Jul 15, 2026   |  INCOMING FAMILES

As the Associate Vice President & Dean of Students at OHIO, I am so excited to welcome you all to our Bobcat family along with Assistant Dean of Students & Director of New Student and Family Programs Mak Olaker.

We are getting ready for Athens to come to life with the return of our students and the arrival of all of our new Bobcats. You'll be hearing from us often! You'll receive this newsletter from the Dean of Students office every other week during the school year with tips, resources and exciting opportunities for your student to get engaged across campus. 

As a parent myself, I understand the big leap you are about to take when your student comes to campus this fall. Know that I'm here along with our New Student and Family Programs team to support you on this journey. Your student could not have made it to this point without your support, and I look forward to the learning and growth they are about to experience. 

See you soon!

Kathy A Fahl, MSW
Associate Vice President & Dean of Students

There are plenty of ways to find community through The Center for Student Engagement & Leadership with more than 550 student organizations and events for all interests, from fitness to creative pursuits to cultural groups and more.

We know you're doing all you can to prepare, but there's a lot of information and updates as fall semester approaches! Make sure you're following official OHIO sources:

Looking for other info, helpful tips or anything else? Reach out!

1. Finalize or complete the Vaccination Information Form. Students are required to report meningitis and hepatitis vaccination information. They should visit their Housing Self-Service page, select the ‘Contracts and Applications’ tab, and choose the Vaccination Information Form. This must be completed prior to their arrival.

2. If your student is living on campus, review fall move-in information in the online arrival guide.

3. Update or complete contact information. They can update their ‘Missing Persons Contact’ information on their Housing Self-Service page under ‘Personal Information.’

4. Load Bobcat Cash to your student's OHIO ID to use in student labs and libraries for printing, laundry, shopping and eating!

5. Review their meal plan. Students can adjust their meal plan up to the second Friday of fall semester (September 4 at 4 p.m.). After that, they can only increase their meal plan. Changes to meal plans must be made via Housing Self-Service. Off-campus and commuter students have meal plan options too!

6. Review the packing checklist to see what to bring (and what not to bring) if your student is living on campus. On-campus students should also review the Student Housing Handbook so they are familiar with all the policies, procedures and resources they'll have access to while living on campus.

7. Plan daily routes. Students should review their schedule and start planning daily routes to class. If they're commuting they can still purchase a parking pass and register for the commuter lounge. 

Renting a bed loft is an easy way to maximize living space. Place orders by July 28 to guarantee a loft delivered and installed before move-in. Not sure if their room can accommodate a loft? Visit our bed loft website before you order. 

Move-in day should be memorable and stress-free. Save yourself time and headaches by shipping items to our partners, Storage Scholars, over the summer. They receive your packages, notify you, and deliver everything to your student's room before they arrive on campus. Students should sign up for their services by August 1.

Going to college is an adventure, so why not start it that way? New Adventures is Ohio University's outdoor orientation program for incoming first-year students, and no previous outdoor experience is required! Sign up is still open for the remaining trip until August 4. 

At Ohio University, well-being encompasses all we need to grow, engage, connect, and succeed in both life and learning. THRiVE is OHIO’s ongoing well-being initiative, designed to help every Bobcat engage with health and well-being in meaningful and manageable ways.

From small, practical steps to comprehensive care, THRiVE helps Bobcats connect to what they need to live well and learn well. 

 →  Well-being at OHIO

August 20-30

Your student's first week on campus is packed with events to get to know Athens, meet other students and welcome you to OHIO! Welcome Week is open to all students, including our returning Bobcats, whether they are living on or off campus. 

 →  More info

September 25-27

Family Weekends are a time to welcome family and friends to Athens and explore all your student's favorite parts of campus. Events will be added to the calendar closer to the weekend, but start making your travel plans now as lodging books up fast!

 →  Family Weekends dates