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Latest updates and stories from Ball State University.

Ball State University Blog

What Are Some Tips for Living with College Roommates?

Roommates talking at a desk in a dorm room.

Living with a roommate is often one of the first major transitions students experience when moving into a college dorm or residence hall. Sharing a space means balancing schedules, habits, and personal preferences. With the right mindset and preparation, living in a residence hall can become one of the most rewarding parts of college. These […]

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What Are College Dorm Rooms Like? What to Expect When Living On-Campus

Students tossing a small football in a dorm room.

Moving into a college dorm—often referred to as a residence hall—is typically a student’s first experience living on campus. At Ball State University, residence halls are designed to support both academic success and community living. From furnished rooms to shared study spaces, understanding what to expect can help you feel prepared and confident before move-in […]

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Students Help Shape a New Tradition for Honoring Ball State Employees

Group of students posing outside in the sun

Not every student project ends up in the hands of hundreds of employees. But this year, a set of small stickers is helping tell a bigger story about connection at Ball State University. Designed by graphic design students in Studio 165+, a student-run design course led by Shantanu Suman, associate professor of art, stickers were […]

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From pressure to purpose—building confidence through architecture

Brodie Budzinski, a young man with short brown hair, brown facial hair, wearing glasses and a red and white striped sweatshirt and holding up a weaved 3D model

When I tell people I studied architecture, the response is almost always the same: “Whew! That’s intense.” And honestly, they’re not wrong. The program demands your time, creativity, patience—and more than a few sleepless nights. What I didn’t expect was how much I would grow through that intensity, or how much I would come to […]

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From limited to leading—discovering direction through planning and persistence

Brooke Wagner, a young woman with long brown hair and bangs wearing glasses ans smiling while holding up a paper with an architectural drawing on it.

My journey to Ball State and to the Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning (ECAP) began long before I first applied to the program. I come from a previously low-income family that grew together through our hardships. I took a special interest in the dedication my parents had to ensuring I had a fulfilling childhood. […]

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Ball State’s Dr. Jason Rivera Selected as Aspen Rising Presidents Fellow

Dr. Jason Rivera smiling in a professional headshot.

Dr. Jason Rivera, vice provost for student success and dean of University College at Ball State University, has been selected as one of 40 leaders nationwide for the 2026-27 Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship. The Aspen Institute’s Rising Presidents Fellowship is designed to prepare the next generation of higher education leaders to advance student success, strengthen […]

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From timid to trailblazer—advocating through voice and visibility

When I first came to Ball State, I felt both excited and scared. As the youngest of four, I had always been known as someone’s younger sister. Now, I was going somewhere no one knew my older siblings, and I could finally be seen as my own person. I was excited to make new friends […]

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The Louie Awards, A Ball State Tradition, Honor Student Storytellers

People seated at tables facing a person at a podium with "Louie Awards 2026" banners in the background.

Each year, students across the School of Journalism and Strategic Communication (SJSC), housed within Ball State University’s College of Communication, Information, and Media, gather to celebrate the work they’ve spent months—sometimes years—bringing to life. Late-night newsroom deadlines, client pitches, and multimedia productions all lead to a single evening celebration: the Louie Awards, which were held […]

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The Teacher in the Lab: How Dr. Paul R. Errington’s Legacy Still Shapes Ball State

Dr. Paul R. Errington sits at a keyboard beside a computer terminal in a Ball State University lab, reflecting the hands-on electronics work and teaching that defined his 34-year career.

For some families, a parent’s workplace exists at a distance—a building you pass, a place you hear about, but rarely know. For the Errington family, it was something else entirely. At Ball State University, Dr. Paul R. Errington’s work was never confined neatly to office hours or classroom walls. His daughters spent time in the […]

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From vulnerable to visionary—embracing growth and inner strength

Portrait of Angel Esquivel Vazquez, with dark, curly hair smiling while crossing his arms and wearing a red long-sleeve shirt.

My time at Ball State has been defined by one realization: the most important tools for success are already within each person. When I arrived on campus, I was still recovering from open-heart surgery. In 2020, I had to confront a congenital heart condition that could have easily sidelined my ambitions. Navigating the rigorous demands […]

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