Office of Student Life

Columbus Campus Resources for Regional Campus Students

July 24, 2024

There are numerous Ohio State resources based on the Columbus campus that are available to students on all campuses, even while their primary place of enrollment is one of our regional campuses. Several of those resources are listed below, but if you have questions about something you do not see here, you can always reach out to the office in question to find out more about what services are available.

Athletic Events
Regional campus students have the same access to Ohio State Athletics events as Columbus campus students. Regular season home events for most of the 36 varsity sports are free for Ohio State students to attend, just by showing your BuckID upon entry. Admission is charged for football and men’s basketball, but students receive a discount. Visit the Athletics website for timelines and details.

Buckeye Careers
Regional campus students have access to all services offered by Buckeye Careers. These services include individualized virtual career coaching and drop-in appointments, monthly virtual workshops on a variety of career-related topics, and the in-person or virtual University-wide Career and Internship Fair held in September. To schedule a career coaching appointment, log in to Handshake, click “Career Center,” and click “Appointments.” From there, you can schedule an appointment with a Buckeye Careers coach. For more information about monthly workshops, the University-wide Career and Internship Fair, and other career-related resources, please visit the Buckeye Careers website.

BuckeyeThon
Regional campus students can join the fight to change kids' health with one of Ohio State's largest traditions. BuckeyeThon is a student organization that fundraises for Nationwide Children's Hospital and hosts several large events on the Columbus campus each year, culminating in our Annual Dance Marathon event celebrating our year of fundraising. Check out the BuckeyeThon website to learn about the many ways to get involved with our cause, because Every Kid Deserves to be a Buckeye!

Campus Dining
Any campus dining operation in Columbus is available to all Ohio State students, and if you have bought a dining plan on a regional campus, you can use that plan to access the campus dining in Columbus, as well. You can use the GrubHub app to place orders or use your BuckID to access the Columbus facilities.

Campus Events
Some events on the Columbus campus are limited to Columbus-campus students because they are funded by a mandatory Student Activity Fee that only Columbus students pay into. For example, most Ohio Union Activities Board (OUAB) events (e.g., concerts, comedy shows, movies) are limited in this way. However, on occasions when enough tickets remain for regional campus students, faculty, and staff to be accommodated, OUAB will share that information through their Instagram @ouab.

There are many events open to all Ohio State students, including major traditions like Buckeye Kick-off during Welcome Week in the fall, the fall and spring Student Involvement Fairs, the Homecoming Parade, Light up the Lake, Taste of OSU, and many others. Read about these signature events here.

Also, most events planned by student organizations, colleges, or campus departments are open to all students. Check the campus events calendar on the Ohio State app to see what’s going on and use the contact information listed there to inquire if you have any questions about access.

Counseling and Consultation Service
Regional campus students are able to access all of the mental health support services provided by Counseling and Consultation Service on the Columbus campus.  The multi-modal service options include individual and group therapy, psychiatry services, drop-in workshops, Let’s Talk consultations and much more.  Information about all support options can be found at the Counseling and Consultation Service website.

Disability Services
Regional campus students taking Columbus campus classes can request accommodations from Student Life Disability Services (SLDS). Students with accommodations who are making the campus change to Columbus should plan to meet with the Student Life Disability Services staff in Columbus to review differences in accommodation procedures on the Columbus campus. Schedule your Campus Change appointment (virtual or in person) as early as possible.

Get Involved Consultations
Looking to get involved but not sure where to begin? Wanting to take a different path on your involvement journey? Regional campus students exploring a campus change or just wanting to learn more about opportunities available on the Columbus campus can schedule a Get Involved consultation with a Student Org Success Coach. Following a brief consultation meeting, your Coach will provide personalized recommendations for student organizations and other campus involvement experiences based on your interests and aspirations. Sign up here.

Leadership Development
LEAD (Leaders Engaging in Actions for Development) is a series of open workshops available to all Ohio State students. LEAD sessions are workshop-based experiences for students to explore a variety of topics related to leadership, including values, personal branding, self-care, networking, and more. Pre-registration is required, and more details can be found at the LEAD website.

Leadership Week is a university-wide collaboration in late September/early October to strengthen the culture of student leadership at Ohio State. Students can attend one of many different workshops throughout the week connected to five themes: belonging, career development, community engagement, personal exploration, and wellness. Regional campus students can attend hybrid or in-person workshops.

OSUVotes
The Office of Student Life’s OSU Votes is a student-led movement to register, educate and encourage other students to vote. This nonpartisan group fosters civic engagement at The Ohio State University. Regional campus students are able to access online resources and virtual workshops.

Recreational Sports & Esports
Current students at the regional campuses are eligible to purchase a membership to the recreation centers in Columbus at the student rate of $126.50 a semester. As a member, you have access to our five indoor facilities, more than 70 acres of outdoor space and numerous services, programs, including intramural sports, group fitness, personal training and more. Your BuckID serves as your membership card to enter the facilities.  Regional student memberships can be purchased in person at the RPAC Welcome Center. Your BuckID will act as your membership card and should be brought with you when purchasing.
A student with a current membership can join a Sport Club, purchase an Intramural Play Pass, use the Esports Arena for open play, and participate in group fitness classes. Students can purchase a membership at the student rate for a spouse or partner in person at the RPAC Welcome Center.
Learn more about recreation services and program by visiting the Rec Sports website.

Second-Year Transformational Experience Program (STEP)
Second-year students on the regional campuses have access to STEP and all its great benefits – a faculty mentor, connecting with other students in a small cohort, professional development opportunities, and up to $2,000 in fellowship funding for a signature project. Check out the STEP website to find your campus’ STEP contact.

Sorority and Fraternity Life
Students attending any regional campus who have earned 12 college or university credit hours and have a 2.50 cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) are eligible to participate in Sorority or Fraternity recruitment. Follow us on Instagram to learn more about our organizations @OhioStateGreeks. If you are interested, check out our website and complete the interest form.

Student Advocacy
The Student Advocacy Center helps students navigate Ohio State’s structure and resolve any issues they encounter at the university. The Student Advocacy staff is available to assist regional campus students with concerns that may impact their success at the university related to academics, payment, health, housing, and more.  Students at regional campuses may also be eligible for emergency funding grants offered though Student Advocacy. Funding applications and information about other resources are available at the Student Advocacy site.

Student Health Services
Regional campus students have access to Student Health Services on the Columbus campus. The Wilce Student Health Center offers primary care, gynecology, dentistry, optometry, radiology, physical therapy and sports medicine, a pharmacy, and many more services. Charges are assessed for most services, but enrollment in Ohio State’s student health insurance program is not required to access Student Health Services.

Student Organizations
There are more than 1,400 registered student organizations on the Columbus campus, and almost all of them are available for regional campus students to join. Columbus-based clubs are able to have up to 10% of their membership as non-Columbus students, which enables regional campus students to become members, unless the organization’s constitution specifies otherwise. Search the online directory or browse in the Ohio State app to learn more and get contact information for groups of interest, then reach out to the groups to get details about their membership requirements.
It should be noted that student organizations comprised primarily of regional campus students or based geographically at a regional campus are not eligible for the Columbus registration and funding processes. Check with your campus’ Student Activities staff for information about the process and benefits of registering a student organization while you are attending the regional campus.

Student Wellness Center
The Student Wellness Center empowers students on all Ohio State campuses to overcome barriers and reach their full potential through evidence-based holistic wellness initiatives. Our comprehensive approach includes wellness, financial, and nutrition coaching, alongside on-demand resources and the Buckeye Food Alliance, soon to be known as the Monda Student Resource Center.
Wellness Coaching focuses on enhancing mental health by identifying strengths and setting goals for a fulfilling life utilizing the 10 dimensions of wellness. Scarlet and Gray Financial Coaching offers guidance on banking, student loans, credit, and transitioning off-campus. Nutrition Coaching provides personalized assessments and goal setting. All coaching sessions are free and available virtually.
Our on-demand services are accessible 24/7 to support positive mental health and wellness. The Buckeye Food Alliance, soon to be the Monda Student Resource Center, operates a client-choice food pantry on the Columbus campus, ensuring no Buckeye goes hungry. They provide fresh produce, pantry staples, meat, dairy, personal care items, and more to Ohio State students on any campus.
For more information on our services and health resources near your campus, please visit the Health and Wellness Resource Guide.

Transportation Services
Any time you’re visiting the Columbus campus, the Campus Area Bus Service (CABS) is free to use without even needing to show your BuckID. You also have access to two on-demand services in Columbus as long as you sign up ahead of time: CABS On Demand, which is a free service that uses the TripShot app and Lyft Ride Smart, which provides OSU students discounted rides within a designated service area between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Wexner Center for the Arts
All students have free access to the galleries and docent-led tours at the Wexner Center and receive discounts to most performances and films. Students can also purchase memberships to the Wexner Center for as little as $1 to receive additional benefits. Learn more at the Wexner Center for the Arts website.