Ball State University Athletics
Important Information Regarding COVID-19
| What You Need to Know |
| The following is current as of Thursday, May 28 … |
| • Click here for Ball State University's plan to return to campus in the fall. |
Important Numbers/Links
Ball State Coronavirus Page | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Coronavirus Page | Indiana State Department of Health
Ball State Human Resources – 765-285-1823 or emprelations@bsu.edu
Student-Athlete Wellness Information (PDF) | Staff Alternative Work Guidance Form/Information (PDF) |
Athletics Department Conference Call Information (if needed) – Phone Number: 415-655-0002, Access Code: 922 840 404
Budgets (updated March 16, 2020)
• Any future expenses from your unit or sport budgets, should receive prior approval from your supervisor.
Campus (updated March 24, 2020 at 2 p.m.)
• Effective Sunday, March 29, 2020 at 5 p.m., Ball State University's residence halls will be closed. Students who presently reside in Ball State's residence halls have now been asked to leave by Tuesday, March 24, 2020 at 10 p.m.
• Any student who has NOT received a waiver is urged to move off-campus as soon as possible.
• Strongly encourage your student-athletes who live in off-campus housing (and remain in the area) to return home/or to a safe location where they have a support system if one is available.
• Very limited exceptions to this directive will be made in extraordinary cases, including where students may not have safe and suitable alternative living arrangements, or where they have prohibitive travel restrictions or exceptional ongoing academic commitments.
• In light of this public health crisis, Ball State University will not enforce the standard provisions in our housing contract. Students will receive a credit to their bursar accounts in the appropriate pro-rata amount, subject to applicable federal financial aid regulations, to be applied to future expenses. President Mearns has authorized our staff, in exceptional circumstances, to consider whether providing a pro-rata refund to a student, instead of a credit, is necessary to relieve unusual financial hardship.
• We are still asking you to keep Ryne Hillenberg informed of departures so we can provide support as needed to those that remain in the locale.
• All campus recreation facilities are closed until further notice.
Classes (updated April 8, 2020)
• Beginning Monday, March 16, Ball State has suspended all in-person classes for the duration of the Spring semester. In-person classes will be replaced with virtual instruction and other alternative learning options.
• All summer classes will be conducted via virtual instruction.
• We are coordinating with SASS to ensure the continued academic support of student-athletes as they complete their coursework this semester.
• Students who live in the residence halls are being directed to leave by Tuesday, March 24, 2020 at 10 p.m.
• Megan Davis will be reaching out to coaches with a complete academic plan that outlines how SASS will support the student-athletes for the rest of the semester.
• Please alert your assigned academic advisor if you have any concerns.
Events/Visitors (updated March 24, 2020)
• Any event intended to bring people onto campus, including camps and clinics, are currently prohibited through April 30.
• All Athletic Department sponsored events scheduled prior to April 30, including the Chirpies and the Scheumann Family Indoor Practice Facility groundbreaking will be canceled/postponed.
Mental Health (updated April 20, 2020)
• This is an abrupt halt for all of our student-athletes in-season and out-of season, and there is additional stress given health concerns and the change in academic expectations. Please check-in with them regularly, and be sure they are aware that counseling services remain open on campus.
• Continue to use Lindsey Blom and Dr. Lee who can direct students to the appropriate resources.
• Articles to assist with grief: Article 1 | Article 2
• Articles for coaches to help student-athletes cope with life stress: Article 1 | Article 2
Practices/Athletic Activities (updated April 2, 2020)
• General
--Coaches can require and participate in up to 8 hours/week of the following activities
1. Virtual film review
***All required virtual film review is limited to a maximum of 4 hours per declared week for all sports. That leaves up to 4 hours for other required athletically-related virtual team meetings for other activities for a total of 8 hours per week.
2. Virtual classroom-type meetings with student-athletes - goal setting, playbook review, offensive/defensive strategy, mental imagery, etc.
--Student-Athletes must have at least two off days during your declared week, like a normal 8-hour week
--In sports other than football, all CARA is prohibited on week prior to finals - therefore, all CARA must cease beginning Tuesday, April 21st through the conclusion of the semester
--Please continue to log CARA activities and off days in Jump Forward
• Permissible
--SAs may request advice/guidance from coaches on workout activities and film review
--SAs may (at their discretion) record themselves doing a sport-specific motion and review such film with a coach
--Sport coaches and strength coaches may continue to design (and demonstrate via Zoom/YouTube, etc.) workouts for SAs to do at their discretion
--SAs are encouraged to utilize academic support, mental health services and athletic training guidance as needed
--There are no limits on the mode/frequency of communication between coaches and SAs
--Daily calls/video chats and virtual meetings that are not sport specific do not count towards the required hours
• Not Permissible
--Requiring SAs to participate in any physical activity – in person or virtual
--Requiring SAs to record themselves participating in voluntary activities to send to coaches
--Institutional staff (coaches, S/C, etc) cannot post or Repost images and/or video of SAs engaged in voluntary related activities
• NCAA Eligibility Updates
--The NCAA has extended all spring sport student-athletes' five-year clock by an additional year.
--Financial aid stipulations for student-athletes who would have exhausted eligibility during 2019-20:
* Institutions are not required to provide the same amount of athletic aid provided during 2019-20; and
* Institutions may utilize the Student Assistance Fund to cover scholarships for students who choose to take advantage of additional year.
--Other items include that winter sports were not included in the decision and the roster limit for baseball was also increased - the only spring sport with such limit.
--Discussions will also occur related to season of competition waivers for those winter sport student-athletes who were unable to complete their seasons.
Recruiting (updated May 19, 2020)
• Involvement of PSAs
--Permissible
1. Signed PSAs may join a Zoom/Webex call with coaches and other signed/committed walk-on (those who have paid enrollment deposit) PSAs to discuss general reminders, campus updates, task completion, etc.
2. A call/video chat with SAs and PSAs provided content is like a meet & greet, general check-in, etc. If this option is used, the time must count against CARA hours
--Not Permissible
1. Coaches may not have a call with multiple unsigned PSAs
2. PSAs, signed or not, may NOT observe virtual team meetings (includes any film review, playbook discussion, strategy, imagery, etc.)
• Dead period extended through at least June 30
--Permissible
1. Calls/video chat with one unsigned PSA and his/her parents to those PSAs of age to receive calls
2. Calls/Video with multiple signees
3. Customized video/audio to signees
4. Questionnaires to individuals of any age
5. Mail to those PSAs of age to receive correspondence
6. Email to those PSAs of age to receive correspondence
7. Text messages to those PSAs of age to receive correspondence
8. Contact with Signed PSAs
9. Sport-specific involvement with a local sports club (must be approved by compliance)
• The NLI program will resume from its current pause on Wednesday, April 15. April 15 through Aug. 1 will be an open signing period for eligible prospects for ALL sports (including basketball and football). The financial aid agreement piece will be evaluated soon and will likely align with the NLI dates.
Staff (updated April 17, 2020)
• Governor Holcomb has issued an Executive Order directing all Indiana residents to "Stay at Home." The Order, which is effective March 24 at 11:59 p.m. and was recently extended through May 1, 2020.
• All staff members who have the ability to work remotely should do so effectively immediately. If you have not yet submitted your Alternative Work Agreement (PDF) and work plan or received approval, the agreement is available online. Although the situation may change, for now, you no longer have the option to work on campus. Staff who have not completed the alternative work agreement must do so by 5 p.m. Eastern on Monday, March 23.
• For those who do not have the ability to work remotely, please refer to the leave guidance provided in the Alternative Work Arrangements (PDF) document. The version linked in this note includes revisions because of new federal guidance. You should direct to your supervisor, Employee Relations or Human Resources.
• You may periodically access the building to collect necessary items. We ask that you connect with your supervisor in advance and wipe down any surfaces you touch while in the building.
• Limited mail service and printing will be available upon request. Please make Stephanie Martin or Robin Carter aware of any anticipated needs.
• Any specific questions about sick leave, vacation, PTO, or FLMA can be directed to the Division of Human Resources (see above).
• Employees should stay home if they are feeling ill, or have been exposed to someone who is ill.
• Anyone who leaves an area with widespread, ongoing community spread of COVID-19 or has had close contact with a person know to have COVID-19 should stay at home for 14 days following the time of contact.
• Continue to practice good hygiene, social distancing, and adhere to previously shared campus guidance on meetings and events.
Travel (updated March 16, 2020)
• Both international and domestic University sponsored/financially supported travel continues to be suspended. A request for any exception should be directed to Beth Goetz, and will only be considered for situations that are mission critical.
• All on and off-campus recruiting activities have been suspended by the NCAA until at least April 15.
• If you have any personal travel planned outside of Indiana we ask that you share that information with us before returning to work.
Working Wellness Resources (updated April 13, 2020)
• Employee Wellness Resources
• Lifeworks Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Live Health Online Psychology
• Lifeworks Newsfeed
• Social Media Feeds: Facebook | Twitter
• Staff Wellness Information
• Wellness Coach
• Working Wellness Challenges for Working Remotely