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[lovelysmith]

I got a brand new job offer from Ball State. And was wondering if anyone has any experience with the University and the community. And insights on job conditions and safe living would be greatly appreciated!!!

[clean]

A PhD school buddy is there.  He has been there a while and likes it very much.

I seem to recall him saying that the housing stock is pretty old.  So make sure that you get everything inspected.  I recall one story of a house he looked at where the dryer was vented to the attic.  There was a lot of mold up there but they tried to tell him alternatively that "it is black because it is dead" or "it is the 'good' mold". 

Anyway, he indicated that most of the houses were built in the 50s and 60s and any newer construction was replacement for something that burned down or was otherwise rebuilt.

One of the benefits there is that they pay 12% toward retirement with no required match on your end.

Congrats on the new job. 

[samspade]

I taught there and thought the school was wonderful. Muncie on the other hand is dying-live in Northern Indianapolis, it will be a 30-40 minute drive, but beat the heck out living in a Muncie neighborhood where almost all the street lights are dark and often by the end of winter, the city has exhausted its budget on salt and snow plowing. Indy is great with a good nightlife, reasonable housing and the Colts.

[lovelysmith]

Thank you for sharing, clean and samspade..I also think the school is wonderful with lots of happenings...As I am looking for housing..seems there are not much options!!!(most of them are 50s and 60s)Well..I guess I can survive there..:))

[theatretd]

I taught at Ball State and lived in Muncie for four years (I've been away for almost 8 years now).  I loved my Department and was very happy with BSU as an employer.  Muncie was an okay city to live in.  We had several very good friends and were pretty happy there.  Some things to be aware of:

-employment for a spouse can be challenging.  My wife was a teacher and went almost 7 months unemployed after we moved there.

-housing stock is older, but you can find nice houses.  Prices are great.  The Halteman Village area is nice and we loved Mitchell Elementary (if schools are an issue). 

-rental options are really limited, especially if you have a family.  Most houses for rent are in student rental areas and the apartment complexes are student or Section 8 oriented.  We got really lucky and landed a decent rental house for our first year there, before we purchased. 

-we were from the south (and have since relocated back), so Indiana winters were rough on us, especially my wife who had never lived in the midwest.  Be prepared for cold, wind and snowy/icy streets.

Good luck there, I really do miss working at Ball State.