Classes Canceled on Friday, Jan. 23

All classes at the Big Rapids and Grand Rapids campuses are canceled  on Friday, January 23 due to extreme cold. Both campuses will remain open for student services.

Residence Halls

All residence hall, East Campus Suites and West Campus Apartment desks are under normal operations.

Dining Halls

Dining halls will follow their regular hours.

FLITE

The library will follow their regular hours.

Big Rapids Campus Shuttle

Dart Campus Shuttle will have extended hours of operation, running Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

University Recreation Center

University Recreation Center will be open Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., but pool will be closed.  The center will be open Saturday and Sunday at regular hours of noon to 7 p.m. 

Racquet & Fitness Center

Racquet & Fitness Center will be open on Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. It will resume regular hours on Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

David L. Eisler Center

The David L. Eisler Center will be open Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and regular hours of 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sunday.

Cold Weather Safety Tips

We are expecting several days of cold weather this week, with daytime high temperatures dropping into single digits. Exposure to extreme cold can be hazardous. Frostbite can occur in minutes, especially on exposed skin and extremities such as hands, feet, ears, and noses. Prolonged exposure may also lead to hypothermia, which happens when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it.

Please take the following precautions to stay safe and warm:

• Dress in multiple layers of loose fitting, warm clothing, and wear a hat.
• Choose mittens that fit snugly at the wrist, as they provide more warmth than gloves.
• Cover your mouth and nose to help protect your lungs from extreme cold.
• Stay dry and limit exposure to wind whenever possible.

More information and cold weather tips are available from the National Weather Service.

Keep warm, take care of one another, and stay safe!

 Grand Rapids Campus Closed Jan. 20

Ferris State University's Grand Rapids campus will be closed on Tuesday, January 20 due to severe winter weather. All Grand Rapids classes are canceled for the day.

If you are experiencing an emergency, please contact 911 immediately.

COLD WEATHER SAFETY

We are expecting several days of cold weather this week, with daytime high temperatures dropping into single digits. Exposure to extreme cold can be hazardous. Frostbite can occur in minutes, especially on exposed skin and extremities such as hands, feet, ears, and noses. Prolonged exposure may also lead to hypothermia, which happens when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it.

Please take the following precautions to stay safe and warm:

• Dress in multiple layers of loose fitting, warm clothing, and wear a hat.
• Choose mittens that fit snugly at the wrist, as they provide more warmth than gloves.
• Cover your mouth and nose to help protect your lungs from extreme cold.
• Stay dry and limit exposure to wind whenever possible.

More information and cold weather tips are available from the National Weather Service.

Keep warm, take care of one another, and stay safe!

UPDATE: Sunday, April 6, 2025

We have great news! Power has been restored and we are ready to welcome students back to their housing, beginning at 4 p.m. today, April 6.

Below is what you need to know regarding moving back into your housing assignment.

Since the power has been off for several days, it will take a little time for the temperatures in the buildings to regulate.

In West Campus apartments, smoke detectors may chirp overnight.  If they continue to chirp in the morning, please contact staff in the West Campus Community Center Office.    

All hotel rooms are reserved through the check-out time on Monday. Students are welcome to stay in their current hotel room through tonight and check-out Monday morning, or they can move back into their assigned housing space beginning after 4 p.m.    

When you vacate your hotel room, we need you to be respectful and leave the facility better than you found it.  

Students who are in a temporary University Housing space can check-out of that space by returning the room key to the front desk of the building. 

Extra shuttles will be running from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday from the hotels if students need assistance getting back to campus. The current shuttle will also provide four final runs between 9 and 10 p.m. Sunday night.     

Any updates to students will come from can be found via the emails sent directly from Housing or on this Ferris State emergency site.

This space will continue to be updated with information for students and families. Additional support is available by connecting with Housing at [email protected] or the Office of Student Life at (231) 591-2686.

UPDATE: Saturday, April 5, 4:30 p.m.   

Power restored at Puterbaugh and Henderson halls - but will  be out Sunday morning.

Crews have restored power to Puterbaugh and Henderson halls. But power will again be turned off at 7 a.m. on Sunday to allow crews to continue working on damaged lines in the area. That outage is intentional, and is not expected to last more than four hours. Students are not required to vacate the buildings during the short-term outage. 

The David Eisler Center will be open at 7 a.m. on Sunday to give students a space to study or relax. Starbucks will be open at 8 a.m.

Crews will continue working on Sunday to restore power to Cramer and Bond halls and the West Campus Apartments. Good progress is being made on the restoration project! 

Thank you for your patience as this work  moves forward.

Temporary power outage at Puterbaugh Hall and Henderson Hall

Power at Puterbaugh Hall and Henderson Hall will be out for six to eight hours on Saturday. Crews needed to turn off the power while they work on repairing the damaged lines affecting the other parts of campus. No temporary relocations will be needed.

Expanded route for shuttle bus

Ferris State students are now also staying temporarily at the Super 8 hotel. 

The shuttle route has been expanded. Now it will start at the Country Inn, move to the Hampton Inn, then the Holiday Inn, then to the Super 8, and then the Quality Inn. 

West Campus Apartments update

Ferris State is providing temporary housing for residents of West Campus Apartments, or it will credit student accounts $100 if they choose to go home, stay in their apartment, or stay with a friend.  

Affected students were informed earlier today that all students in West Campus Apartments should complete the temporary housing forms at My Housing Portal, then clicking on the “Contracts, apps, and forms” section, then “power outage temporary housing form.” This form needs to be completed by 4 p.m. on Friday, April 4.  

Students in the West Campus Apartments with specific needs can contact Housing at [email protected] or (231) 591-2686.

Affected students who do not have meal plans will be able to have meals at the university’s Rock Café or Quad Cafe while they are relocated.

Shuttle service update

Ferris State is providing a shuttle service for students relocated to hotels for temporary housing during the power outage.

Starting at noon on Friday, the shuttle will be running a continuous loop until 5 p.m., then start for one last loop at 9:30 p.m. to bring students back to hotels.  Pickups will start at Country Inn and Suites, then proceed to the Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn and Quality Inn.

Students can be dropped off and picked up at The Rock Café, the Student Recreation Center, the David Eisler Center, and FLITE.

On Saturday and Sunday, the shuttle will run four times between 8 and 9 a.m., four times between noon and 1 p.m., four times between 5 and 6 p.m. and four final runs between 9 and 10 p.m.

UPDATE: Friday, April 4, 10:30 a.m.

The university is working with a contractor to replace or repair the damaged power lines and restore power as quickly as possible. The contractor is working to obtain the necessary materials and getting them to campus. Barring any setbacks, it is possible power will be restored by Monday afternoon. Watch for updates.

Housing and Residence Life, and the Office of Student Life, worked through the night to help students in Cramer and Bond halls find temporary locations in other residence halls, with friends, or at area hotels. Students who need assistance can connect with Housing at [email protected] or the Office of Student Life at (231) 591-2686.

Teams are reaching out today to students living in the West Campus Apartments to work with them on temporary housing. Watch for communications and additional details.

The university is providing shuttle service to bring students from hotels to campus and back throughout the power outage. The route is being determined, and additional information will be posted today.

Classes are scheduled to continue as planned on Friday and Monday. Faculty members are empathetic to the challenges students are facing and will work to be as flexible as possible during this unprecedented time. Students who have questions are encouraged to reach out to their professors directly.

Displaced students needing to take care of laundry will have access to machines in selected residence halls by appointment. Details to come.

Hours are being extended for students to use the David Eisler Center and the University Recreation Center. Both will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

 

UPDATE: Thursday, April 3, 7 p.m.

Ferris State University is temporarily relocating about 500 students after storm-related damage caused power outages affecting two residence halls, West Campus Apartments, and several other campus facilities.

Power in the living spaces is expected to be out at least through the weekend, as many repair crews in the state are responding to Northern Michigan communities affected by the recent ice storms.

Students in Cramer and Bond halls will need to leave their residence halls by 10 p.m. Thursday and will not have access to their rooms until power has been restored. Students should take clothing, bedding, and any other supplies they might need as they leave. Students should remove all perishables from their rooms and empty their trash.

West Campus Apartment residents are not required to relocate.

Students in the West Campus Apartments with specific needs can contact Housing at [email protected] or the Office of Student Life at (231) 591-2686.

Housing will find temporary housing for students, or it will credit student accounts $100 if they choose to go home or stay with a friend.  

Relocating students should look for temporary housing forms at My Housing Portal, then clicking on the “Contracts, apps, and forms” section, then “power outage temporary housing form.”

Affected students who do not have meal plans will be able to have meals at the university’s Rock Café and Quad Cafe while they are relocated.

“Unexpected emergencies happen, and we are responding quickly because our first concern is the safety of our students,” President Bill Pink said. “On our campus and in our community, we take care of each other.”

The campus will post information at ferris.edu/emergency as updates are available.

7:45 a.m.

Police are interviewing the person who allegedly fired a gun at the Northland Flats Apartments near campus early this morning and believe there is no longer a threat to campus.

12:59 a.m.

Police are investigating reports of a shot fired at the Northland Flats Apartments off campus around midnight on Sunday. A male and female at the apartments became engaged in an argument, with the male shouting that he was going to get a gun and shoot the female. The male allegedly fired one round outside in the parking lot, got into a gray sedan, and fled the scene. No injuries have been reported. The person of interest is described as a white male wearing a purple hoodie. Anyone with information is asked to call 911.

Police are investigating what is believed to be a non-credible bomb threat that was sent to Ferris State and a significant number of other universities via email this evening. The threat is believed to be a hoax and the latest in a series of swatting calls that have affected institutions across the nation. Ferris Police are working with the FBI and other authorities to obtain additional information.

The safety and security of our students, employees and community members is our top priority. If anyone sees anything deemed suspicious, they are urged to call Campus Police at (231) 591-5000.

Update - 11:44 p.m.

At 11:44 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 21, officers from the Ferris State University Department of Public Safety, the Big Rapids Department of Public Safety and the Mecosta County Sheriff's Office made a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle. The driver was taken into custody.

9:30 p.m.

Police are investigating a complaint of a gun being pointed at a driver during an alleged road rage incident ​around 7 p.m. Wednesday near campus. A driver reported pulling out of a parking lot at 718 Perry Ave. in Big Rapids when a black Jeep Cherokee turned toward him. The driver reported the occupant of the Jeep brandished a gun after the driver gestured and honked his horn. The Jeep, with a vanity license plate reading SQUINT, reportedly headed west on Perry Ave. toward U.S. 131.

Big Rapids Police are investigating. Students are advised to not approach the Jeep if spotted, and to call the Campus Police at (231) 591-5000.

 

Dear Bulldogs, 

We have heartbreaking news to share. A member of our Merrill-Travis Hall community passed away on Tuesday. While the cause of death has not been determined, there does not appear to be a danger to campus.  

We know this is very upsetting to everyone on our campus. It is OK to ask for help. Ferris State has a variety of campus resources available to assist you during this difficult time. 

Please reach out to your resident assistant if you want to talk or connect with support. 

The Personal Counseling Center is also available to help you. This is a free service for Ferris State students. The center offers in-person and virtual counseling sessions, and is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can connect with the center at (231) 591-5968 or email [email protected].  

The Listening Ear also is available at (989) 772-2918 between 2 p.m. and 2 a.m.  

We know this is a difficult way to start the school year. Our thoughts are with our resident’s family and friends. In times like this, remember to take care of one another and support each other.  

Bill Pink 

President 

The University is aware of an incident during the late evening hours on Saturday. After our Department of Public Safety dispersed a party near Finch Court, it is believed that someone in a vehicle leaving the area may have discharged a weapon on or near Sports Drive. Campus police are closely monitoring the area and are investigating. We want you to know that your safety is our highest priority. 

We do not believe that there is an imminent threat of danger to our campus at this time. However, you are encouraged to come forward if you have information that may be pertinent to our investigation. Call the Department of Public Safety at (231) 591-5000 or email [email protected]. 

Knowing what to do in an emergency, such as an active shooter on campus, can save your life and the lives of others.

Here are steps you should keep in mind, and a link to sign up for alerts so you know how to act. We recommend you look at the resources on the Be Prepared, Stay Safe webpage.

If you are dealing with a person who has a weapon or is actively shooting inside of your building, remember: RUN, HIDE, FIGHT.

Run 

Know where exits are located.
Leave your belongings, other than your cell phone.
As you are getting out, be prepared to encounter law enforcement - keep your hands visible and follow their commands.

Hide 

If you cannot get out, hide.
Find a safe room if one is available.
Hide in an area outside of the shooter’s view.
Turn off lights if possible.
If possible, lock the doors and block the entryway to the room.
Silence your cell phones.

Fight 

If you cannot hide, or are discovered, fight.
As a last resort when your life is in danger, attempt to incapacitate the shooter.
If possible, dial 911 on your cell phone and set it down, keeping the line open.
If possible, have others that you are with join forces with you.
You are fighting for your life - anything goes! If you or others do not stop this person, they will likely harm you. 

Call 911 as soon as it is safe to do so and try to clearly communicate what you see and hear. At any time, if you are talking with authorities and it is no longer safe to do so because the shooter is nearby, leave the call connected to 911 or the police. 

When the crisis is over, do not open a secure area unless you know the police are there, or you can confirm with 911 that the police are in place for you to exit. 

Remember, the police still do not know who or how many attackers are present. Exit with empty hands that are in the air. Comply with all commands that the police give you. 

Please be mindful that there may be students, visitors, faculty or staff in your building who have a disability and may need extra assistance to be safe! 

Communication is key in any emergency. Sign up for emergency text alerts now to make sure you have the information you need. 

The university uses the Rave Mobile Alert system to notify our campuses of emergencies immediately and provide clear steps to take. This system sends emergency messages in a variety of ways, including text messages, emails, and phone calls. 

Sign up for Alerts Now

It’s important for students and employees to be aware of what to do in the event of severe storms, tornadoes, and lightning so we can keep our campus community safe.

Here are steps to keep in mind should campus experience severe weather, and how to sign up for alerts so you know when to act. Additional information is available on the Severe Weather Safety webpage.

The National Weather Service issues severe weather watches and warnings to keep you up to date on potentially dangerous situations. A WATCH means conditions are favorable for dangerous weather. A WARNING means that a severe storm or tornado has been spotted and you should seek shelter immediately.

If a tornado is spotted:

• Make sure you know where the severe weather shelter areas on campus are. Maps are located near the entrances.
• Immediately walk to the designated tornado shelter area closest to you. Please note, people with disabilities may need assistance make their way to tornado shelter areas.
• If you are unfamiliar with the building where you are located, move to the lowest level of the building, find an interior area such as an interior hallway, closet, or bathroom.
• Avoid areas with a larger roof span that may collapse such as auditoriums, gymnasiums, etc.
  Stay away from windows, glass, and unsecured objects such as filing cabinets and bookcases.
• Do not use elevators.
• Remain in the safe area until you receive an "all clear" message from the Ferris State Police or local public safety agencies.

If you see lightning:

• Remember no place outside is safe when thunderstorms are in the area.
• If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you.
• When you hear thunder, immediately move to safe shelter: a substantial building with electricity or plumbing or an enclosed, metal-topped vehicle with windows up.
• Stay in safe shelter at least 30 minutes after you hear the last sound of thunder.

Remember, communication is key in any emergency. Sign up for emergency text alerts now to make sure you have the information you need.

The university uses the Rave Mobile Alert system to notify our campuses of emergencies immediately and provide clear steps to take. This system sends emergency messages in a variety of ways, including text messages, emails, and phone calls.

For more information, visit our Emergency Alerts page. If you have any additional questions about enrolling or unenrolling in the Rave system, contact the IT Solution Center at (231) 591-4822.

Sign up for Alerts Now

The safety of our Ferris State students, employees, and community members is our top priority. Communication is key during any emergency. Sign up for emergency text alerts now to make sure you have the information you need.

The university uses the Rave Mobile Alert system to notify our campuses of emergencies immediately and provide clear steps to take. This system sends emergency messages in a variety of ways, including text messages, emails, and phone calls.

Sign up for Alerts Now

Emergency Alerts for Your Parents, Family and Friends

Your family and friends can also choose to receive emergency text alerts from Ferris State as well. Have them text the word FerrisAlerts to 67283 on the cell phone they want to receive messages.  

For more information, visit our Emergency Alerts page. If you have any additional questions about enrolling or unenrolling in the Rave system, contact the IT Solution Center at (231) 591-4822.