With its midwestern charm and the opportunities available in a college town, Bloomington has a lot to offer--local shops and restaurants, beautiful parks, hiking trails and golf courses, and music and theater performances. The Bloomington Visitors Center can help you find things to do and places to go, and the IU Events Calendar and the Law School events calendar are great resources for keeping track of what is happening on campus.
For more useful information for day-to-day living, we have compiled this material on transportation (buses, parking), childcare and schools, English classes and employment. If there is something you want to know more about that is not part of this material, please don't hesitate to contact our office or your IPGA. We are happy to help you find the resources that you (and your families) need to feel that Bloomington is your home away from home!
Riding the Bus
All Indiana Law students benefit from unlimited free access to both IU campus and Bloomington Transit (BT) buses. To ride the BT bus, students need to show the driver their Indiana University ID card, and students simply board the IU campus bus to ride for free.
Several buses stop directly in front of the law school, including IU campus buses A, D and E, and BT buses 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 9. Information about the bus routes can be found at the links below.
Parking
Finding parking near the Law School is often difficult and can be expensive. Please note that cars parked on campus or in most areas near campus must have the appropriate parking permit. Cars parked without a permit in these areas will be ticketed, or possibly even towed at the owner's expense. The following parking options are usually available throughout the year.
- Indiana University Parking Operations
Henderson Street Garage; 855-9848 (press 9 for an operator); www.parking.indiana.edu- E Permit
Allows parking at football stadium or at any non 24 hr. A or C lot after 5 p.m. and on weekends - F Permit
This permit is good only after 5 p.m. You can NOT use it to park during regular business hours.
- E Permit
- Street Parking
There is limited on-street parking available throughout Bloomington. Please be cautious and always read the posted signs because the City of Bloomington patrols rain or shine. - Free on-street parking is available on the following streets near the Law School:
- Grant Street between 1st Street and 4th Street;
- Dunn Street between 2nd Street and 3rd Street;
- Smith Street between Lincoln and Henderson Streets; and
- Indiana Street between 3rd Street and Kirkwood
- Stadium Express
Use an E permit to park in the Athletic Department Lot north of 17th Street and ride the campus bus to the Law School.
Commuting
We have a few students every year who communte from Indianapolis to Bloomington for classes. These students usually drive their personal vehicles to commute, but another great resource is called Campus Commute. This is a shuttle that travels back and forth between the IUPUI campus in Indianapolis and the Bloomington campus. For a minimal charge, students can utilize this service, which also offers WiFi onboard to maximize your commute time.
Child Care Services
The following is a list of Indiana University Child Care providers. More information about University Child Care can be obtained from the Campus Child Care Support Office at 812-855-5053 or at their Web site, www.childcare.indiana.edu.
- Campus Children's Center
Serves two-year olds through kindergarten age Open all year, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 10th and Bypass; 812-855-0789 - Campus View Child Care Center
Serves infants through preschool age Open year round, 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Campus View Apartments; 812-855-3286 - Hoosier Courts Cooperative Nursery School
Serves three- to six-year-old children Open during Fall, Spring and Summer semesters Hoosier Courts on Art Avenue; 812-855-1091 - Knee High Cooperative Day Care
Serves children six months to six years Open daily according to the University calendar, 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. 702 E. Cottage Grove; 812-855-0150 - Sunflower Cooperative Day Care
Serves one-year- to six-year-old children 508 E. 9th Street; 812-855-0178 - We also have many students who use the services of First United Methodist Church. They offer partial and full-day options and it is located close to the Law School.
You can also find many more local child care providers through the Monroe County Child Care Guide.
Schools
Those of you with school-age children will need this information:
- Monroe County Community Schools
Administration Center 315 North Drive; 812-330-7700 - St. Charles School
Pre-school through Grade 8 2224 E. 3rd Street; 812-336-5853 - Bloomington Montessori School
Pre-School and Grades K-6 1835 S. Highland Avenue; 812-336-2800 - Clear Creek Christian School
Grades K-6 5405 S. Rogers Street; 812-824-2567 - Lighthouse Christian Academy
Pre-K through Grade 12 1201 W. That Road; 812-824-2000 - Harmony School
909 E. 2nd Street; 812-334-8349
Summer Activities
Summer activities for children and families are abundant in Bloomington. Many places offer day camps, where children can learn new skills and make new friends, while also practicing their English skills.
- Details about Kid City camps and links to other summer day camps are available on the City of Bloomington website
- The Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington also provide day camps and other activities for children
- The YMCA offers camps as well as swim lessons, and sports and fitness activities
- The Graduate and Professional Student Organization (GPSO) maintains a page about childcare and local family-friendly activities
English Classes
- Monroe Country Community School Corporation -- Adult Education: Classes in English as a Second Language (ESL) offered free to adults age 18+. Family members of IU students are eligible to attend these classes.
- VITAL (Volunteers in Adult Literacy) classes at Monroe County Public Library: Tutors for beginning learners of English as a Second Language.
Employment Opportunities
You may be interested in part-time employment, or perhaps you will be in Bloomington with family members who are searching for employment. This can be a great way to take a break from studying, meet new people, or improve English skills.
Always be sure that you understand what kind of part-time employment your visa permits. The website for the Office of International Services has useful information on this topic. If you have questions, you can also contact their office for help. See Living & Working in the United States -- Employment Information.
To find a part-time job, we suggest starting the search at the following Web sites:
- Part-Time Jobs Fair, Usually takes place in late August in Alumni Hall in the Indiana Memorial Union (IMU)
- Indiana University-Professional, Academic, Administrative, Technical, Service
Jobs@IU - Indiana University Student Employment Office-Part-time, summer and Temporary Jobs
Student Employment - Bloomington Herald-Times-Local newspaper with job listings
HeraldTimesJobs.com - The Indianapolis Star-Job listings for Indianapolis and Southern Indiana
IndyStar.com