A message from OHIO's Division of Student Affairs

The following message was shared with Athens Campus students by OHIO's Division of Student Affairs via email on Wednesday, Sept. 7.

Dear OHIO students, 

We cannot express how exciting and energizing it has been to see you return to campus and quickly become active members of the OHIO community over the past few weeks.

Ohio University is full of experiences and opportunities that will help you journey beyond the classroom and make life-long connections with others; the Division of Student Affairs wants to make sure you have the resources needed to enjoy our beautiful campus and safely experience everything OHIO offers.

Resources and support are everywhere

Whether you’re interested in finding your place (and space) on campus, furthering your understanding of yourself and the world around you or exploring ways to prioritize your well-being and support others – our team is here to help.

Be Informed Bobcats is full of important information on University policies, tips, guidelines and resources to help our Bobcats be better bystanders. Your well-being is important to us, and we can all be better bystanders when we’re utilizing resources and tools that can help us stay on the path to a healthy and happy graduation day.

Well-being initiatives and programming are available to all OHIO students. They provide dynamic outlets for you to be active, be connected and be yourself.

• Interested in a more individual approach? Check out OHIO’s Well-Being Coaching sessions that provide free, personalized guidance to help you focus on your strengths and create meaningful goals. Group Well-Being Coaching sessions are also available upon request.  

OHIO’s Survivor Advocacy Program provides confidential support and advocacy services to student survivors of sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating/domestic violence and stalking.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) offers numerous mental health services, including individual, group, relationship therapy, medication referrals, crisis support and other vital mental health and well-being resources.  

• To speak with a counselor, or to initiate services, please visit CPS during drop-in hours Mon-Fri between 9:45 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. or call 740-593-1616 to schedule an appointment. 
• Afterhours support is available via counselor drop-in hours Sun-Fri between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. at the Living Learning Center (Room 160) throughout the academic year. You can also call 740-593-1616 and choose “1” to speak with a counselor or dial 988 if immediate assistance is needed. 

OHIO’s Bobcat Safe App offers more than 50 mobile features, including emergency resources, advanced location services, interactive maps, crime reporting and an unlimited number of push notifications for the University’s Athens campus.

We hope you will review these important resources, and, if you have any questions, please reach out!

Learning and growing together

In the coming months, our team plans to further increase the campus support and training resources needed to help our Bobcats be better bystanders through the Green Dot College Prevention Strategy, a bystander approach for the prevention of power-based personal violence that relies on the power of cultural and peer influence. The strategy will educate and empower all students, staff, administrators and faculty to serve as allies, and we look forward to sharing additional information in the coming months about how you can get involved.

Your success is central to our mission at Ohio University, and everyone on our team wants to make sure that you stay healthy, feel comfortable and safe and enjoy your time at OHIO – from your first steps on campus to your journey across the graduation stage.

We hope you’ll join us at any of OHIO’s upcoming well-being events, and we look forward to seeing you around campus throughout the academic year!

With gratitude and care,

Bill Schafer, Ph.D.

Interim Vice President for Student Affairs

Kathy Fahl, MSW

Interim Dean of Students