilize the app and set up your account, click on the button below.

SPEED QUEEN TUTORIAL

 
Everyday Ball State University receives hundreds of packages and pieces of mail for distribution campus wide!  
 
If a package arrives at the residence halls for students, our front desk workers will log the package, triggering an email to the student letting them know they have a package to pick up.  
 
Each resident receives a designated mailbox on their move-in day. They are encouraged to check their mailboxes daily as they will not receive notification when standard mail (anything outside of a package) arrives for them.

HALL ADDRESSES

Beyerl Hall 
1635 N. McKinley

Botsford/Swinford Hall 
1601 N. McKinley

DeHority Complex
1500 W. Riverside

Kinghorn Hall 
1400 W. Neely

North West Hall 
1701 N. McKinley

Noyer Complex 
1601 West Neely
• Baker, 1603 W. Neely
• Klipple, 1607 W. Neely

Park Hall
1550 W. Riverside

Schmidt/Wilson Hall 
1621 N. McKinley

Studebaker East Hall
1301 W. Neely

Studebaker West Complex 
1401 W. Neely

Woodworth Complex
1600 W. Riverside

How to properly address mail for the halls:

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. Students who fall below 9 credit hours and are found responsible for violating a residence hall policy may be subject to immediate termination of their Housing and Dining contract.

All first-year students are required to live on campus at Ball State University.

The Board of Trustees of Ball State University approved the following policy relating to student residency that became effective for students entering the university beginning in the fall 2005 semester:
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. Transfer students are strongly encouraged to contact the Office of Housing and Residence Life prior to signing any off-campus lease to determine their eligibility to live off-campus.

LEARN MORE

Students who qualify for an exemption from living on Ball State’s Campus include: 

  • Students who live with their parents within a 60-mile radius of campus. (Proof of residency will be required.) 
  • Students enrolled in fewer than 9 semester hours. 
  • Students with primary custody of a minor child. (Proof of custody will be required.) 
  • Students who are in a marriage recognized by the State of Indiana. (Copy of the Marriage Certificate will be required.) 
  • Students who will be 21 prior to the first day of classes of their first semester of enrollment at Ball State University. 
  • Ball State students who have lived in university residence halls for two semesters but not achieved 24 credit hours.
  • Having already signed a lease with an off-campus landlord WILL NOT be considered as a reason for an exemption.

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. You are encouraged to not make any commitments for housing until you receive a written response from this office.

LEARN MORE

Accommodations are available for students with disabilities, depending on the type of need a person may have. 
 
If you are a student with special accommodations/needs pertaining to housing, please reach out to the Office of Disability Services. Together, our offices work to accommodate students with specific housing needs.

Door-to-door voter registration is permitted in the residence halls and University Apartment community at Ball State University under the following conditions: 

  • Voter registration, polling, and applying for absentee ballots are permitted in the residence halls and University Apartment community. 
  • Door-to-door campaigning is not permitted in accordance with the university solicitation policy. 
  • Deputy student registrars and deputy party registrars are permitted to register voters. 
  • Deputy registrars will carry credentials from the election board and possess a picture identification card. 
  • Groups involved in the registration process will contact the residence hall director of each residence hall or the University Apartment Office at least 48 hours (about 2 days) prior to registration. A list of registrars and day and time of registration must be provided. 
  • Registrars will check in and out of the residence hall front desk or University Apartment Office and will show credentials at the time of check in.
Residence Halls

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. If you are a student who may need A/C, please contact the Office of Disability Services stating your need for this accommodation.

*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.

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. Riding bicycles in the residence halls are prohibited and students may lose storage privileges if this policy is abused. 

Two-wheeled motorized vehicles (i.e., scooters, mini-bikes, mopeds, motorcycles, etc.) are not allowed within the residence halls. This type of motorized vehicle must be parked outdoors in a designated area.

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.

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 information is kept on file at Ball State University Police Department, so even if the owner has graduated or moved, Ball State police will be able to provide ownership information on the bicycle. 
 
About the Program 
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. The purpose of the program is to help the bike owner protect their property. 
 
Why Register? 
Bikes that are registered are less likely to be stolen, and if stolen and recovered, more likely to be returned to their owners. The bicycle registration information is kept on file at Ball State University Police Department, so even if the owner has graduated or moved, Ball State police will be able to provide ownership information on the bicycle. 
 
Serial Numbers 
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.). It usually starts with SN and is rarely a sticker. 
 
Register Your Bike 
Any Ball State student, faculty or staff member can register their bicycle online.

REGISTER YOUR BICYCLE

Custodians maintain buildings on a weekly, routine basis. Students are expected to not disrupt custodian's efforts to clean restrooms and common areas throughout the residence halls. 
 
In halls with semi-private or private restroom areas, residents are asked to keep their personal belongings stored away on the designated cleaning day so staff can do a thorough job.
 
  • 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. The use of a common area such as a residence hall lounge is limited to use by residents of that hall and by that hall's government. Students should not leave any personal belongings in community areas unless secured in bathroom lockers. Students should not congregate in areas not designed for this purpose.
  • 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. All lobby, lounge or common area reservations must be requested and approved by the Residential Learning Coordinator.

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. For more information on PrintSmart Remote Printing, visit University IT's website. To view all PrintSmart printer locations on campus, click here (Residence Hall locations will gradually be added to the listing). 
 
Printing in the halls will pull from the student's on-campus printing allotment. All Ball State students automatically have $30.00 loaded into their PrintSmart account per semester allowing for 600 Black and White impressions, or 120 Color Impressions. 
 
Additionally, the formerly designated computer lab space inside of the residence halls are currently being modified. We are assessing innovative ways to utilize the space in order to meet the needs of our on-campus students. 
 
For any technical issues with wired and/or wireless technology needs within the residence halls, please contact the Technology HelpDesk
 
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. Wireless setup guides are available at each hall desk for students to use for step-by-step instructions on connecting a device. 
 
Students, faculty, and staff that are using a wireless network connection are encouraged to use bsuconnect. You can find specific instructions for configuring a device at the HelpDesk
 
Each residence hall complex has a computer lab and/or technology center designed to meet any need, whether it's a class project, browsing the web, accessing email, scanning documents, or using a printer/copier. Bringing a computer from home to use in your room or on campus is also allowed.

Each floor has a designated custodian. Custodians remove trash from trash rooms, clean common areas, and clean restrooms daily (Monday through Friday). Limited custodial service which includes trash removal and paper supplying is completed on the weekends.

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. Defacing or vandalizing elevators is also prohibited and will result in charges to the individual or individuals found responsible.

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.  Owners must first seek approval for their ESA through the Office of Disability Services. The Owner should contact the Office of Disability Services as early as possible to allow time to gather and review all necessary documentation. If possible, the Owner should make their request at least 30 days prior to the start of the academic term (Fall, Spring, and/or Summer).

Contact the Office of Disability Services

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.). If a request is made after an initial housing assignment has been made, or during the academic term, the Owner may be required to relocate to a different room and/or building in order to accommodate their request.

VIEW OUR POLICY


Each hall has a front desk with available amenities for residents to utilize. These include:

  • A vacuum for rental
  • Table tennis and pool table items
  • Board games
  • Change
  • Telephone books
  • Copier services

A staff comprised of resident assistants (RAs) and hall desk staff work various shifts throughout the day and evening to assist residents.

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. Student room furniture should be returned to its original configuration upon vacating the room.

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. Student room furniture should be returned to its original configuration upon vacating the room.

Gender Inclusive Housing is available throughout several of our residence halls providing safe and inviting living environments for LGBTQ students, including transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming students.

LEARN MORE

Every residence hall has an ice machine available for residents. If you cannot locate the ice machine in your building, ask your Resident Assistant or desk worker at the front desk of your hall

Laundry facilities are located in every residence hall for residents to utilize. Our washers use laundry detergent pods that are "HE" for high-efficiency washing machines. The cost per wash load is $1.75 and $1.50 to dry for one hour.

Students are responsible for locking their room, even if just going down the hall, during sleep, or leaving the room unattended.

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.

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. Married students with spouses may contact University Apartments for housing needs.

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. For microwaves, please use one that uses 800 watts or less.

The office of Housing and Residence Life has a partnership with BedLoft.com where students can easily rent a fridge and microwave combo unit for the Academic Year.

Learn more about BedLoft

The following items are either prohibited or are allowed with restrictions in the residence halls. For items listed under restricted, it means that they are permitted in the residence halls, but specific guidelines must be followed in order to use safely in the halls.  

PROHIBITED ITEMS

  • Fire arms
  • Burning Candles
  • Incense
  • Tobacco Products - Including, but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipes, water pipes (hookah), bidis, kreteks, electronic cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, snuff, chewing tobacco and any non-FDA approved nicotine delivery device
  • Alcohol
  • Drugs
  • Explosives of any kind (including fireworks)
  • TV wall mounts - sticky/adhesive or screwed in
  • Live Holiday Trees
  • LED light strips
  • Smart light strips
  • Mirrors with an adhesive back
  • Buring candles
  • Pets of guests
  • Aquatic pets that can leave their bowl/tank on their own (fish permitted)
  • Aquariums or tanks larger than 20 gallons
  • Unapproved/non-ESA animals (this includes dogs, cats, newts, frogs, salamanders, turtles, birds, etc.)
  • Unapproved/unauthorized air conditioning units
  • Martial arts objects such as throwing stars, darts, nunchakus and bolas, and those used in hunting, such as bows and arrows
  • Space heaters
  • Wireless/3D printers
  • Toaster Oven
  • Routers
  • Hot plates and Candle Warmers
  • Deep fryers

RESTRICTED ITEMS

  • Toaster*
  • Panini or sandwich maker*
  • Coffee maker* (needs an automatic shutoff feature)
  • Microwave Oven* (must be 800 watts or less)
  • Air Fryer*
  • InstaPot*
  • Steam cooking appliances*
  • Clothes Iron (needs an automatic shutoff feature)
  • Hoverboards (cannot be used inside of the residence hall)
  • Scooters, motorized or electric (cannot be used inside of the residence halls)
  • Window decorations or signs that obstruct the window
  • Clothing Steamer (needs an automatic shutoff feature)
  • Crock Pot*
  • Mini fridge (must operate on no more than 1.6 amps and must be no more than 5 cubic feet)
  • Waffle maker*
  • 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. Extension cords should not be used in a series (one cord plugged into another).
*Indicates use ONLY in kitchenettes

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. Our contractor that hauls away all trash from the university will separate the commingled trash and recyclable items at its recycling center.

Our room repair website allows you to quickly and easily report non-emergency maintenance problems at any time of the day. 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. Otherwise, please submit your request online. 

Important: If you have disabled the pop-ups on your Internet browser, you will need to enable this feature to use the software.

We have a focus on sustainability to make sure our campus and halls are here for generations. Students can help with the sustainability of our halls by following the steps laid out in this guide

To promote water conservation, we ask students to take the following steps within the halls: 

  • Reduce shower time 
  • Ditch single-use bottles for refillable containers 
  • Try silk floss and bamboo toothbrushes 
  • Shampoo and conditioner bars last longer and are waste-free 
  • Try air drying some of your towels and clothing 
  • Turn off the water while brushing your teeth 
  • Always report leaky taps - repairs can be requested here
  • Never flush garbage down the toilet 
  • Turn off the water after each use 

Students are responsible for disposal of their own trash, or trash that accumulates in their rooms. Trash and recycling rooms are located on every floor in the residence halls. Additionally, there are dumpsters located outside of each residence hall for bulky/large items or high volumes of trash.

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. If needed, please contact Noyer Complex’s Assistant Residential Learning Coordinator or Residential Learning Coordinator. 

  • University Police - 765-285-1111 or 911
  • Muncie Fire Department - 765-747-4877
  • Muncie Police Department - 765-747-4838
  • Emergency Medical Services - 765-747-7790
  • Poison Control - 1-800-382-9097
  • Ball Memorial Hospital Switchboard - 765-747-3111

This section outlines the basic course of action when an alleged policy violation occurs and the steps that shall be followed by the department and the accused student through the Housing and Residence Life conduct system. Conduct proceedings are administered under the authority of the Director of Housing and Residence Life or designee.

  • Incident Reports
    Any student or employee of the university who alleges that a residence hall policy has been violated should contact a residence hall staff member to file an incident report. In most cases incident reports are submitted electronically to the Residential Learning Coordinator of the hall where the accused student lives. Accusations against students who live off campus or non-students are typically forwarded to the Office of Student Conduct for review. Once the incident report has been reviewed, the Residential Learning Coordinator, in consultation with an Assistant Director of Housing and Residence Life, will determine which alleged policy violation(s) for which the student will be charged.

    The accused student will receive notification (sent to the student's BSU email account) of the incident report and alleged policy violation(s). Prior to a hearing, the accused student may submit a written incident response (hard copy or email message to the hearing officer) that is included as part of the written record of the case. The student's response becomes a permanent part of the student's disciplinary record.

FILE AN INCIDENT REPORT

  • Disciplinary Meeting Types
    Residential Learning Coordinator Hearings are conducted by the Residential Learning Coordinator (RLC) or the Assistant Residential Learning Coordinator (ARLC) of the building in which the accused student lives. Administrative Hearings are conducted by an Area Coordinator.
  • 1 - Residential Learning Coordinator Hearing
    • An RLC or ARLC will hold a hearing in situations where a student has an allegation of a first or sometimes second offense that does not jeopardize the student’s housing contract or does not put the student in jeopardy of suspension or expulsion.
      • After reviewing an incident report and related documentation, the RLC or ARLC shall meet with the student to discuss the incident and the policy violation(s).
      • The student may request a meeting in advance of the hearing with the RLC or ARLC to discuss the student rights and responsibilities.
      • The student can plead "not responsible" for the alleged policy violation(s) and requests that the RLC meeting serve as a hearing for the charges.
      • The student can plead "responsible" for the policy violation(s) and have the sanction determined by the designated HRL staff member.
      • All findings and/or sanctions will be communicated to the student's BSU email account within two business days.
      • Should the accused student elect not to appear, the hearing shall be held in their absence. A plea of “Not Responsible in Absentia” will be entered on behalf of the student. In some cases, the Area Coordinator may elect to reschedule the hearing.
  •  2 - Preliminary Meeting
  • In situations where cancellation of the student's housing contract is a possibility or if the student documented is already on conduct probation, the purpose of the preliminary meeting is to offer the student the choice of having an Administrative Hearing with an Area Coordinator.
  • The HRL staff member (usually the RLC) will review with the student their rights and responsibilities regarding the HRL disciplinary system at Ball State University. 
  • If the student does not attend the preliminary meeting, the HRL staff member will refer the case to an Administrative Hearing.
  • 3 - Administrative Hearing
  • An employee of the Office of Housing and Residence Life shall meet with the student to discuss the incident and policy violation(s) and conduct the hearing. Students will have an administrative hearing with an employee of the Office of Housing and Residence Life if they fail to complete previously assigned sanctions. In most cases the hearing will be audio recorded.
  • The student can plead “responsible” or “not responsible” for each charge.
  • During the hearing, witnesses for the University and/or student may be utilized and will be presented as needed.
  • A witness list on behalf of the student must be submitted to the hearing officer via BSU email no later than one hour prior to the hearing.
  • A witness list on behalf of the University will be submitted to the student via BSU email no later than one hour prior to the hearing.
  • During the hearing a student may also utilize an advisor who may be present during the proceeding. An advisor of each student’s choice may accompany the accused and/or accuser(s). The advisor may attend, freely counsel, and assist the accused, but not act as a spokesperson.
  • In most cases, the findings and/or sanctions will be determined after the Administrative Hearing and will be communicated to the student in writing within two business days.
  • Should the accused student elect not to appear, the hearing shall be held in their absence. A plea of “Not Responsible in Absentia” will be entered on behalf of the student. In some cases, the HRL employee may elect to reschedule the hearing.
  • 4 - Sanctions
  • Alcohol/Drug Education Program: A student in violation of published alcohol/drug policies or who exhibits inappropriate behavior as a result of alcohol consumption or under the influence of a drug may be required to complete an education program at the student’s expense.
  • Ban from an Area: A student may be prohibited from entering or being on the premises of specific residence hall buildings or all residential facilities.
  • Disciplinary Probation: For a specified period of time during which the student must demonstrate a willingness and ability to conform to all university regulations. Any violation of university policy while on disciplinary probation may result in referral to the University Review Board with the possibility of housing contract cancellation, suspension or expulsion from the university.
  • Educational Requirements: A student may be required to do interviews, a research project, a reflection paper, university or community service, or other type of assignment to provide a learning experience related to the violation.
  • Official Written Reprimand: A written warning that the continuation or repetition of unacceptable conduct may lead to further disciplinary action.
  • Restitution: A student whose actions cause damage to public or private property or injury to another person, may be required to provide monetary reimbursement for restoration of or replacement of property or for medical bills related to injuries.
  • Referral: The student may be referred to an appropriate university service office or to an outside agency to assist that student in achieving personal, social, or emotional growth.
  • Relocation: A student may be relocated to another residence hall and subsequently restricted from the facility and/or the area of where the incident occurred.
  • Termination of Housing Contract: A student may have their room and board contract terminated and be required to vacate the residence hall. The student will be given at least 48 hours to vacate the residence halls. Any additional violation occurring prior to vacating the residence halls will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct. Students, who are under the age of 21, have not lived two semesters in the residence halls, and are freshmen will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct for possible additional disciplinary sanctions for violation of the residency requirement.
  • 5 - Appeal Process
    • A student may appeal the result of an Assistant/Residential Learning Coordinator Hearing decision to the Area Coordinator or the Assistant Director for Care and Conduct.
    • A student has two business days from the delivery of the original decision to the student's BSU email in which to submit an appeal in writing.
    • A student may appeal based on the following reasons:
      • A procedural or substantive error occurred that significantly affected the outcome of the hearing, such as substantiated bias or material deviation from established procedures.
      • An unduly harsh sanction against the accused student.
      • New information of a substantive nature sufficient to alter a decision, because such information and/or facts were not known to the accused student at the time of the original hearing.
    • An appeal may be resolved in one of the following ways:
      • The original decision may be upheld.
      • Modified, lesser sanctions may be imposed.
      • The case may be remanded back for a new hearing.
      • All allegations may be dismissed.
    • The appellate decision shall be final and will not be subject to any further appeal.
  • 6 - Automatic Review
    • The Associate Director of Housing and Residence Life will automatically review any case resulting in termination of the housing contract.
  • 7 - Referrals to the Office of Student Conduct
    • After consultation, any case may be referred to the Office of Student Conduct for adjudication or for consideration of additional sanctions when:
      • Violations are of a more serious nature and may warrant consideration of suspension or expulsion from the university.
      • Violations involve off-campus students or actions.
      • On campus students are involved with prior violations that were heard by the Office of Student Conduct.
      • Or others deemed necessary by HRL staff. 

Housing and Residence Life has a partnership with BedLoft.com where students can easily rent a fridge and microwave combo unit also known as a MicroFridge for the Academic Year!

A MicroFridge is a combination freezer, refrigerator, and microwave oven designed for students' busy lifestyles. It holds, stores, and prepares the beverages, frozen foods, and microwave products you enjoy at home, but in the compact space you will call "home" while you're away at school. The separate freezer is complete with a wide door for storage and lots of shelf space. The dedicated microwave heats food evenly and the whole unit is designed to resist spills for easy cleaning. The unit requires only a single plug, so there's no need for additional extension cords, outlets, or adapters.

Renting ensures a smoother and safer move-in process for all students! By renting through BedLoft, the micro-fridge will be delivered directly to your room prior to move-in. The company will also remove the micro-fridge at the end of the academic year. For product information, pricing, and ordering, please visit www.MyCollegeFridge.com.

LEARN MORE

Wondering what all you should bring for your new room?  We have some recommendations to help as you prepare for your big move! Ultimately, make sure to bring things that will make your space feel comfortable and like your very own.

RECOMMENDED CHECKLIST

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 or necessary.

To loft or stack furniture, a rubber mallet is recommended to help with the process. Students can borrow this tool from the front desk of their residence hall. When lofting or stacking furniture in a student room, one window must remain completely free and clear of obstruction. Fire safety codes require at least three feet of space between the window and any items that could obstruct the window for use as an emergency entrance/exit. Student rooms are checked for loft policy violations periodically. Residential Learning Coordinators 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.

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 or through the "Fix My Home" portal. Please be aware that these are available on a first come, first served basis.

REQUEST A BED RAIL

Every room within the residence halls are furnished with the following items: 

  • Twin XL bed and mattress
  • Desk
  • Chair
  • Wardrobe or Closet
  • Dresser
  • Trashcan

All furniture provided in a room must stay in the room.

Residents are allowed to have visitors (any gender) with the approval of their roommate. Read more about policies regarding guests in the residence hall on our policies page.

LEARN MORE

Students may not hang items from ceilings. Also, the use of acetate, cellophane, tissue paper, or other combustible materials over or in light fixtures is forbidden by fire regulations.

3M products are also not permitted for use, as they damage the walls of the residential space. The Office of Housing and Residence Life provides a substitute product free of charge available at each hall’s front desk.

Additionally, LED or Smart lighting strips are not permitted in the halls. The adhesive on the back of the lights damages the walls in the halls. Students who bring and hang these light fixtures will be responsible for a damage fee.

Many holiday decorations are highly combustible and special care must be taken in decorating. Light cords used on artificial trees or in room decorations (including lights used in windows) must be Underwriter's Laboratory (UL) approved and should be checked for safety. Lights must be turned off when leaving the room. Window decorations celebrating the current holiday are permitted to be displayed but cannot obstruct the window.

Student organizations affiliated with Housing and Residence Life offer a variety of fundraising opportunities for students and family members to support. 

 
RESIDENCE HALL LINENS PROGRAM 
Students want to be comfortable in their residence hall. As a result, RHA has partnered with our preferred vendor, On Campus Marketing, to offer the Residence Hall Linens Program to students. Extra-long sheets are often a challenge to find, so an array of custom-sized linens guaranteed to fit is offered. We also provide an assortment of other supplies including storage solutions, pillows, extra-long comforters, extra-long mattress pads, and anything else you may need. Funds raised from this program support student events through the Residence Hall Association (RHA).

Order Linens

CARE PACKAGE PROGRAM 
Share your love and support all year long with the Care Package Program. This program is sponsored by RHA in partnership with our preferred vendor, Sealed With A Kiss. A care package is the best way to remind your student that family members are thinking of them on a birthday, a holiday, and during final exams. Each of our care packages are loaded with all of your student's favorite snacks and can include a personal note. Don't just show them how much you care, tell them! Money raised from this program supports student events through RHA.

Order a Care Package

 

Students are able to request a roommate change if needed. These requests can be made by reaching out to their building’s Residential Learning Coordinator via email.

Please be aware that roommate changes are dependent on available space and are at the discretion of the building's Residential Learning Coordinator (RLC). Before approving a change, RLCs will work with students to help them understand the situation and make a sincere effort to work out the problem.

Students are not able to move from their assigned room into another residence hall without prior permission of the RLC involved. Room or roommate changes are not made on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, or physical ability.
 
Students are able to request a roommate change if needed. These requests can be made by reaching out to their building’s Residential Learning Coordinator via email.

Visit the Roommates Page

Students are able to request a room change if needed. These requests can be made directly on the online housing portal by completing our room change request form.

Please be aware that room changes are dependent on available space and are at the discretion of the building's Residential Learning Coordinator (RLC). Before approving a change, RLCs will work with students to help them understand the situation and make a sincere effort to work out the problem.

Students are not able to move from their assigned room into another residence hall without prior permission of the RLC involved. Room or roommate changes are not made on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, or physical ability.

How to Request a Room Change

  1.  Log-in to the online housing portal with your BSU ID and password.
  2. Select the three horizontal lines located on the far left of the top red navigation bar.
  3. From the drop down, select "Forms".
  4. Once on the forms page, select "Residence Hall Forms" from the "forms category" drop down.
  5. On the Residence Halls Forms Page, choose "Request a Room Change" from the drop down.
  6. Complete the required information on the form. Once submitted, the form will be sent to the proper person in Housing and Residence Life to review.
  7. Please be patient, and a person from our office will contact you directly once your form has been reviewed.

Students who find themselves without roommates due to cancellations, withdrawals, or room changes have the following options:

  • Pay a higher adjusted rate for the double accommodation as a single, if applicable.
  • Room with another student.
  • If offered, students may stay in the room (without paying as a single) with the understanding that at any time a new roommate will be assigned to the room and the option no longer exists to pay for the double as a single.

The University reserves the right to inspect a room for damage or stolen property, to make repairs, and to check rooms at all break periods.

Ball State University reserves the right to enter rooms without a search warrant for any reasonable purpose.

Searches will not be made in halls unless there is an emergency requiring immediate action (i.e., medical concern or extreme community disruption) or unless there is a search warrant, or the members of University Police assume responsibility for the search.

Should an emergency occur in your building, the following information provided is organized to inform and prepare residents about different emergency response procedures. Residence Hall staff are available to answer questions about these procedures if necessary. 

A student's Ball State ID Card is their lifeline on campus. It's important that they always keep it on them, as it will be required as a source of entry and identification in the residence halls 
 
If a student misplaces or loses their identification card, a temporary key card may be checked out from the hall desk. This card will not enable the student to eat in the dining service; however, it will give the student access to their residence hall. Failure to return this card within the designated time will result in a replacement fee. 
 
A replacement BSU ID Card may be obtained by visiting the ID Card Office located in Bracken Library, Room BL 001.

Learn more about Ball State ID Cards

Ball State University does not carry insurance on students or their property and is not liable for personal property that may be lost, stolen, or damaged. Students are strongly encouraged to insure their personal belongings. Before pursuing personal property insurance, we advise students to check with their parent/guardian to see if coverage is available as an addendum through their insurance. Learn more about student property insurance here.
Piggybacking is when an unauthorized person follows an authorized individual to enter secured premises. This method is an easy way for an unauthorized individual to get around security mechanisms that are set in place to keep the building secure. The security of the building and its residents comes into question due to piggybacking.  
 
As a resident of the building, please take responsibility to prevent unauthorized individuals from entering the building behind you. Additionally, do your best to not allow the individual to follow you into areas in the building that you know require BSU ID card access.
For the safety and security of residents and guests, security cameras are located in the common areas of the residence halls as well as several necessary locations inside and outside of the halls. People's behaviors may be recorded using these devices. It is a violation of residence hall policy to tamper with safety equipment, including security cameras.

Several practices and policies are employed at Ball State University to ensure as safe a community as possible, but the key element is student cooperation. The following information includes safety suggestions for residents: 

  • Carry your student ID and room key with you. 
  • Lock your door and take your key every time you leave your room. 
  • Never give your keys or your student ID to anyone, even your best friends. 
  • Do not prop open any doors in your residence hall complex. 
  • Do not let strangers into the hall or into your room. 
  • Report suspicious people in the hall immediately to the hall desk, any hall staff member, or to University Police. 
  • Escort your guests at all times.
  • Know the telephone numbers for your Resident Assistant and Residential Learning Coordinator
  • Close and lock first- and second-floor windows when you leave your room. 
  • Do not hide door keys outside and do not loan keys to friends. 
  • Do not leave valuables such as your ID, wallets, money, or cell phones for all to see.

Familiarize yourself with the Indiana Lifeline Law and Ball State’s Good Neighbor Policy. Students are always encouraged to call for emergency assistance as needed, even at the risk of disciplinary action for one’s own conduct. When another person is in need of critical care or when a situation otherwise warrants an emergency response, call 911 immediately. The Good Neighbor Exception provides students the opportunity for university disciplinary action to be waived if they risked revealing one’s own violation of the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities to seek medical or other emergency assistance for another person in distress.

The university maintains a tornado warning system on campus. The sirens are located on the roofs of Schmidt/Wilson Hall, Studebaker West Complex, DeHority Complex, and North Quad and are used in conjunction with sirens throughout the city of Muncie. These sirens are tested every Friday at 11:00 a.m. 
 
When the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning, Ball State will post pertinent information on the homepage of bsu.edu and send a text message to subscribers of the university’s emergency text-messaging system. Students, employees, and others should continue to monitor the weather via radio or television until the tornado warning has been lifted for their area.

Sign-Up for University Emergency Text Notifications

Should a building experience a water or power outage, students will receive communication to their Ball State email address from either the Office of Housing and Residence Life (housing@bsu.edu) or their building’s Residential Learning Coordinator. In the event of a power outage, the front desk of the residence hall and the student’s Ball State email will serve as the central communication center for the hall staff and students until the power is restored. 
 
If an outage is significant and affects a large portion of campus, communication will come from the University’s communication center. Make sure that you sign-up to receive Emergency Text Notifications from the University.

Sign-Up for University Emergency Text Notifications

Students may bring desktop computers or personal gaming computers into the residence halls.

Students found to be improperly downloading copyrighted material may have their network access turned off,  pending review by proper university officials.

Students living in the residence halls and University Apartments are not permitted to bring or use personal wireless routers or devices that transmit a wireless signal, like a wireless printer, mobile hotspot, or similar devices in the rooms/apartments. When one of these restricted devices is in use, it can negatively affect the Ball State Wi-Fi signal to your neighbors.

Contact the Technology Help Desk if you have issues.

Wireless access is provided to the entire Ball State University campus, and by Fall 2024 our halls will be Wi-Fi-only, utilizing Wi-Fi 6/6E access points throughout. Unified Communications provides four wireless networks:

Unified Communications provides four wireless networks:

  1. bsuconnect is a secure network for faculty, staff, and students
  2. bsu@home is specifically designed for gaming and streaming purposes
  3. bsuguest which is intended for our campus visitors
  4. eduroam which can be used by guests from participating eduroam schools along with Ball State faculty, staff, and students. 

Contact the Technology Help Desk if you have issues connecting to Wi-Fi. 

Contact the Technology Help Desk 


Wi-Fi 6e Adapters and Hardware

Special adapters are not necessarily required for the BSU Wi-Fi network as existing hardware and operating systems still work with the available wireless networks. If you want to get the most performance possible from the wireless network, we recommend using a Wi-Fi 6E network adapter.

  • For a PC, it is recommended to use Microsoft Windows 11 with a Wi-Fi 6E adapter.
  • For a Mac, many devices manufactured in 2024 support Wi-Fi 6E. A list of supported devices can be found here: Apple Wi-Fi 6E
  • The Ball State University Technology Store carries Dell and Apple devices that are Wi-Fi 6E capable for students to purchase at an educational discounted rate. Please contact the Technology Store directly for more information.
  • If you have a computer that isn’t Wi-Fi 6E capable, you can purchase a Wi-Fi 6E adapter that attaches via USB 3.0 or a PCI-E slot.  For questions regarding Wi-Fi 6E adapters,  please contact the Ball State University, Technology Helpdesk.
  • If you need assistance with a Wi-Fi 6E adapter installation, Ball State University’s Tech Time can assist. Information regarding Tech Time can be found on their website.

Please contact the Technology Help Desk for further questions.

CONTACT THE TECHNOLOGY HELP DESK

University Emergency Text Notifications      

Sign-up to receive emergency text notifications.

Learn more

Questions?

If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.