May 4, 2020
Dear Colleagues:
On April 8, 2020, we were pleased to provide you with details on how the Office of Admissions is working to aggressively recruit the next generation of Cardinals during the COVID-19 crisis.
Today, we are writing to update you on our plans for freshman Orientation. Traditionally, we welcome nearly 4,000 committed students to campus in the months of June and July.
However, as you are aware, the COVID-19 crisis has caused Ball State, and most other universities across the nation, to move to a program that is entirely online.
Being able to personally welcome and interact with our future Cardinals during Orientation has been one of the highlights of the Summer months on campus. However, the online programing developed by the Orientation Advisory Board will be a meaningful way to connect new students to Ball State by providing them with opportunities to interact with each other online, and more importantly, to prepare them to start their academic careers.
The key elements of our plan include:
- On Monday, May 4, the Office of Orientation will email Fall 2020 confirmed students regarding how learning outcomes, student engagement, and course registration content will be adapted to a virtual format as part of Ball State University’s response to COVID-19. This communication will be sent daily as new students confirm their enrollment plans for Fall 2020 and will include an outstanding welcome video from Orientation Director Samantha Ray and her staff.
- Beginning in late May, the Freshman Advising Center, Honors College, and Upper Division Advising Center will hold virtual academic advising and course registration appointments for all Fall 2020 confirmed students. These offices will also mail the Advising Handbook and Academic Planning Worksheet to their respective students.
- The Office of Orientation will create a Canvas Community for students with sections based upon the academic college of their intended major including the R. Wayne Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning; Miller College of Business; College of Communication, Information, and Media; College of Fine Arts; College of Health; College of Sciences and Humanities; Teachers College; and Exploratory Studies.
- The Office of Orientation will garner interest for virtual presentations hosted by campus partners and create a schedule for virtual engagement from June 1 to July 31. In addition, a special page on the Orientation website is being created to include critical resources for families. The Office of Orientation will also host virtual student panels for families.
There are ongoing discussions within the Orientation Advisory Board about the possibility of conducting some traditional on-campus Orientation activities with students and their families both during Welcome Week, August 19-23, and Family Weekend, September 25-27. Of course, that will depend on the situation with COVID-19. We will keep you informed about those options as the situation develops.
Thank you for your unwavering support of this event and our students. If you have any questions or would like more information about these plans, please feel free to contact a member of our Orientation team.
