OHIO prepares for online orientation

Each summer thousands of new members of the Bobcat family, including incoming first-year students and transfer students, typically come together on Ohio University’s Athens campus during the month of June for Bobcat Student Orientation (BSO). Orientation represents an exciting time of new beginnings for students at OHIO, a time when the campus community opens its arms to a new class of Bobcats.

This summer, for the safety of our students and our communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ohio University will engage Athens campus students in an online orientation program. Required for all new first-year and transfer students, BSO provides important access to academic advising and course registration and helps families prepare for the transition to OHIO.

“Ohio University is committed to delivering an orientation program that meets the needs of our students,” said Wendy Merb-Brown, Assistant Dean for Operations and First-Year & Student Transitions. “While this shift to remote delivery is a change for us and the students we serve, we are confident that we will be able to support first-year students as they transition successfully to college through a combination of online orientation programming coupled with enhanced Welcome Week programming in the fall.”

BSO will take place on the dates originally scheduled. Key components will include course registration for fall semester and signing up for a Learning Community. Students also become acquainted and begin building friendships with future classmates. Throughout Bobcat Student Orientation, students interact with and learn from student orientation leaders.

“We have 39 orientation leaders who are responsible for giving our incoming students a peer perspective of life at Ohio University,” said Director of Undergraduate Orientation Programs Vincent Prior. “Although we are not able to gather on campus right now, our orientation leaders will continue to help plan and deliver orientation activities and experiences that help new students connect with each other and present critical information about the academic and social experiences students have at OHIO.”

Orientation Leader Jake Lundgren is excited to connect with incoming students. “The online orientation will offer a unique opportunity to connect with students and their families one on one so we can help them prepare for their transitions to Ohio University,” Lundgren said. “While I wish that students would have the chance to be on campus, the University has reacted quickly to create digital resources to support incoming students with virtual tours, meetings and more. Hopefully, this experience will show how many resources OHIO has to offer, and how many people within the University are so excited to support student needs!”

Students should consult the Preparing for your Orientation web page before their scheduled BSO date to find a schedule and information about placement tests and online modules. Additional presentations that are not included in the June BSO sessions will be available through online modules which students can complete later in the summer.

Find more information on Bobcat Student Orientation, on the BSO website. Questions not addressed on the website can be directed to the BSO office at orientation@ohio.edu or 740-593-1951. You can also keep up with Bobcat Student Orientation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@OHIOBSO).