Graduate and Professional Student - GUIDE TO GETTING INVOLVED

Graduate and

Professional Student

GUIDE TO

GETTING

INVOLVED

f oelbTa

CONTENT

Get Involved

OUAB Grad/Prof

Chair Letter

OUAB Grad/Prof Info

Council of Graduate

Students Letter

Council of Graduate

Students Info

Inter-Professional

Council Letter

Inter-Professional Council

Dean’s Letter

The Graduate School

Campus Events

Signature Events

Discounted Ticket

Program

Buck-I-SERV

Cultural Engagement

Recreational Sports

Community Engaged Learning

University Libraries

Michael V. Drake Center for

Teaching and Learning

Oce of Postdoctoral Aairs

Spirituality

Student Organizations

Athletics and Buckeye Spirit

Student Activity

Fee FAQs

GET INVOLVED

at e Ohio State University

What Opportunities Exist for Graduate and Professional Students

at Ohio State?

That’s what this guide is all about. Flip through the pages to get ideas about what path

you’ll choose. Whether it’s by joining a student organization, playing an intramural sport,

volunteering in the community or diving into any of Ohio State’s other amazing opportunities,

you’ll discover that there’s no place quite like The Ohio State University!

Who Should Pursue These Opportunities?

Ohio State’s expectation is that every graduate and professional student ﬁnds at least one

meaningful activity outside of their program to complement their academic study.

Why Should I Get Involved?

When compared to uninvolved students, those who get involved are more likely to succeed in

their program, establish a network of friends, organize their time better, manage their stress

more eectively and most importantly—graduate! Getting involved also helps prepare you for

your career and enables you to enjoy the Buckeye experience to the absolute fullest!

When Should I Get Involved?

That’s a decision that’s completely up to you. Many students start getting involved within

their ﬁrst semester, so that they can start meeting people and getting connected. Others

wait a few weeks, a couple of months or even a whole semester to get used to classes

and establish a schedule for studying, work, exercise, etc. Both are perfectly good

strategies, but we recommend getting started within the ﬁrst semester.

How Do I Get Started?

This guide is full of suggestions for oces, websites and organizations to which you can go

for more information. Here are some other tips:

• Attend the grad/prof involvement and resource fair at the beginning of the

autumn semester.

• Check the OUAB, CGS, IPC or Student Life calendar for events and opportunities. Talk

with advanced students in your program or representative to your student government.

• If it’s more comfortable for you, start out by getting into things that you did in

undergrad. Once you get established, you can move on to things you can only

try while you’re here.

Great opportunities are almost everywhere you turn on campus...

but don't wait for them to come to you!

GET INVOLVED

at e Ohio State University

Welcome (or welcome back) to Ohio State! I’m excited to tell you about the Ohio Union

Activities Board and what we have to oer. Alongside your graduate studies, you haven’t

truly experienced all that Ohio State has to oer until you’ve participated in some of

the events hosted by OUAB. Our goal is to enhance your graduate professional student

experience during your time here at Ohio State, and to give you opportunities you may not

have otherwise. OUAB Grad/Prof focuses on providing thought-provoking, educational and

entertaining events, as we plan programs speciﬁcally with you in mind. We focus our events

into ﬁve areas: personal enrichment, professional growth, social engagement, special events

and family-friendly activities.

To provide education on healthy living and to help you develop new talents, our personal

enrichment programs include a variety of unique events ranging from ﬁtness classes and

workshops to creative exploration events like glass blowing and candle making. We oer a

series of professional growth activities designed to assist in developing skills, qualiﬁcations

and experiences that will enhance your ability to progress through your chosen career ﬁeld.

Our social engagement programs oer a fun way to unplug from your academic program

and develop a sense of community with other graduate students. These include events

like our weekly cooking classes and our biweekly Grad/Prof Quiz Nights. They also foster

the development of friendships outside of your academic program, something that can be

dicult when you’re focused on your studies. Alongside our weekly programming, our special

events give you the opportunity to participate in events unique to Ohio State and the city

of Columbus. These events have included things like the Ohio State Homecoming Parade,

Highball Halloween (one of the nation’s biggest Halloween parties) and our annual Valentine’s

Day Ball. Finally, we also recognize the numerous students who are parents (or are just kids

at heart) with our Family Fun series.

I know that was a lot to take in, but what I’d like you to take away is that OUAB can help

your graduate/professional student experience be so much more than just academics.

We are eager to enhance the quality of life of our grad/prof students and are committed to

creating the extraordinary student experience here at Ohio State. With over 100 events

every semester, there’s plenty of opportunity to participate! I’d encourage you to take

advantage of all that OUAB Grad/Prof has to oer, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d

like to get more involved with the Grad/Prof committee!

Go Bucks!

Jaden Royal

Director of Graduate/Professional Programming

The Ohio Union Activities Board

OUAB GRAD/PROF INFO

About OUAB Grad/Prof

The Ohio Union Activities Board as the student programming organization is to provide diverse

programs and events that are educational, entertaining and thought provoking for the students

on the Columbus campus. The Graduate and Professional student committee strives to design

and execute over 200 programs that are intentionally created to enhance the graduate

and professional student experience. Graduate and Professional student programming is

structured around ﬁve key areas: personal development, professional growth, social activities,

family programs and special events.

Personal Development

The personal development series includes a set of activities in which students improve

awareness of themselves and their identities. It is the goal of these activities to help student

develop talents and potential, enhance their quality of life and contribute to the realization

of dreams and aspirations.

Personal Development Programs:

• OUABe Fit Series (Yoga, ZUMBA®, Pilates, Barre None, Kickboxing)

• Cupcakes and Canvases with Cody

• Wellness Wednesdays (Smoking Cessation, Eating Healthy on a Budget,

Managing Stress, Muscle Relaxation, Prioritization Workshops)

• Tax Preparation Workshops

Professional Growth

The professional growth features are a number of structured activities in which students

work with various partners from the University and in the city of Columbus. This series assist

students in developing skills, qualiﬁcations and experiences that will enhance their ability to

progress through their careers.

Professional Development Programs:

• Preparing for the Academic Job Search

• Preparing for the Non-Academic Job Search

• Daring the Doctoral Degree

• How to Create a Good Poster Presentation

• Developing a Strong Technical Talk

• Etiquette Dinners

Social Activities

OUAB Grad/Prof’s social activities allow for students to interact and network with

students among and between dierent graduate and professional programs. In order to

create overall balance for students, the social activities allow for students to develop a

sense of community and promote the development of friendships outside of their academic

programs.

Social Activities Include:

• Grad/Prof Quiz Night

• Instructional Kitchen Classes

• Speed Dating

• Happy Hours

• Socials

• Experience Columbus Events

Family Programs

Because many of our graduate and professional students have spouses, partners and

children, OUAB Grad/Prof has developed a series of programs in which the families of the

students are incorporated into the student experience.

Family Programs Include:

• Family Friendly Cooking Classes

• Afternoon at the Movies

• Pumpkin Painting and Crafts

• Ice Cream Socials

• Valentine’s Day Craft

• Fall Festivals

• Sibs and Kids Weekend Program

• Programming at Buckeye Village

Special Events

The Grad/Prof committee hosts a number of special events throughout the year. These events

often overlap the four previously mentioned categories and give students opportunities to

interact and mingle among and between professional and graduate programs. Students often

provide input as to the direction of these events.

Special Programs have Included:

• RadioLab with Jad Abumrad

• Valentine’s Day Ball

• Neil deGrasse Tyson

• The PhD Movie with Jorge Cham

OUAB GRAD/PROF INFO

Dear Graduate Student,

Welcome to The Ohio State University on behalf of the Council of Graduate Students. Whether your

program is 1 year or 5+ years, we are here to support you as you launch into the journey of earning

a graduate degree. OSU, as well as the City of Columbus, has a great deal to oer you. If you are

new to the area, I encourage you to check out all of the exciting cultural, artistic, culinary, outdoor,

and sporting opportunities in and around the University Area District, Short North, and Columbus as

a whole. In addition to welcoming you to campus, I will oer some information about the Council of

Graduate Students and special opportunities I hope you will take advantage of oered by OSU.

The Council of Graduate Students (CGS) is the representative body of the approximately 11,000

graduate students. We advocate for the needs and interests of all graduate students. The Delegate

body meets once per month and each program and department is served by a delegate. One feature

of our meeting is “Delegates’ Issues and Concerns.” I encourage to you learn who your delegate is

(found here: https://cgs.osu.edu/leadership/delegates/) and contact them with any questions or for

assistance. In addition to our 136 delegates, we elect 10 senators to serve on University Senate and

select over 200 graduate students to serve on various university committees. After settling into your

new academic program, consider getting involved in one of the myriad ways oered through CGS,

here is where you can ﬁnd information about the service opportunities available, at the University

scale: https://cgs.osu.edu/committees/ . Our Executive Committee and other various internal

committees provide opportunities for graduate students to engage outside of the classroom through

various programs and activities. Given recent events across the nation, I urge you to participate in this

year’s CGS Buckeye Diversity Dialogue Series which provides opportunities for Ohio State graduate

students, faculty, sta, and community leaders to have intentional conversations about relevant

issues of equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice. Make sure to stay up-to-date on this and other

important graduate student news and events by following CGS on Facebook and Twitter at @CGSOSU!

As a graduate student, you pay the Student Activity Fee which provides a number of opportunities

to participate in free or substantially subsidized activities on campus and around Columbus. Be sure

to check out the oerings by the Ohio Union Activities Board Graduate and Professional Student

Programming Committee (OUAB Grad/Prof). They oer a wide variety of free programs from

cooking classes to professional development seminars to social and family programs. I encourage

you to explore Columbus and one of the most cost eective ways is through the Discount Ticket

Program (D-Tix) housed at the Ohio Union Information Center. Through D-Tix you may purchase

highly subsidized tickets to everything from popular concerts to the Columbus Museum of Art to

the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, and many other options in between. Remember that while your

education is a major priority, taking care of yourself is your ﬁrst priority—taking advantage of some of

these opportunities may allow you to recharge and be more productive with your work.

I hope you will join us for our Welcome Week activities whether virtually or in person.

Best wishes for your ﬁrst semester here at OSU,

Stephen J. Post

President, Council of Graduate Students

COUNCIL OF GRADUATE STUDENTS INFO

The Council of Graduate Students (CGS) is the ocial representative body of the over

10,000 graduate students at Ohio State. CGS promotes and provides academic,

administrative and social programs for the university community in general and for

graduate students in particular.

The primary purpose of the organization is to work towards continual improvement of the

graduate student experience at The Ohio State University. CGS Ocers, Committee Chairs and

Delegates serve as staunch advocates in the process of constructing university policy-making

decisions. Our competitive funding programs and “graduate-centered” programing support the

personal and professional development of all graduate students.

CGS delegates are elected from every graduate program and are responsible for

communicating concerns and representing the opinions and interests of their constituents

at our monthly meetings. Eective delegates strive to serve as key contacts and sources

of information for the graduate students within their departments and for their constituents.

University Senators are elected from each of 10 academic areas and are responsible for

crafting, debating and voting on legislation that governs the University through committees and

regular meetings of the Senate. Senators should strive to be aware of the issues aecting their

college and to fully understand the impact of policies that are enacted by the Senate.

CGS speciﬁcally serves and supports graduate students in the following ways:

• Ocially representing graduate student interest in university governance through

the appointment of over 100 graduate students to university committees

• Providing an outlet for the graduate student community to discuss and engage

issues related to their interests at the university

• Organizing the Edward F. Hayes Graduate Research Forum, annually for over 30 years

• Providing travel funds of up to $1000 per person annually to present research at

professional conferences through the Edward J. Ray Travel Award for Scholarship

and Service

• Providing funds of up to $350 per person for a broad array professional

development experiences through the Career Development Grant

• Providing funds for international research travel in partnership with Global Gateways

and the Graduate School through the Global Gateway Graduate Student Research

Abroad Grant

• Seeking competitive compensation for graduate assistantships

More information is available at cgs.osu.edu.

Professional Students of The Ohio State University,

Welcome Buckeyes! It gives me great pleasure to congratulate you on your entrance to one of the

nation’s top universities. Currently, we are one of only a handful of institutions in the United States with

six professional colleges directly run out of the same university: Law, Dentistry, Optometry, Medicine,

Pharmacy, and Veterinary Medicine.

I want to start by acknowledging that the world has changed, in a lot of ways, since I last addressed

new professional students one year ago. We are faced with a virus that will require all of us to change

our behavior so as to prevent infections. We are striving, as individuals and as a nation, to better

acknowledge our history of systemic racism so as to create a more just & equitable society. But one

thing that has not changed is our drive and determination to make the world a better place—one

patient, one client, at a time.

My name is Jordan Vajda and I have the pleasure and privilege of serving as your President of the

Inter-Professional Council (IPC), a student government run by and for all professional students at The

Ohio State University. I am a current ﬁfth year MD/MPH student and ﬁfth term senator for IPC.

Our governing body is made up of 48 senators: eight senators per professional college. IPC senators

have appointments in a wide range of university committees such as the Council of Student Aairs,

Council on Academic Aairs, Parking Advisory Committee, and Athletic Council, to name just a few.

IPC provides funding for student organizations to host events and for student professional

development. In addition, we also host a number of social events throughout the year to promote

networking and raise money for local charities. And while the need for physical distancing may

change how we organize some of those events, our commitment to supporting you is constant.

This coming year IPC will be sponsoring, for the ﬁrst time, a Mental Health Series. Each month we will

organize an event in a dierent college building, focusing on topics relevant to professional students.

We will also be bringing together, for the ﬁrst time, LGBTQ student leaders from each college as we

seek to build community and celebrate our diversity.

We are your student government, so please do not hesitate to reach out if there is anything we can do

for you or if you would like to get involved. For more information on IPC, please visit our new website

at ipc.osu.edu. You can also ﬁnd us on Instagram (@osu_ipc) and Twitter (@IPC_at_OSU).

Again, from all of your Inter-Professional Council representatives, welcome to The Ohio State

University and your new Buckeye family!

Warmest Regards,

Jordan Vajda

Jordan Vajda, MA, MDiv (he/him/his)

President, Inter-Professional Council

jordan.[email protected]

INTERPROFESSIONAL COUNCIL

The Inter-Professional Council (IPC) is the representative body of the approximately 3,800

professional students enrolled in the colleges of Dentistry, Law, Medicine, Optometry,

Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine. IPC dedicates itself to the betterment of higher education

and student life at The Ohio State University on behalf of all professional students. The 36

Senators and 6 Justices are elected representatives, however all professional students

are members of the organization. IPC welcomes concerns from students and provides

services ranging from funding for professional development to hosting social events. IPC

also appoints students to various university committees, serving as a voice for professional

students across all of university governance.

IPC speciﬁcally serves and supports professional students in the following ways:

• Providing funds of up to $750 per person for a broad array of professional

development experiences through the Professional Development Fund (PDF)

• Providing opportunities to participate in philanthropic activities such as the

Charity Soccer Tournament and the Charity Volleyball Tournament which beneﬁt

an array of charities

• Hosting the annual Health Professionals Summit

• Sponsoring monthly social activities for all professional students

More information is available at ipc.osu.edu.

Dear Graduate Students,

I would like to personally welcome you to The Ohio State University on behalf of myself and the

Graduate School. OSU has many outstanding graduate students and I always look forward to meeting

the incoming class. You may or may not know that The Ohio State University has one of the most

comprehensive graduate programs containing 11,235 graduate students, distributed across 238

programs. Most of which have both PhD and Masters degree options. With this depth and breadth of

opportunity, you will be able to ﬁnd many programs to support you in term of your development and

progress towards completion of degree.

We cannot tell you how delighted we are to have you join us. Our goal is to provide you with

positive experiences and success in obtaining your degree. To do this we partner with departments and

organizations across the university to support students in professional career development that

enhances experiences and exposes students to the social, network, culture, and broader practice

norms and requirements associated with their selected discipline. This activity extends to delivering

awards and scholarships, recognizing, recruiting and retaining a diverse group of outstanding student

scholars, programs, sta and faculty graduate student mentors. One of the most important things the

Graduate School does to support students is to award fellowships including the Presidential Fellowship,

University Fellowship, Graduate Enrichment Fellowship, Patrick S. Osmer Fellowship, J. Parker ad

Kathryn Webb Dinius Fellowship, and Pelotonia Graduate Fellowship. Many of these fellowships are

through nomination by your faculty and program. You can ﬁnd more information about fellowships and

other funding opportunities on our website at gradsch.osu.edu/funding.

Beyond celebrating your achievements, the Graduate School is here to help every student with the

completion of their degree through support of registration for courses, planning and completing

dissertations, and ﬁnding creative ways to help students with any hurdles they may face during the

course of the academic career. We invite all students to contact or visit us in our home in 250

University Hall to access support during your time here at OSU. Again, we are excited that you have

chosen to complete our graduate studies at the Ohio State University and look forward to working

with all of you in the coming years.

Alicia L. Bertone

Alicia L. Bertone, DVM, PhD

Vice Provost for Graduate Studies and Dean of the Graduate School ENGIE-Axium Endowed Dean’s Chair

Professor, Veterinary Clinical Sciences

THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

at e Ohio State University

The Graduate School is here to provide a central resource to prepare and sustain graduate programs

for excellence, ensure the integrity and quality of the graduate programs, share knowledge and

best practices to support the advancement of graduate students and programs, nurture career

development and a positive culture for the next generation of learned scholars, such that our alumni

value their education, and appreciate the importance of their graduate colleagues and programs.

Graduate School Vision for Students

Creating a vision for each student’s success is very important at the Graduate School. We aspire to be

a national leader with robust and impactful advanced education pro-rams to produce skilled, diverse

graduates that will be successful, sought-after leaders in knowledge, innovative and creative; as well

as embody an awareness and engagement of individual and societal inclusion, to inﬂuence the world.

Goals for Student Engagement

Engagement starts with developing a culture that allows students to capitalize on their skills and

knowledge as they work with the robust faculty and sta within the university. The goals of the

Graduate School showcase this belief through delivering a comprehensive graduate course curriculum,

strong interaction of the Graduate School across the university, delivery of awards and scholarships,

supporting the nurturing of students from intersectional, underserved backgrounds, providing

governance to ensure integrity, fairness, eciently administering services and guidelines, and creating

alumni that have had a positive graduate studies experience.

Initiatives for Student Involvement

The Graduate School is led by Alicia L. Bertone, DVM, PhD, Vice Provost for Graduate Studies and Dean

of the Graduate School and a team of devoted sta and administrators that work with students on a

daily basis to support their graduate studies careers. We are here to support all students regardless

of the needs across our various teams covering: enrollment and registration; degree completion and

graduation; diversity and recruitment; engagement and development.

Here are some examples of other resources that we provide to aid students at OSU:

• Career Development – gradsch.osu.edu/career-development Research Resources

• Research Resources – gradsch.osu.edu/research-resources

• Funding Opportunities – gradsch.osu.edu/funding

• Degree Options – gradsch.osu.edu/degree-options

• Social, Wellness, Student Life – gradsch.osu.edu/social-wellness-life Financial Education

• Financial Education – gradsch.osu.edu/ﬁnancial-education

Locating the Graduate School and Graduate Student Amenities

All students should come and visit us at the home of the Graduate School, 250 University Hall on

the north west end of the Oval next to Thompson Library. We also have many resources available to

work with you digitally in and out of our oces. One example is that you should already be receiving

a graduate student edition of OnCampus Weekly each Sunday with a column by Dean Bertone and

speciﬁc news designed speciﬁcally for graduate students. We are always available if you have a

question or a problem. Call, email or stop in:

• Graduate School | 250 University Hall | 230 N. Oval Mall | Columbus, Ohio 43210

gradsch.osu.edu | [email protected] | 414-292-6031

CAMPUS EVENTS

at e Ohio State University

Ohio State is one of the most exciting universities in the nation when it comes to events on

campus! Attending those events and helping to plan them are both great ways to get involved

and meet people. The Student Activity Fee you pay each semester creates literally hundreds of

free events every year.

The Ohio Union Activities Board (OUAB)

The Ohio Union Activities Board, the student programming organization at Ohio State, strives

to provide diverse programs and events that are educational, entertaining and thought

provoking for the students of the Columbus campus. OUAB plans and executes over 300

free events throughout the year for undergraduate, graduate and professional students.

Highlighted events include Anderson Cooper, Kendrick Lamar, Misty Copeland, the stars

of Saturday Night Live, Jane Goodall, Hasan Minhaj, Leslie Odom, Jr., just to name a few.

Be sure to follow @OUAB on Twitter and Instagram so that you don’t miss out on big event

announcements and ticket release dates.

Ohio State Signature Events

Some of Ohio State’s most prominent and traditional student events receive Student Activity

Fee funds and are designated as Signature Events. Some of those events are described

below. Others include Taste of OSU, Relay for Life, RUOK Day, Thanksgiving Dinner, Light Up

North Area, Alleviating Poverty Through Entrepreneurship, International Student Welcome

Party, TEDxOSU, HackOHI/O and the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) Step Show. Visit

activities.osu.edu/programs/signature_events for more info.

Welcome Week

Welcome Week features more than 100 events during the frst week of autumn semester.

Highlights of the week include Convocation, Student Involvement Fair, Buck-i-Frenzy,

Buckeye Kickof and a large outdoor movie sponsored by OUAB. Find the whole schedule

at welcomeweek.osu.edu.

Homecoming

Homecoming ofers Buckeye spirit and enthusiasm through a variety of events occurring the

week leading up to the Homecoming football game. Don’t miss the annual Homecoming

Parade. One can apply in the spring semester to be on the following autumn’s Homecoming

Court by visiting homecoming.osu.edu. Be sure to visit homecoming.osu.edu to learn about

other events and opportunities connected with Homecoming.

Involvement Fairs

Near the beginning of each semester, the O ce of Student Life’s Student Activities hosts

special table fairs where you can meet members of Ohio State student organizations,

departments, community agencies. The Autumn and Spring Involvement Fairs are a must

if you want to get a leg up on getting involved. Visit go.osu.edu/SIF for more details.

Commencement Week

Commencement Week is a series of events taking place during the end of ﬁnals week to

appreciate all graduating students and to provide an opportunity for graduates and their families

to celebrate their momentous achievement! The Commencement Eve Candlelight Ceremony is a

tradition no graduating student should miss. See commencementweek.osu.edu for more info.

Greek Week

Greek Week is a week full of competitions, spirit and themed gatherings for all fraternities and

sororities. Traditional highlights include the Greek God and Goddess competition, tug of war

and a variety show. Visit sﬂ.osu.edu for more details.

BuckeyeThon

BuckeyeThon is the largest student-run philanthropy on campus, raising over $10 million in its

history. It is a year-long fundraiser, culminating in two 12-hour dance marathons at The Ohio

State University. Money raised supports Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Children’s

Miracle Network. During the event, enthusiastic morale captains host activities, games and

challenges for the dancers. Visit buckeyethon.osu.edu for more info!

Disability Awareness Month

During April, Student Life Disability Services celebrates Disability Awareness Month by hosting

numerous activities, such as wheelchair basketball, beep ball, movie viewings,

art exhibitions and dancing wheels. See ods.osu.edu for event info.

Parent & Family Weekend and Sibs & Kids Weekend

Parent and Family Relations sponsors Parent and Family Weekend each fall and Sibs & Kids

Weekend each spring. Parent and Family Weekend features three days of great events for the

whole family to connect with Ohio State. During Sibs & Kids Weekend, Ohio State students

can invite any younger sibling, niece, nephew, cousin or friend of the family to experience the

excitement of Ohio State and some special events planned just for them.

Go to parent.osu.edu for more details.

SIGNATURE EVENTS

at e Ohio State University

stnev EnmuutA

Welcome Week

OUAB

Student Involvement Fair

Student Organization Success Coaches

International Student Welcome Party

International Friendships

Block ‘O’ Football Game Watch Party

Block ‘O’

Homecoming Parade

OUAB

National Pan-Hellenic Council Stepshow

National Pan-Hellenic Council

The Bellwether Improv Comedy Festival

8th Floor Improv Comedy Group

A Night at the Columbus Museum of Art

Student Life: Residence Life

HackOHI/O

Thanksgiving Dinner

Oce of Diversity and Inclusion and Oce of International Aairs

African Night

African Youth League

Light Up North Area

Ohio Staters, Inc.

Autumn Commencement Week

Student Life: Major Campus Events Committee

sntev EginrpS

Asian Paciﬁc Islander Desi American Heritage Month

Student Life Multicultural Center

Spring Student Involvement Fair

Student Organization Success Coaches

OSU Night at COSI

Student Life: Residence Life

Taste of OSU

Oce of International Aairs

Spring Musical

O the Lake Productions

TedxOhioStateUniversity

Alleviating Poverty Through Entrepreneurship Summit

Alleviating Poverty Through Entrepreneurship

African American Heritage Festival

Student Life: African American Leadership Consortium

RUOK Day

Buckeye Campaign Against Suicide

Police Dialogue and Relations Week

Ohio State Sustained Dialogue

Relay for Life

Colleges Against Cancer

Spring Commencement Week

OUAB

See osu.edu/programs/signature_events for dates and details!

Brought to you by your Student Activity Fee.

Asian Paciﬁc Islander Desi American Heritage Month

Student Life Multicultural Center

Spring Student Involvement Fair

Student Organization Success Coaches

OSU Night at COSI

Student Life: Residence Life

Taste of OSU

Oce of International Aairs

Spring Musical

O the Lake Productions

TedxOhioStateUniversity

Alleviating Poverty Through Entrepreneurship Summit

Alleviating Poverty Through Entrepreneurship

African American Heritage Festival

Student Life: African American Leadership Consortium

RUOK Day

Buckeye Campaign Against Suicide

Police Dialogue and Relations Week

Ohio State Sustained Dialogue

Relay for Life

Colleges Against Cancer

Spring Commencement Week

OUAB

See osu.edu/programs/signature_events

for dates and details!

Brought to you by your Student Activity Fee.

DTIX PROGRAM

at e Ohio State University

The Discount Ticket Program at the Ohio Union (D-Tix) funded by the Student Activity Fee,

is oered exclusively to Ohio State students to provide undergraduate, graduate and

professional students access to hundreds of events at a discounted rate.

Students also have an opportunity to experience events in surrounding areas of Columbus

at a great price. Students can get their Discounted Tickets at the Information Center in the

Ohio Union. Select ticketed events require online registration through the D-Tix Lottery

System. Be sure to check out the D-Tix website and sign up for weekly e-mail updates

at ditx.osu.edu. You can also contact D-Tix at 614-688-INFO (4636) or follow D-Tix on

Twitter at @DTixOSU.

Some examples of general discounts available weekly include:

Columbus Museum of Art, COSI, Columbus Zoo, Franklin Park Conservatory, Funny Bone

Comedy Club, Shadow Box Cabaret, SegAway Tours of Columbus, Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame

(Cleveland, OH), Columbus Food Adventure Tours and many more.

Other lottery events oered through D-Tix online registration include:

Columbus Crew SC, Columbus Blue Jackets, Columbus Clippers, Columbus Symphony and

Jazz Orchestras, Balletmet, Broadway Across America and other special events at venues

such as Value City Arena, Nationwide Arena, Express Live and the Newport Music Hall.

Buck-I-SERV

At e Ohio State University

Be a Buck-I-SERV Advisor!

Buck-I-SERV is The Oce of Student Life’s alternative break program. Buck-I-SERV

provides students with weeklong, substance free alternative break service trips and

oers challenging and fun opportunities to lead and learn through direct service

experiences. Approximately 90 total trips travel during the University’s winter, spring

and summer break periods.

Graduate and Professional Students can participate in Buck-I-SERV as Trip Advisors. Advisors

are critical to the success of all Buck-I-SERV trips and can expect to reap the following beneﬁts

with full participation:

• Gain the opportunity to participate in extended community service experiences

alongside students

• Increase interaction with a small group of students from a variety of college

departments and interest areas across campus

• Participate without incurring personal expenses related to transportation,

lodging and meals throughout the trip experience

• Share personal expertise or research interest with a group of students in

real-life setting

Advisors do not pay for their trip spots and receive a small per diem payment at

the conclusion of the trip. The application link and more information regarding

the Advisor role is available at buckiserv.osu.edu/advisor. Please direct questions

to buck-i-serv@osu.edu.

At e Ohio State University

CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT

at e Ohio State University

Getting involved with the incredibly vibrant diversity of the Ohio State student population

means being willing to learn about the culture of those that might have grown up with a

dierent experience, but it also means being willing to share your own story with others.

Learning a new cultural perspective can take place where you live, where you study and take

classes, within a student organization or at any of the hundreds of cultural events that occur

on campus every year. These pages describe some of those important events. For more

information on diversity at Ohio State, see osu.edu/diversity.

Student Life Multicultural Center

The Student Life Multicultural Center (MCC) occupies a beautiful space on the ﬁrst ﬂoor of

the Ohio Union lantern tower that shines a light on this space where everyone is welcome.

Operating a safe and inclusive space on campus serves as a center for intercultural dialogue,

learning and community building. The Multicultural Center focuses its programs and services

on three themes: advocacy and visibility, education and empowerment, and support and

belonging. For more information about all of the ways you can get involved, visit mcc.osu.edu.

Latinx Early Arrival Program (LEAP)

The Latinx Early Arrival Program (LEAP) is four-day program for ﬁrst year Latinx that provides

mentors, connections, and support throughout the academic year. First-year Latinx students

will have the opportunity to network with the Latinx community within both Ohio State and

the Columbus area. Students will be paired with an upper-class peer mentor to support their

journey throughout the ﬁrst year. We invite you to take LEAP into our Buckeye familia and

learn about resources for your academic and personal success!

Alternative Thanksgiving

Alternative Thanksgiving is an open alternative event to the Thanksgiving national holiday. This

event gives Native American/Indigenous students an opportunity to create/nurture their Ohio

State community as they would if they were at home within their tribal communities whether in

an urban, reservation or traditional lands space. This is an event where friends and allies will

learn about history and traditions of Native American/Indigenous peoples at the time of contact

and diering viewpoints. Traditional Indigenous foods will be served. To assure enough food,

this is an RSVP event. Please contact Melissa Jacob, jacob.[email protected].

African American Heritage Festival

The African American Heritage Festival is one of Ohio State’s Signature Events intended to

celebrate, educate, impact and promote cultural awareness while commemorating the legacy

of the African American experience. It is an eight-day festival sponsored by the Student

Life Multicultural Center that takes place during spring semester. Any student can become

a part of the leadership team to plan the events of the week. Past events included artistic

entertainment, concerts, educational summits, community building, service learning events

and much more! To learn more about the festival and how to become a part of the leadership

team, visit mcc.osu.edu and heritagefestival.osu.edu.

Asian Paciﬁc Islander Desi American Heritage Month

The Student Life Multicultural Center sponsors this major month-long APIDA celebration each

year, bringing together student and community groups across a wide diversity of cultures and

traditions. During this month, they encourage the campus community to explore issues related

to Asian Paciﬁc Americans, through a multitude of cultural, social and educational events.

Asian Paciﬁc Islander Desi American Heritage Month is co-sponsored by the Asian American

Association, South Asian Student Association and Asian American Studies.

For more information, visit mcc.osu.edu.

Student Cohort Groups

Student Cohort groups of the Student Life Multicultural Center focus on intersections

between identities, community building, personal development and leadership. The groups

are implemented with the support of student leaders, professional sta and in partnership

with student organizations and other campus resources. These include the APIDA Cohort,

Native American and Indigenous Peoples Cohort, LGBTQ Dialogue Communities, African

American Leadership Council, Latino Student Association, Advocates for Inclusion, CASA

Cohort and Diversity, and the Women’s Cohorts.

Heritage and Awareness Events

Heritage and Awareness Events are the hallmark programs of the Student Life Multicultural

Center and demonstrate a strong tradition of honoring historical contexts, exploring culturally

signiﬁcant events and raising visibility of under-represented groups. Our intercultural format

invites students of all backgrounds and experiences to take part in celebrations such as Latino

History Month, National Coming Out Day, OSUnidos Awareness Week, Indigenous Peoples

Day, Transgender Day of Visibility, Asian Paciﬁc American Heritage Month, United Black World

Month and Women’s History Month.

Week of Action

Week of Action is an initiative of the Student Life Multicultural Center that seeks to reach

out to the entire Ohio State campus community in an eort to encourage students, sta

and faculty to stand up with and advocate on behalf of people who are of a dierent race,

ethnicity, sexual orientation, religious or spiritual identity, gender identity/expression,

socioeconomic class or other social identity dierent than their own. Each of the week’s

events and programs are heavily focused on the themes of awareness, education and action.

The Revolution

The Revolution is a weekend retreat facilitated by the Student Life Multicultural Center,

wherein participants come together to create more connections and meaningfully engage

with student leaders around campus committed to diversity and social justice work. Together,

we share a transformative experience in which we are able to deeply and meaningfully

explore the signiﬁcance of our and others’ social identities, and learn about ways we can

advocate for each other, ultimately working toward positive social change not only on our

campus, but also in the greater community.

The Safe Zone Project

The Safe Zone Project with the Student Life Multicultural Center aims to raise awareness

and discuss ways to make the spaces we live, and work in, more welcoming and inclusive of

LGBTQ people. This interactive training provides a forum for sharing of information, breaking

down stereotypes and opening up dialogue. This includes an overview of information to

increase awareness, knowledge and understanding about sexual orientation and gender

identity and expression.

Social Justice Engagement

Social Justice Engagement at the Student Life Multicultural Center is a social justice

and intercultural diversity education program at The Ohio State University. SJE works

proactively to promote understanding of intergroup relations inside and outside of the

classroom through dialogues, workshops and trainings. SJE’s mission is to promote inclusive

intergroup learning and to facilitate improved group dynamics through these co-curricular

educational opportunities. SJE initiatives include our Diversity, Intercultural, and Community

Engagement (DICE) program (see page 18 for more information), Alonso Family Dialogue

Series, Buck-Identity Workshops, and other exciting programing.

Diversity and Social Justice in Leadership

(ES HESA 2577) Diversity and Social Justice in Leadership: A Journey Towards Intercultural

Leadership is a three-credit course designed to bring together students from dierent cultural

and social identity groups in a facilitated learning environment. Interactive dialogues engage

students in exploring issues of diversity and inequality as well as their personal and social

responsibility for building a more just university and society. Students gain valuable leadership

skills that they can eectively utilize long beyond the classroom. Classes are oered every Fall

and Spring Semester. For more information, visit mcc.osu.edu.

National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) Step Show

The NPHC Step Show is a showcase of dance tradition that is a fusion of African routines and

contemporary dance moves. The show features Ohio State Greeks and also includes Greeks

from other universities nationwide. It is held every Spring semester during Greek Week. See

sﬂ.osu.edu for more information.

Diversity, Intercultural and Community Engagement Certiﬁcate

DICE is a certiﬁcate earning program for undergraduate, graduate and professional students

interested in enhancing their Ohio State experience through co-curricular involvement focused

on diversity, social justice, and leadership. Through this program, students gain valuable skills

in leadership and diversity. DICE provides diversity training through experiential learning and

serves as a unique way of supporting student identity and interpersonal development. DICE

students will receive a certiﬁcate in Diversity, Intercultural and Community Engagement at

the end of the academic year. This certiﬁcate will verify to employers and graduate schools

that recipients are prepared to live and work in a diverse environment and are committed to

improving their communities. For more information on how to become a part of this program,

visit go.osu.edu/dice.

Women Student Initiatives

Women Student Initiatives provides intersectional and inclusive programming for all women

and women-identifying people. WSI works to support and encourage students to grow

personally and professionally while recognizing, honoring and celebrating dierences in

identity. Our programming includes cohorts, social events, and Women’s History Month

with a variety of topics related to mentorship, advocacy, leadership development and civic

engagement. Learn more at go.osu.edu/wsi.

The Hale Center

The Frank W. Hale, Jr. Black Cultural Center hosts supportive programs and activities for all of

the university community with an emphasis on the development and advancement of Black

students. Some of the Hale Center programs include lectures, cultural activities, cook-outs,

workshops and other events to promote cultural and social education for students. The Hale

Center has one of the largest collections of African and African American art in the country!

For more history and information on the Hale Center, visit odi.osu.edu.

Hagerty Hall

Hagerty Hall houses the departments that include language, literature and culture courses.

Throughout the building, cultural art can be found. There are frequent competitions for

showcasing student photography from their personal traveling experiences. The ﬁrst ﬂoor

features the World Media and Culture Center (WMCC) which incorporates many cutting edge

multimedia materials useful in learning languages, culture and navigating the international

world. The WMCC includes computer and video conference centers, classrooms and studios.

Hagerty is also home to CraneCafé where students can go to eat, watch international

programming, learn and practice languages and more. One of the great beneﬁts of living in

the 14th largest city in the United States is that you have the culture, arts, sports, shopping,

metro parks and great restaurants of a major metropolitan area within a reasonable walk or

bus ride from campus. Take advantage of everything Columbus has to oer and let Student

Life’s D-Tix program help you do it on a college student’s budget.

The Discount Ticket Program at the Ohio Union (D-Tix)

Funded by the Student Activity Fee, Student Life’s Discount Ticket Program is offered

exclusively to Ohio State students to provide undergraduate, graduate and professional

students access to hundreds of events at a discounted rate. Students also have an opportunity

to experience trips to surrounding areas of Columbus at a great price. Students can get their

Discounted Tickets at the Information Center in the Ohio Union. Select ticketed events require

online registration through the D-Tix Lottery System. Be sure to check out the D-Tix website

and sign up for weekly e-mail updates at dtix.osu.edu. You can also contact D-Tix at

614-688-INFO (4636). Some examples of general discounts available weekly include:

Columbus Museum of Art, COSI, Columbus Zoo, Franklin Park Conservatory, Funny Bone

Comedy Club, Shadow Box Cabaret, SegAway Tours of Columbus, Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame

(Cleveland, OH), Columbus Food Adventure Tours and many more. Other lottery events offered

through D-Tix online registration include: Columbus Crew SC, Columbus Blue Jackets,

Columbus Clippers, Columbus Symphony and Jazz Orchestras, Balletmet, Broadway Across

America and other special events at venues such as Value City Arena, Nationwide Arena,

Express LIVE and the Newport Music Hall.

Experience Columbus

Get a complete overview of all the great things to do in Columbus at experiencecolumbus.com.

Performing Arts

Columbus Association for the Performing Arts—CAPA, as it is known locally—owns and

operates three beautifully restored theatres in downtown Columbus: Ohio, Palace and

Southern. The theatres are home to organizations such as The Columbus Symphony,

BalletMet, Opera Columbus, Broadway Across America–Columbus, Columbus Jazz Orchestra

and ProMusica Chamber Orchestra. In addition, CAPA operates three theatres in the Rie

Center, also located downtown. Companies that make the Rie Center their home include the

Contemporary American Theatre Company (CATCO) and Phoenix Theatre Circle (family theater).

Visit capa.com for more details about venues and performances.

RECREATIONAL SPORTS

at e Ohio State University

Begin a life in motion through Student Life’s Department of Recreational Sports! Rec Sports

oers Ohio State students the opportunity to live active and meaningful lives while on

campus. Rec Sports is enhanced by its award-winning indoor and outdoor facilities, including

seven indoor locations—the Recreation and Physical Activity Center (RPAC), Jesse Owens

Recreational Centers (JORC), Adventure Recreation Center (ARC) and the North Recreation

Center —and more than 90 acres of outdoor parks, courts and ﬁelds.

Make the most of your fee and have fun doing what you love at Ohio State Rec Sports:

• Free group ﬁtness classes

• Five pools, spa and two saunas

• Indoor/outdoor tennis

• Over 570 pieces of state-of-the-art ﬁtness equipment

• Gaming, lounge, study and leisure space

• Free basketball, squash, badminton, volleyball, disc and racquet check out

• Student meeting and event space

• Flag football, baseball/softball, cricket ﬁelds and pitches

• Jogging paths

• Family hours and children’s programming

• School year and summer day camps

• Spouse, domestic partner and dependent memberships available

Group Fitness

Group ﬁtness classes are a fun way to burn calories! Rec Sports oers more than 100

classes each week, ranging from ZUMBA®, cardio and weights, to abs, kickboxing and more.

Classes are FREE to students who pay the dedicated Rec Sports fee. The schedule changes

by semester and can be found at go.osu.edu/groupﬁtness.

Personal Training

Meet your ﬁtness goals with the help of a personal trainer. Our personal training program

oers one-on-one training, group training, free equipment orientations and assessments

to help you reach your ﬁtness potential.

Intramural Sports

If you played sports in high school or undergrad and want to continue your involvement, look

to intramural sports! Play an old favorite like softball or basketball or participate in a new sport

such as ice hockey or wallyball. See go.osu.edu/intramurals for registration dates.

RECREATIONAL SPORTS

Sport Clubs

Sport Clubs bridge the gap between intramural and intercollegiate athletics by providing

competition at specialized levels, participating in tournaments and arranging opportunities

to practice. The level of competition varies depending on the club. With 60 clubs, there’s a

variety to choose from! View a list of Sport Clubs in the Student Organizations section of this

guide or online at go.osu.edu/sportclubs.

Outdoor Adventure

Get out of the city for a weekend or learn a new outdoor skill! The Outdoor Adventure Center

(OAC), located within the ARC, plans adventure trips and clinics each semester. Trips range

from one-day backpacking excursions to longer sea kayaking and caving journeys. The OAC

also oers diverse clinics such as rappelling, top rope belay and lead climbing to help hone

or learn new skills. View the trip and clinic schedule at go.osu.edu/adventure.

Open Recreation

Want to play drop-in badminton, squash, racquetball, basketball, volleyball or climb?

There are many ways to participate in open recreation at the ARC, RPAC, the OAC,

NRC and the JORCs.

Adapted Recreational Sports

Adapted Recreational Sports (ARS) oers individuals with disabilities opportunities to

remain physically active while meeting others and reaching out to the community.

Kid Zone

Work out without worrying about babysitting! While you are at the RPAC, drop your kids o at

the RPAC Kids Zone to be looked after by experienced and trained Rec Sports sta. Children

ages 2 months – 12 years are welcome at no cost to members. Advance reservations are not

necessary. Unless otherwise indicated on the holiday schedule, Kids Zone hours follow the

semester schedule.

at e Ohio State University

COMMUNITY

ENGAGED LEARNING

at e Ohio State University

Woody Hayes said, “You can never pay back, so you should always try to pay forward.”

In this spirit, we believe all Buckeyes should have an opportunity to pay it forward.

Service can include something small like a single-day project, or something large such

as a yearlong commitment to regular volunteering with a community partner.

Many graduate/professional students seek community engagement activities that align with

their academic major or professional pathway. Engagement opportunities are available for

individuals through the online Service Search Engine or through student organizations.

Service and Outreach

Visit the service and outreach tab on the activities.osu.edu website to search and connect

with community partners seeing Ohio State volunteers for one-time or ongoing opportunities.

Single-Day Projects

For more information, visit payitforward.osu.edu.

• Community Commitment, held annually during Welcome Week

• MLK Day of Service, held annually in January

• Local service trips, held nearly weekly in autumn and spring semesters

Service-Learning Courses

Service-learning courses combine hands-on volunteer work with an academic environment.

For more information, or to search for courses, visit service-learning.osu.edu.

COMMUNITY

ENGAGED LEARNING

at e Ohio State University

UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

at e Ohio State University

Oering study spaces in 11 locations, an extensive physical collection and wealth

of online resources and experts to help with research, University Libraries is committed

to graduate student success.

Resources that are especially useful to graduate students are:

• Access to hundreds of research databases oering free full-text journal articles:

go.osu.edu/databases

• Free digital delivery of articles through the “Article Express” service:

go.osu.edu/articleexpress

• Special Collections that oer unique research opportunities:

library.osu.edu/special-collections

Research Commons

Part of University Libraries, the Research Commons is a campus community where faculty,

postdocs, and graduate students can connect with experts for support at any stage in the

research life cycle. Driven by services that enable research, it is where great minds gather

to connect, collaborate and tackle projects that change the world. The services of the

Research Commons focus on empowering graduate students to explore areas of digital

humanities, mapping and geospatial information services, data visualization, research impact

and managing research data outputs. The Research Commons supports graduate student

research by oering workshops and consultations, specialized technology in collaborative

spaces and research showcasing events. Visit us on the third ﬂoor of the 18th Avenue Library

or check out our website at library.osu.edu/researchcommons.

UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

at e Ohio State University

MICHAEL V. DRAKE CENTER FOR

TEACHING AND LEARNING

at e Ohio State University

The Michael V. Drake Institute for Teaching and Learning (Drake Institute) supports The Ohio

State University as an exemplar of teaching excellence, research, and innovation to improve

student success. Its mission is to advance at-scale professional learning, evidence-based

instructional strategies, and research and policy that elevate, across the university, the work

of all who teach.

If you are a graduate student with a current or anticipated teaching appointment, the Drake

Institute oers support of your teaching endeavors through:

• an annual Graduate Teaching Orientation,

• a Teaching Endorsement program that includes nearly twenty professional learning

opportunities on topics to support GTA teaching; completed endorsements are

noted on ocial University transcripts,

• a GTA Toolkit workshop series, through which GTAs from across the university

connect and learn together,

• conﬁdential one-on-one consultations with sta who can help you prepare academic

job search materials or identify ways to continually improve your students’ learning,

• Teaching@OhioState, a self-directed, ﬁve module online experience that serves as an

introduction to key topics about teaching at The Ohio State University. Participants are

presented with opportunities to become familiar with multiple perspectives on teaching,

be exposed to evidence-based teaching practices, reﬂect on their own teaching practice

and connect with resources that support their teaching.

Online resources on a wide variety of teaching-related topics.

Please visit drakeinstitute.osu.edu for more information.

MICHAEL V. DRAKE CENTER FOR

TEACHING AND LEARNING

OFFICE OF RESEARCH

OFFICE OF POSTDOCTORAL AFFAIRS

at e Ohio State University

Established in 2017, the Oce of Postdoctoral Aairs seeks to enhance the

postdoctoral experience for scholars across the university, serving 15 colleges

and with 700+ postdocs at Ohio State.

Services

The Oce of Postdoctoral Aairs (OPA) will:

• Fund your membership to the National Postdoc Association (NPA)

and sponsor opportunities to attend the NPA annual meeting

• Provide you with research and professional development

resources and opportunities

• Collect and disseminate data on Ohio State postdocs

Key Initiatives

Advocacy

We address all advocacy and policy issues that aect Ohio State’s postdoctoral community –

general policies, beneﬁts, conﬂict resolution and more.

Professional Development

We oer assistance with fellowship/grant writing, postdoctoral mentoring plans and guidance

on academic and non-research career paths.

Enhancing Mentorship

We provide resources, training and assistance with mentoring plans for research proposals.

We support the recruitment of international and underrepresented minority postdocs.

Development

We will bring more fellowships and research funding to Ohio State’s postdoctoral scholars.

For More Information

Contact: Oce of Postdoctoral Aairs, Oce of Research

OUR TEAM

Noah Weisleder, Director, weisleder[email protected]

Marcela Hernandez, Administrative Director, hernandez.[email protected]

COLLEGE LIAISONS

Brian Oreﬁce, Arts and Sciences, oreiﬁce.[email protected]

Je Mason, Medicine, Jerey[email protected]

La’Tonia Stiner-Jones, Engineering, stiner-jones.[email protected]

Lori Kaser,Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, kaser[email protected]

Kim Lightle, Education and Human Ecology, lightle.[email protected]

Please visit go.osu.edu/osupostdocs for more information.

SPIRITUALITY

at e Ohio State University

Developing your spiritual life can give you a sense of purpose and help you ﬁgure out where

you are most passionate in your professional, social and personal life. Spirituality is not religion,

although they may act together, and its deﬁnition is dierent for everyone. Spirituality can help

people ﬁnd their place in the world while still keeping an open mind toward all beliefs.

Student Wellness Center

Student Life’s Student Wellness Center, located in the RPAC, is a resource for students

seeking wellness in all aspects of life. Among many other things, it is a resource for students

exploring their spirituality. They oer spiritual counseling and group presentations.

Visit the center at swc.osu.edu.

In working on the spiritual aspect of wellness, a wellness coach can help you ﬁnd the

resources you need at The Ohio State University and in the Columbus community. Your

coach will meet with you for 45-minute sessions that are free and help you navigate and

adjust to this complex college environment. Your coach will help you determine your own

spiritual journey while learning about yourself and others.

See swc.osu. edu/wellness-initiatives/wellness-coaching for more information.

Religious and Spiritual Student Organizations

There are dozens of student organizations founded on faith-based, spiritual, agnostic and

atheist concepts and practices. To explore existing organizations, visit the online student

organization directory at getinvolved.osu.edu and either enter keywords or do

an advanced search and select “Religious/Spiritual.”

Ohio State Interfaith Association

The Ohio State Interfaith Council is an organization that unites a wide variety of faith traditions,

worldviews and spiritual communities of faith. Their goal is to promote spiritual wellness

through understanding and respect of diverse spiritual beliefs by means of communication,

awareness, dialogue, education and advocacy, both on campus and in the greater community.

SPIRITUALITY

at e Ohio State University

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

at e Ohio State University

The incredible variety of available organizations is a direct reﬂection of Ohio State’s

diversity of students and eclectic interests.

The roster of organizations changes each semester as new organizations form and

old ones close. For the most updated information, visit activities.osu.edu under

Involvement > Student Organizations. You can search the online directory by keyword

or type of organization.

Starting a New Student Organization

If you don’t ﬁnd an existing organization that totally interests you, it’s not that dicult to

start your own.

1. You’ll need a minimum of ﬁve student members.

2. Three dierent students must be listed as primary ocers – president, treasurer

and secondary leader.

3. You’ll need a faculty or sta member to serve as the organization advisor.

Once you’ve identiﬁed those key people, you can begin the online registration.

4. Submit a registration request at

activities.osu.edu/involvement/student_organizations/registration.

5. A sta member will review your request and schedule a brief meeting to provide

resources to get you started.

6. After that meeting, you can complete the online registration process including

general info, roster, constitution and organization goals.

7. In addition to the online process, the president, treasurer and advisor also need

to complete training.

Registered and active student organizations are eligible for a variety of beneﬁts including:

• Access to funding for operations and programs.

• Ability to reserve meeting and event space on campus, in many cases for no cost

or at a discounted rate

• Access to free marketing, graphic design, photography, videography, website

hosting and email services.

ATHLETICS AND

BUCKEYE SPIRIT

at e Ohio State University

There are also several ways to get involved with the traditions related to Buckeye spirit

and athletics. Here are a few examples…

Block ‘O’

Block ‘O’ is one of Ohio State’s largest student organizations and has gained local and national

recognition. As the ocial student section for all Ohio State sports and athletic events, Block

‘O’ spreads spirit, starts cheers and leads card stunts in Ohio Stadium for football games. In

addition to football, you can share your pride and support for other athletics during basketball

season as a member of the “Buckeye Nuthouse,” at volleyball games as part of the “Scarlet

Setters” and at men’s hockey games with the “knucklebucks.”

Best Fans in the Land - Sportsmanship Council

Best Fans in the Land Sportsmanship Council exists to establish good sportsmanship as

a continuing tradition at The Ohio State University. A great way to get involved with the

Sportsmanship Council is through the Game Day Buckeye Ambassadors Program. Groups of

ambassadors roam the tailgate and Stadium areas on football Saturdays and actively welcome

fans to Ohio State, especially supporters of the visiting team. The goal is to promote good

sportsmanship between Buckeye fans and the opposing teams, as well as to establish a sense

of responsibility to uphold the “Best Fans in the Land” tradition.

ATHLETICS AND

BUCKEYE SPIRIT

at e Ohio State University

Varsity Sports

There are 37 varsity sports at Ohio State! While getting involved with the teams as a

student-athlete is a limited opportunity based on many factors, athletics is a huge part

of the Ohio State culture, and supporting the sports teams is a great way to show your

Buckeye Spirit! Here’s a list of Ohio State’s varsity sports:

Men’s Athletics

Baseball

Riﬂe

Basketball

Soccer

Cross Country

Spirit Program

Fencing Football

Swimming/Diving

Golf

Tennis

Gymnastics

Track and Field

Ice Hockey

Volleyball

Lacrosse

Wrestling

Pistol

Women’s Athletics

Cross Country

Rowing

Fencing

Soccer

Field Hockey

Softball

Golf

Spirit Program

Gymnastics

Swimming/Diving

Ice Hockey

Synchronized Swimming

Lacrosse

Tennis

Pistol

Track and Field

Riﬂe

Volleyball

Some Ohio State Spirit

Traditions Every Buckeye Should Know

Brutus Buckeye

One of the more visible symbols of Ohio State Athletics is Brutus Buckeye, the school’s

mascot. In 1965, an art student designed and introduced the ﬁrst Brutus, while the name

was chosen in a contest. The mascot began as a hardened paper mache aair that looked

like a bowling ball with legs. In 1975, a radical new Brutus was designed with a prune-like

head and a man’s body. That attempt was booed o the ﬁeld and was re-worked, giving

way to a mascot comparable to the beloved present-day Brutus. Interested in sharing

your spirit and pride as Ohio State’s proud and energetic mascot? Try-outs for the famed

position occur each spring semester in conjunction with Cheerleading try-outs. Each Brutus is

considered by demonstrating personality skills, creativity and the ability to interact with crowds.

Spirit Progam

Ohio State Athletics’ Spirit Program consists of the Cheerleading/Brutus Buckeye Squad and

the Dance Team. These students are a constant source of support at athletic and

other special events throughout the year.

Buckeye Grove

Since 1934, a Buckeye tree has been planted in honor of each of Ohio State’s All-American

football players. Trees are usually planted in a pre-game ceremony at the spring game.

With the renovation of Ohio Stadium in 2001, the Buckeye Grove is now located at the

southwest corner of the stadium.

The Illibuck Trophy

The winner of the Ohio State-Illinois game has received the Illibuck trophy since the

tradition began in 1925. Illibuck was a live turtle, but has been a wooden replica since

1927. Also representative of the rivalry is the peace pipe. Members of two junior honor

societies, Bucket and Dipper of Ohio State and Sachem of Illinois, annually meet at

halftime of the Fighting Illini-Buckeye game to present the “Illibuck” trophy to the

winning school from the previous year.

e Ohio State University Marching Band

Skull Session

In 1932, Eugene J. Weigel enhanced the band’s performance by having members

completely memorize music before the game each week. By doing this, bandsmen

could concentrate more on the marching maneuvers without sacriﬁcing the music.

Weigel then scheduled a ﬁnal rehearsal of the music before game time so the band

could play and think through the show one last time—one last “Skull Session.” Skull

Session starts one and a half hours before kicko of every home football game.

It is a popular concert/pep rally, with over 10,000 fans in attendance. Seats for Skull

Session are in high demand, and it is not unusual for dedicated fans to arrive up to

two hours before the band.

Script Ohio

The signature formation of the Ohio State Marching Band performed before, during halftime or

after home games is Script Ohio. Each time the formation drill is performed, a dierent fourth

or ﬁfth-year sousaphone player has the privilege of standing as the dot in the “i” of “Ohio.”

Dotting the “i”

At exactly 16 measures from the end of “Le Regiment,” the drum major struts out toward

the top of the “i,” with the sousaphone player high-stepping a couple of paces behind.

As the crowd’s cheering crescendos, the drum major stops and dramatically points to

the spot. The sousaphone player assumes the post of honor, dos his hat and bows

deeply to both sides of the stadium. Woody Hayes, Bob Hope, Jack Nicklaus and John

and Annie Glenn are among the select few non-band members who have had the honor

of dotting the “i.” This is considered the greatest honor the band can bestow to any

non-band person and is an extremely special (and rare) event.

STUDENT ACTIVITY FEE

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Student Activity Fee?

It is a fee charged to all undergraduate, graduate and professional students each academic term

(autumn, spring and summer). The fee is used to fund major campus events planned by the Ohio

Union Activities Board, student organizations, student governments, the Discount Ticket program,

Buck-I-SERV (the alternative breaks program), select local community service initiatives planned

by Pay It Forward and some of Ohio State’s largest and most traditional campus programs, called

Signature Events.

How much money do I pay for the Student Activity Fee?

The amount of the student activity fee is approximately $40.00 per semester. The change to

$40.00 did not constitute an increase in the fee revenue but merely a recalculation necessitated

by the switch to semesters. Prior to the increase in 2010, the fee had been $15 per quarter since

the Student Activity Fee’s inception in Autumn Quarter 2003.

What is the money generated from the fee used for?

A ﬁxed amount of $670,000 from the Student Activity Fee (SAF) revenue is dedicated to funding

student organization resources, graphic design and video editing services and limited stang for

positions that support SAF-funded programs. The balance of the revenue is allocated according

to a formula determined by the Council on Student Aairs.

As of the Council on Student Aairs’ most recent review in Spring 2018, the breakdown is:

• 54.02% campus-wide programming administered by

Ohio Union Activities Board (OUAB)

• 13.81% Discount Ticket Program (D-Tix)

• 14% student organization funding

• 9.26% student government funding

• 7.58% Buck-I-SERV (alternative breaks program)

• 1.33% Pay It Forward (local service initiatives)

What types of events are sponsored by the fee?

The fee funds free concerts, lectures, comedy shows, movies and special events, as well

as graduate and professional student programming, alternative break service trips, local

community service initiatives, discounted tickets to cultural events occurring o-campus

and on-campus programs sponsored by registered student organizations.

STUDENT ACTIVITY FEE

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I be involved in deciding which events are brought

to campus?

Go to ouab.osu.edu to provide a suggestion. You can also join OUAB and have your voice

heard or give current members your ideas! OUAB is the Ohio Union Activities Board, which

receives the largest portion of the fee to plan campus events. OUAB is always looking for

thoughtful students to help brainstorm ideas of what performers and events to bring to

campus. New members are selected at the beginning of each autumn semester. Go to

ouab.osu.edu for more information about the membership process.

How do student organizations beneﬁt from the Activity Fee?

Each registered student organization is eligible to receive up to $200 in operating funds and

has the opportunity to apply for up to $2,000 or $3,000 more (depending on their registration

status) for special programs that anyone on campus can attend. In addition, the Resource Room

in the Keith B. Key Center for Student Leadership and Service at the Ohio Union receives funding

for the equipment and tools that student organizations can use.

What other Activity Fee-funded resources are available to

student organizations?

The Resource Room, which receives its budget from the Activity Fee, provides registered

student organizations with access to a variety of resources and supplies including

photocopying, poster printing, free reservation of equipment like digital cameras, video

cameras with tripods, two-way radios and use of various marketing materials. Once registered,

student organizations receive a $250 line of pre-paid credit for products and services in the

Resource Room. Student organizations may also receive the free services of a team of graphic

designers to help with design of posters, brochures, ﬂyers, postcards, logos, etc. The graphics

department can help secure price quotes from outside printers and manufacturers, etc., but

the organizations themselves must incur the costs of printing the items that the graphics

department designs. Student organizations also have access to free video editing services

funded by the Fee.

What is the Discount Ticket Program?

The Discount Ticket Program, or D-Tix, allows students to buy discounted tickets to sporting

events, concerts and cultural events throughout Columbus and Ohio. Discounts are also

available to area movie theaters, restaurants, the Columbus Zoo, COSI and the Funny Bone

Comedy Club, as well as the Columbus Museum of Art and many others. Tickets are sold at

the Ohio Union Information Center. Students may purchase with a valid BuckID.

Check dtix.osu.edu for the most updated list of tickets available.

What is Buck-I-SERV?

Buck-I-SERV, also known as the alternative breaks program, is a weeklong, substance-free

program centered on community service, held during the university’s winter, spring and

summer breaks. Get more information on how to get involved with the 85+ domestic and

international trips sponsored each year at buckiserv.osu.edu.

What sort of accountability exists for organizations that get the

largest share of the Activity Fee?

The primary beneﬁciaries of the Student Activity Fee funding are the Ohio Union Activities

Board (OUAB), Undergraduate Student Government (USG), Council of Graduate Students (CGS),

Inter-Professional Council (IPC), the Discount Ticket Program, the Buck-I-SERV Advisory Board,

which plans alternative break trips and Pay It Forward, which plans local service initiatives. All

of those organizations must report on a per-semester basis to the Council on Student Aairs

(CSA) Allocations Committee, sharing information about their budgets, their upcoming plans

and the success of their past programs. Those same groups must report on an annual basis to

the full CSA committee. Because it receives the largest portion of the Activity Fee, OUAB must

also report on a monthly basis to the Ohio Union Council, which is made up of students, sta,

faculty and alumni.

Who decides how the Student Activity Fee is allocated?

The Council on Student Aairs (CSA), which is a subcommittee of the University Senate, makes

all decisions about the structure of the Student Activity Fee. CSA is a representative group

of undergraduate, graduate and professional students, faculty members and sta members.

One of CSA’s subcommittees, the Allocations Committee, reviews funding requests made by

registered student organizations and makes decisions about approving those requests.

How can I ﬁnd out about Student Activity Fee-funded events?

The most convenient way to make sure you hear about some of the great campus events and

opportunities o-campus funded by the Fee is to sign up for the D-Tix and OUAB mailing lists.

To ﬁnd out about upcoming Discount Tickets (D-Tix) events, visit dtix.osu.edu or follow D-Tix

on Twitter at @DTixOSU.

To learn about upcoming campus events sponsored by the Ohio Union Activities Board (OUAB)

and release dates for the tickets to those events, look for the “Sign Up” icon at ouab.osu.edu

or follow @OUAB on social media.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES