So–your student is ready to leave the nest, but is thinking about going to a school that isn’t close by. We know that can be a bit scary and overwhelming, so here are the top 10 things you need to know about making Butler’s campus your child’s home away from home.
1: Community
Your student will join a community that supports students in every aspect of their lives. From current students, to faculty members, to alumni, to members of the surrounding community, your student will join a group of people who are proud of being a Butler Bulldog. Students lift each other up, faculty members challenge their classes, and campus provides a safe place to explore various interests and passions.
2: Housing
So much of creating a home revolves around having a comfortable space to work, sleep, and socialize. Students live on campus for the first three years, which helps establish a strong community and build connections. The Community Assistants organize programs and events so students are able to meet the new people and Residence Life is committed to helping support students during their transition to college.
3: Dining
Nothing feels more like home than a made-from-scratch meal. Butler’s Dining Services provides plenty of healthy and delicious options for students. Bon Appetit, our campus dining partner, is focused on wellness, sustainability, and catering to the needs of students. There’s a dietitian on staff to assist with any special dining accommodations like food allergies. There are also several dining options across campus, so students can choose between a sit down, all-you-can-eat meal in the Marketplace at Atherton Union or get a quick grab-and-go meal at Plum Market.
4: Safety
All students, faculty, and staff are connected to our Dawg Alert system that keeps campus up-to-date on any important safety information such as fire alarms, power outages, suspicious activity reported on or near campus, and more. Emergency call boxes are also located throughout campus, and are actively monitored by the Butler University Police Department.
5: Dedicated Faculty
Butler University has an 11:1 student to faculty ratio, and these dedicated faculty members care about your student’s well-being in and out of the classroom. With an average class size of 21, faculty members know their students by name and notice if they have missed a class or are struggling with the material. They all provide office hours throughout the semester, and are willing to make extra time for a student if they need help on a paper, project, or just want to discuss a lesson. Each student is paired with a faculty advisor from their specific major’s department, so they have an expert guiding them through their class selection and academic career.
6: Health Services
The first time getting sick away from home is the worst, and as family living far away, you can sometimes feel helpless. Butler University Health Services understands that and places an emphasis on treating the medical, emotional, and educational needs of students. Whether your student has a sore throat or would like to talk to one of our mental health professionals, they can head to the Health and Recreation Center to get the help they need.
7: BUBeWell
The overall well-being of all Butler students is top-priority. The BUBeWell Model is an eight dimension model that builds a foundation for a transformative and holistic student experience. The eight dimensions include: Mind and Body, Diversity and Inclusion, Intellectual, Social, Service and Community, Career and Life Skills, Meaning and Purpose, and Sustainability.
8: Involvement
While students are often eager to gain some independence, homesickness can sometimes still creep in. Luckily, we have plenty of ways to help keep that feeling at bay. With over 130 student organizations, there are plenty of ways for students to get involved. Butler has 20 Division 1 athletic teams, and our students thoroughly enjoy attending these athletic events. In fact, experiencing a Men’s Basketball game in Hinkle Fieldhouse is a must. Students also have the opportunity to attend various concerts, musicals, lecture series, and more in Clowes Hall and other performance spaces around campus.
9: Family Events
Families are always welcomed and encouraged to visit campus. Homecoming is the perfect way to see our beautiful campus in the fall and reunite with your child. From tailgating at the football game to the Bulldog Beauty Contest, the weekend is packed with fun-filled activities. If you can’t make it to Homecoming, we also host a Family Weekend later in the semester.
10: Location
Even if you aren’t just down the road, visiting your student is quite easy, due to the University’s location. Butler’s campus is located only 20 minutes from the Indianapolis International Airport and hotels are easily accessible near campus. Downtown Indianapolis and Broad Ripple provide great entertainment. There are plenty of restaurants to try out, walking and biking paths to explore, shops to peruse, and more.
It is important that each student feels like Butler is the right fit for them, but we also want to make sure that each family also feels comfortable and welcomed. We highly recommend visiting campus as a family before your student moves in. Whether you join us for an official visit during the college search process, (see Eight Things to Know Before your Official Visit to get the scoop on how best to prepare for your tour of campus) or make a special trip over the summer before classes start to walk around campus on your own, seeing campus for yourself can be extremely helpful.
Anne Denz is an Admission Counselor within Butler’s Office of Admission. Anne works with students living in Illinois’ South and Southwest suburbs; Kansas; Kansas City and St. Joseph, Missouri; Minnesota; and Wisconsin.