Frequently Asked Questions

What is Welcome Week? Welcome Week is a week designated for fun activities and academic -based discussions and social interactions lead by upperclassmen students and faculty members to help incoming students feel at home at Butler. Each Orientation Group will be lead by one or two Student Orientation Guides (SOGs) as well as a Faculty Orientation Guides (FOGs). Throughout the week, students will get to know their peers within their major as well as countless other first year students from around the university.

Does Welcome Week cost anything? Yes, to cover a portion of the cost of Welcome Week, all new students are charged a one-time fee of $135 and all transfer students are charged a one-time fee of $95 This fee will be charged directly to your student account.

All of the events and activities throughout Welcome Week are designed to help you feel at home at Butler as well as help prepare you to be successful in your first semester of college at Butler University! There are many activities that are required and we hope you will participate in other offerings as well. This is a great time to make connections to your peers , faculty staff and the university.

What meals are provided during Welcome Week? All meals will be provided by Welcome Week programs for students beginning with a brunch on Sunday, August 19 and ending with lunch on Tuesday, August 21st.

Students' meal plans will begin with dinner on Tuesday, August 21st.

Students should bring their ids to all meals during Welcome Week and after.

How do I know what Welcome Week Group I will be in? On Saturday you will need to go over to the Resource Fair located on the Butler Way Mall (the grassy area across from Clowes Memorial Hall) between 2:00 pm   and 5:00pm. There you will pick up your information packet which will have a full schedule of Welcome Week events as well as where your group will be meeting and the name of your group leader.

Can I purchase carpet on campus? A carpet vendor will be on campus Saturday, August 18^th with carpets cut to fit residence hall rooms?

What can parents do during welcome week? The Welcome Week schedule is geared specifically for students. The parent schedule offers great opportunities for parents and families.

What about Welcome Week for Transfer Students? While all student events are open to transfer students, check out the Welcome Week 2012 Transfer Student schedule on the schedule page for events and programs designated specifically for transfer students.

If you are interested in joining an orientation group to participate in the traditional Welcome Week events, please contact Emily Burke, eeburke@butler.edu.  

More transfer student information can be found at www.butler.edu/learning/transfer-students/

How can I find out what textbooks I will need for my classes? Go to www.butler.bkstr.com, select your term/course/section, the following page will show what items you need along with the available purchase/rental options.  You can purchase/rent from this website.  You can choose to have it shipped to you or in-store pickup.  

Can I rent my textbooks? Yes, we have many titles available for rental.  You also have the option of converting your rental into a purchase at anytime during the rental period.  You can highlight and write in the book; normal wear and tear is anticipated.  At the end of the semester you can check-in your books at the bookstore.  You can also purchase new and used textbooks, some are available for a digital download (see www.cafescribe.com for details).

When can I bring my books in to sell them back to the bookstore?We buy back books every day.  The best time to sell your books back is during finals week. 

Can I use my flex dollars at the bookstore?While you can't use your flex dollars in the bookstore, you can charge textbooks and supplies to your student account at the beginning of each semester.

When is the Bookstore open?Our regular hours during the Fall and Spring semesters are Monday through Friday 8:30AM - 7:00PM, Saturday 10:00AM -5:00PM, and Sunday 12:00PM-5:00PM. Our hours vary during breaks, holidays, and for special events. Please visit our website for current hours.

How do I contact the Butler Police department? You can contact Butler Police Dispatch directly by dialing (317) 940-9999. We recommend all students add this number to their phones and have it on speed dial.

Does Butler University have an escort service for students? Yes, Butler Police Department has an escort service for students, faculty and staff with no questions asked, from dusk until dawn, 7 days a week within the campus and adjacent streets. 

Do campus police officers have full police powers? Yes. Campus police officers do have full police powers and are state certified. Their jurisdiction currently extends beyond the campus property to the city limits of Indianapolis. Officers have the authority to write both campus and Indiana State Traffic citations.

If I get hurt or have a medical emergency on campus who will help me? All Butler University Police officers are trained by the Red Cross in CPR, AED and First Aid. They will be the first to respond to your call for help and will contact additional medical personnel as needed.

If I lock my keys in my car or need a jump start will the police help me? Yes. The Butler University Police Department is prepared to assist you with unlocking or jump starting your vehicle.

Does Butler University have twenty-four hour Police service? Yes. The Butler campus is staffed twenty-four hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year by commissioned police officers with full police powers.

I am new to campus, how do I register my vehicle? To register your vehicle, please come in person to BUPD during business hours, Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm. We are located at 525 W. Hampton Drive on the corner of Sunset and Hampton Drive. 

For more Information, please visit the Public Safety website.

What is counseling? Counseling is a collaborative process between a student and a trained professional aimed at helping the student identify concerns, develop alternatives, and gain an increased understanding of themselves and others.

What kinds of services does the Counseling and Consultation Services office provide? The counseling and consultation service office provides individual, couples, and group counseling, as well as educational outreach programs and consultations to faculty, staff, parents, or friends. We also provide contracted services for psychiatric medications once per week as well as substance abuse assessments.

What will my counseling cost? Individual, group, and couples counseling, outreach, and consultation are services that are free of charge to currently enrolled students.  Our substance abuse assessments and psychiatric services both involve a separate fee.  Please contact us at ext 9385 to inquire about the costs of these services. 

What are some common reasons students seek counseling? Students seek counseling for a variety of reasons, including relationship concerns, adjustment to college life, grief and loss, depression, anxiety, eating and body image concerns, sexual and gender identity concerns, stress management and substance abuse assessment.

What are the hours for Counseling and Consultation Services? Our business hours are Monday-Wednesday, 8am-6pm, and Thursday-Friday, 8am-5pm.

Where is CCS located? CCS is located in HRC room 120, adjacent to BU Health Services.

For more information, please visit the Counseling Services website.

What are your different dining locations? We have two all-you-care-to-eat locations - The Marketplace at Atherton Union and the ResCo Dining Hall.  In the basement of Atherton Union is the C-Club Food Court which features Papa John's Pizza, Grill Works and Wraps & More along with tons of grab-and-go items.  Also located in Atherton Union is Starbucks and in the HRC you'll find our Zia Juice Bar.

What are my convenience store options? The C-Store at the Dawg House in the Apartment Village is open from 3pm-10pm Monday-Thursday, 3pm-8pm Friday, 4pm-8pm Saturday and 4pm-10pm Sunday.  We have also expanded our convenience offerings in the C-Club Food Court.

I have a food allergy, what can I eat? We can accommodate almost any food issue.  Please set up an appointment to speak with Ed Campbell, the Atherton Dining Hall manager, at ex. 8021 or email at food@butler.edu

If I forget/lose my student ID, can I have lunch anyway? No.  If you have forgotten your ID in your residence hall room, go back and get it.  If you have lost your ID, please go to BUPD to get a new one.

Can I use my ID to pay for both myself and my friend for a meal? You may use your ID with the new Unlimited Plan to enter multiple times per meal period. However, this is only for you and cannot be shared. You can, however, treat your friend using your Flex Dollars (which come with your meal plan and DO NOT rollover from semester to semester), use one of the 5 guest passes on your ID (which come with your unlimited meal plan and DO NOT rollover from semester to semester) or Dawg Bucks (which can be added on and DO rollover from semester to semester).

How do I add Dawg Bucks? There are three ways you can add Dawg Bucks to your card.  You can stop in Atherton Union, room 110, order Dawg Bucks on our http://www.campusdish.com/en-US/CSMW/Butler, or call us directly at (317) 940-9701 and add them over the phone.

For more information, please visit the Dining Services website.

When will my financial aid appear on my bill? Actual financial aid will be credited and begin to appear on the Statement of Student Account (bill) after confirmation of enrollment for the semester on the fifth day of class.  You are encouraged to compare your Statement of Student Account and Financial Aid Notification on your my.butler.edu account for accuracy. 

What do I need to do for my student loans? Students who complete the application process for financial aid (FAFSA) are eligible for Federal Direct Loans.  You must accept your loans on your my.butler.edu account, sign the Master Promissory Note (MPN) and complete "Entrance Counseling" at https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/index.action. 

What do I do with my outside scholarship check? Please send your outside scholarship checks to the Office of Financial Aid so it is credited to your student account properly.  You must report receipt of an outside scholarship through your my.butler.edu account or by sending copies of the scholarship letter to the Office of Financial Aid. 

I still have a balance on my account, what can I do? Butler University offers a wide range of programs to help families pay for the educational expenses.  These programs include a convenient payment plan, the Federal Direct PLUS Loan or private education loans.  Information about these programs is available online at or by contacting the Office of Financial Aid at 877-940-8200.

For more information, please visit the Financial Aid website.

What is the range of health care I can receive on campus?  Health Services, located in room 110 of the Health and Recreation Complex (HRC), provides acute (sick) care and offers a variety of preventive (well) health services. Health Services has physicians and registered nurses on staff to provide complete medical care. Our MD is prepared to serve as your doctor when you are away from home. Health Services staff will also work with your physician to coordinate your care when needed.  Examples of reasons students might seek services: cold/flu symptoms, unusual pain/discomfort, physicals, injuries, infections, allergy injections, flu shots, birth control/sexually transmitted diseases, sleep problems, health education/questions, and chronic illness management. If issues are beyond our scope of care, we assist students with referrals to off-campus providers. Emergency situations are referred to local hospitals.  

What do I do for an illness or if I would like to make an appointment?  Students may call (317) 940-9385 for an appointment to be seen by a healthcare professional. Students also can schedule online 24/7 through the secure web portal MyHealth.Butler.edu.   Appointments help us maximize our clinic time but we will accommodate walk in visits when possible.  Those who walk in will be triaged by an RN first. If appropriate and the schedule allows, students will be scheduled to see the physician or other recommendations or arrangements will be coordinated. We will make our best effort to stay on schedule, but when emergencies or complications occur you may have some wait time.  We will communicate this and appreciate your patience and flexibility if this would occur.

Do I need health insurance? We require all full-time undergraduate students to have a minimum level of health insurance coverage.  This compliance is achieved through an annual online waiver process where students waive the University-sponsored policy by providing evidence of comparable insurance.

When students utilize Health Services they should bring their health insurance card with them every time. Please refer to the web for further information on health insurance billing or how to obtain health insurance. *Please note, we do not turn people away who do not have health insurance.

Why do I need to have a health record on file? It is important for Health Services to be aware of chronic illness, medications being taken, allergies you might have to medications, foods, or the environment as well as up-to-date immunizations.  This information aids Health Services in providing the best possible individualized care and support Butler in maintaining a healthy community. New student health forms are due to us by August 1.  If your health information and up-to-date immunization record is not complete or on file with health services, registration to the following semester classes may be placed on hold. 

For more Information, please visit the Health Services website.

What kind of religious and spiritual organizations are at Butler? There are 10 diverse student religious groups: Butler Catholic Community; Butler Meditation Group; Campus Crusade for Christ; Coalition for Christian Outreach Grace Unlimited (Lutheran-Episcopal Ministry); Hillel at Butler; Interfaith Council; Muslim Students Association; Orthodox Christian Fellowship; Voices of Deliverance Gospel Choir; and Young Life.

How can I get involved in a religious organization? Student religious groups welcome new people throughout the year.  Also, during Welcome Week these groups take part in the annual Center for Faith and Vocation (CFV) Ice Cream Social and the all-campus Block Party for all student organizations around the university.

Does Butler have a religious affiliation? Butler is unaffiliated, which means it is not connected to any one faith tradition. Instead, Butler helps students connect with their own unique religious or spiritual perspectives and does so with respect for diversity and distinctiveness.

Is the Center for Faith and Vocation just for religious students? Not at all. The CFV is a place for all students - religious, non-religious, questioning, and curious. Everyone can come to explore how they are called to unique lives of purpose, meaning, and contribution. Salon-style conversations called Big Questions are part of this. Meditation instruction, yoga classes, a quiet space to meet, study or just hang out are also ways to get involved in the CFV.

For more information, please visit the Center for Faith and Vocation website.