Forget something? Try shopping secondhand

Welcome Week, official OHIO app, basic needs resources

Aug 21, 2024 | INCOMING FAMILIES

Campus is buzzing with excitement as we gear up for the start of the semester! With classes beginning next week, I hope your student is ready to dive into a year of learning, growth and connection. I'm looking forward to seeing students at all the Welcome Week activities beginning this week. In addition to events like Commuter Trivia Night and Yoga on the Greens, remind your student to attend their First-Year Student Community Meeting on Sunday if they are living on campus. They can check with their Resident Advisor for location and other details.

Whether this is your first student to go to college or you’re becoming an empty nester, we know this is a big transition for your family. You can always give us a call, visit the family webpage, or keep up to date through our Parent and Family Facebook page. For those of you with students living on-campus, review the Arrival Guide for all you need to know!

As we come together to celebrate the start of this academic year, let’s remember that Bobcats watch out for each other. Encourage your student to make respect visible in all they do, whether on campus or in the broader community. Our actions — big and small — define the kind of environment we create together, and I know each of your students has the power to make a positive impact.

I’m thrilled to see what this year holds for our Bobcats,

Does your student need a few things for the year ahead? See if they can find what they need secondhand before buying new. Athens is full of great thrifting and reuse options, like UpCycle Ohio, Community Makerspace, Goodwill, Little Wing, and New-to-You. Students without cars can access most of these spots via Athens Public Transit.

There are plenty of opportunities to be sustainable at OHIO. Students can look for cardboard and styrofoam drop offs and Bobcats Recycle signs around campus. If your student is living off-campus, they can look for recycling resources at their residence.

Sometimes we all need a little extra support. If your student is looking for housing assistance, food resources or emergency financial help, check out all of OHIO's Basic Needs Programs. We're here to help when students need it, so they can be the most successful version of themselves. You can support and donate to resources like Cats' Cupboard too!

Students can save time, stay on track and stay connected with Go OHIO — the official app for Ohio University.

Go OHIO offers a personalized Student Dashboard with class schedule, GPA, meal plan balances and lots more. Students can also opt in to event updates to stay in the know about all things happening around campus.

For over a decade, Active Minds has traveled across the country with their Send Silence Packing tour, an exhibit that inspires action for suicide prevention through education and advocacy. Students can use this opportunity to connect with themselves and others while discovering resources for support. The display will take place September 3 outside of Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.

All students can begin exploring Canvas, OHIO’s new learning management system that’s replacing Blackboard. Colleges are transitioning to Canvas in phases, meaning students might have some courses using Canvas this semester while others use Blackboard or a different technology. To find where fall courses will be taught, students can start by reviewing their syllabus and looking for communication from their professors. They can also log in to Canvas at canvas.ohio.edu and check for their courses there.

To learn more about Canvas, students can attend workshops on August 28, September 5 and September 11 in Alden Library or remotely.

August 24 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Students can help clean up the Hocking River! Volunteers are needed for The Hocking River Sweep, an annual river clean-up event in partnership between the Athens Soil & Water Conservation District. Register by August 22.

Students can capture their first day of class for the year with a free photo strip. Catch the photo op at the bottom of Morton Hill (East Green) on Monday, in front of James Hall (West Green) on Tuesday, and at the Living Learning Center (LLC) Oval on Wednesday. They can grab a donut while they're there too!