Office of Student Life

In a Nutshell

January 28, 2025

Dear Partners in Student Success:     

I hope your new year and spring semester are off to a Scarlet and Great start. I look forward to continuing our work together to support Ohio State students in 2025 and beyond. Below are a few updates I hope you find helpful.    

  • Anti-Hazing  

  • Group Therapy 

  • Leadership Awards 

  • Undergraduate Student Trustee 

  • BuckeyeThon Registration 

  • Naloxone 

  • Pay it Forward 

  • USAC  

  • STEP 

  • Reusable Sleeve 

Anti-Hazing  
All Ohio State students must complete the Collin’s Law Anti-Hazing education module before participation or membership in any activity, sport, club or organization. If you serve as an advisor, coach, consultant or volunteer to a student organization or group, or have direct contact with students in any capacity, you are also required to complete the training in accordance with Collin’s Law. Complete the training in BuckeyeLearn at go.osu.edu/collinslawtraining. 

Group Therapy 
Student Life’s Counseling and Consultation Service offers group therapy for students. Groups occur weekly and are provided at no cost. Many groups have openings for spring semester. The complete list is online. There are also several new groups available.   

  • Connections: For autistic or neurodivergent undergraduate students who may find social connection challenging as they navigate their experience at Ohio State.  

  • International Grad Student Group: For international graduate and professional students. 

  • Roll for Insight: This group is open to undergraduate or graduate students who are interested in building interpersonal skills and exploring identity through therapeutic tabletop role-playing quests.  

Leadership Awards 
Applications for the 2025 Student Life Leadership Awards are now open through Wednesday, January 29 at 11:59 p.m. The goal of Leadership Awards is to celebrate Ohio State community members who demonstrate exceptional skills in leadership, advocacy, community engagement, wellness, belonging, sustainability, student organization operations and more. For more information and to apply or nominate someone, visit go.osu.edu/LeadershipAwards.  

Undergraduate Student Trustee  
The Ohio State University Board of Trustees is looking for its next undergraduate student representative. Applicants should excel as a leader and must be Ohio residents planning to attend Ohio State through at least May 2027. Applications are due by Friday, February 7. More information is online.

BuckeyeThon Registration is STILL OPEN! 
BuckeyeThon is the state of Ohio’s largest collegiate student philanthropy, and it’s not too late to Join the Movement! As an Ohio State staff or faculty member, you can join the team for your unit or college of employment when you register. Late registration will be open until the Dance Marathon but join now for your chance to maximize your fundraising. Raise $250 and join us on Saturday, Feb. 8, for the annual Dance Marathon event. Every dollar raised goes directly to Nationwide Children's Hospital, helping provide critical care and support to patients and their families. Visit go.osu.edu/BT to join today, and please feel free to share this information with any students and employees you think might be interested. Questions? Reach out at BuckeyeThon@osu.edu.

Naloxone  
The "Carry Naloxone. Save a Life!" training provides participants with information on how to recognize the signs of an opioid overdose, administer the opioid overdose reversal drug, Naloxone and teach the importance of harm reduction and its concepts. The training is designed for any student, staff or faculty member who is interested. Participants will receive a naloxone kit and fentanyl test strips at no cost. Registration and dates for Naloxone Training this semester are available online. You can also schedule group training via the Student Wellness Center Presentation Request Form.

Pay it Forward 
The Pay it Forward cohort is currently accepting applications to join for the 2025-2026 academic year. Members of Student Life Leadership and Community Engagement cohorts are provided with opportunities to plan service experiences, develop as leaders and form meaningful relationships with peers who are committed to giving back to their community. Students can submit applications online.

USAC
The University Staff Advisory Committee (USAC) is seeking new members to fill the 2025-2028, 3-year term. The application window is open through Saturday, March 1, at noon. Staff (CCS, A&P, Sr A&P) across the medical center and university, including regional campuses, are eligible to serve. USAC is an advisory body to university leadership with a mission of maintaining an active and participatory line of communication with the university community and to provide a forum through which university staff can raise, discuss and make recommendations on non-academic issues and to support the university’s mission. More information is online.

Second-year Transformational Experience Program 
Student Life’s Leah Halper, Rebecca Kapusta, Chelsea Black and former Student Life staff and friends Matt Van Jura, Liz Lubinger and Susie Whittington had their article, “Effects on Students’ Holistic Development Through a Comprehensive Second-year Program,” published recently in the Journal of College Orientation, Transition and Retention.

Reusable Sleeve 
When you order a hot drink on campus at a Student Life Dining Services location, you’ll now have the choice to bring a reusable sleeve or order a scarlet or white Script Ohio sleeve on GrubHub. Last year, over 429,400 disposable sleeves were used on campus, creating 6,173 pounds of waste in landfills. Your small choice in sustainability makes a big difference at Ohio State.  

 

I am Scarlet and Grateful for your partnership and support of Ohio State students. If you have questions or ideas for content in next month’s In a Nutshell, please feel free to email me at any time.     

   

Melissa S. Shivers, PhD    
Senior Vice President for Student Life    
The Ohio State University