May 10, 2021
Dear Students:
We know how important a vibrant campus is to you and your experience at Ball State University. We are listening and have taken steps to bring our campus closer to the familiar, energetic learning environment you love.
Last week, the Board of Trustees passed a resolution to return to traditional modalities of instruction, a traditional academic calendar—including Fall, Thanksgiving, and Spring breaks—and a traditional housing and residence life program. We also expect a more robust array of co-curricular and extra-curricular programs on our beautiful campus. President Mearns communicated in greater detail about the Board’s action last week. I encourage you to read his message, too.
Our Board of Trustees also approved a COVID-19 vaccination incentive plan that includes benefits for faculty, staff, and students. Any student who has been fully vaccinated and is subsequently identified as a close contact of another person who tests positive for the coronavirus will no longer be required to quarantine unless the vaccinated student shows symptoms. We hope the personal benefits of being vaccinated will encourage you to do so before returning to campus.
Finally, the Board approved possible enhancements to our vaccination plan. These enhancements will be implemented if the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advances the three vaccines from their current emergency use authorization status to full approval. If that happens, Ball State will likely require students to be vaccinated if their activities pose a greater risk of transmission. For example, we will consider requiring the following students to be vaccinated:
- Students who live in residence halls or a fraternity house;
- Students who participate in intercollegiate athletics;
- Students who participate in bands, choirs, theater, dance programs;
- Students who teach or have other field experiences in K-12 schools; or
- Students who participate in other educational or co-curricular activities that pose a greater risk of transmission.
If a student in one of the required student populations is exempted from the vaccination requirement, we may require that student to be tested regularly to reduce the risk of transmission to another student in that population group.
The goal of our vaccination plans is to substantially increase the number of fully vaccinated people who are teaching, working, learning, socializing, and living on the Ball State campus.
Considering as much, I encourage all students to make plans to receive their COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. Getting vaccinated also aligns with our Cardinals Care Pledge, which has guided us throughout the pandemic. Our pledge encourages us to care for ourselves, for other Cardinals, and to care for our campus and community.
For more information on getting vaccinated, including information about our on-campus clinic, visit our website. Or, visit ourshot.in.gov or call 211 to schedule an appointment anywhere in Indiana.
