Helping students navigate new grounds
This autumn, the Regional Campus Welcome event was held on Friday, August 22, in the Ohio Union’s Performance Hall, offering students transitioning to Columbus an opportunity to connect with fellow campus changers, ask questions and take guided tours of campus. The Transfer Welcome event followed on Thursday, August 28, during the lunch hour, offering a casual drop-in setting where students connected with fellow transfers, engaged with Alumni Engagement staff and learned about key campus resources. More than 375 students attended these events.
By creating welcoming, resource-rich experiences, Ohio State underscores its broader commitment to helping transfer and campus-change students succeed. Since autumn semester 2022, more than 1,100 students have attended Campus Change or Transfer Welcome programs, with participation trending consistently across semesters.
From day one, students are welcomed into a community that champions academic success and belonging. As one transfer student from Howard University shared, “Attending this event helps me feel like I belong at Ohio State.”
Cross-unit collaboration key to student support
The Office of Undergraduate Education and the Office of Student Life collaborated to provide resources that further support and engage transfer and campus change students. Academic Advising's student success platform, OnCourse, was used to streamline outreach, RSVPs and check-ins through a single platform. After the events, participation data was easily accessed and used for follow-ups, improving student engagement and tracking outcomes. More than 20 additional campus partners from multiple student support areas participated, from Military and Veterans Services to Transportation and Traffic Management, helping make the events a success.
Whether arriving from a regional campus or a different institution entirely, every Buckeye's path is unique; but all are supported. Students are reminded that their Ohio State story continues here, with opportunities, support and firm friendship every step of the way.