Office of Student Life

In a Nutshell

April 22, 2025

Dear Partners in Student Success,  

It’s hard to believe that the semester is nearly over. Reading Day is today and then it’s on to finals, final projects and for many, Commencement. It’s a time of great celebration, but it can also be very stressful for students. Below are some tips and services that we’ve shared with students that you are welcome to share as well, in addition to some other items you may find useful.  

In this edition: 

  • Finals Week Study Tips 

  • Talk to a Counselor 

  • PsychBytes: Anxiety! 

  • Monda Student Resource Center  

  • Graduation Survey 

  • Voter Friendly 


Finals Week Study Tips
Here are a few tips for students for final exams and end-of-year projects from Counseling and Consultation Service.  

  • Remember to take frequent breaks, and not just as a reward at the end. Many people like the Pomodoro Technique.  

  • If you’re making a to-do list or tracking your goals, break them down into smaller chunks you can “check off” to keep yourself motivated.  

  • Consider joining or forming a study group. This could be with classmates or with friends who are working on their own projects (keep each other company!)  

  • Explore different environments to work in—maybe a library reading room, a coffee shop, by a favorite tree on the Oval or a study room.  

  • Always prioritize sleep and nutrition so your brain can continue to function at its full capacity and retain what you’ve learned.   

  • If you get test anxiety, plan to relax before your exam. Even if it’s on the walk to campus or when you sit down in the classroom. A few quick ideas are a walk, listening to your favorite music, doing a few minutes of intentional breathing or the 5-4-3-2-1 exercise. 

 Talk to a Counselor  
Unexpected stressors can come up at any time of year. Whether it’s finals looming, an argument with a roommate or worries about the future, Student Life Counseling and Consultation Service is here for you. Whether you have an urgent concern, are looking for therapy or just want to chat, there is someone available 24/7. Need help? Talk to a Counselor.   

PsychBytes: Anxiety!
It’s human to experience anxiety but many people experience a level that becomes distressing and distracting. That’s where coping skills come in, and in this episode of PsychBytes with Counseling and Consultation Service, Mary Decenzo, LISW-S, ACTRP-C, shares her expertise with skills that fall under the umbrella of “sensory mindfulness”—using our five senses to calm our physiological responses to stress. In this episode, she shares background on why it works, a few examples of sensory mindfulness exercises and where to find more.    

Monda Student Resource Center
The Monda Student Resource Center (MSRC) officially opens at the end of this week, culminating several years of planning to meet students’ essential needs all under one roof in the Younkin Success Center. It brings together and expands a variety of resources to provide Ohio State students with holistic support to meet their essential needs in a one-stop shop, further eliminating barriers for students in accessing timely, seamless essential needs support. The Center will include the Reid Family Career Closet, the Buckeye Food Alliance pantry as well as other resources and services from university and community providers. 
 
Graduation Survey      
The Ohio State Graduation Survey is now open through Monday, May 5. The survey, administered by the Center for the Study of Student Life, asks spring 2025 graduates about their time at Ohio State. The valuable feedback will help enhance the student experience for future Buckeyes. For more information, please visit go.osu.edu/grad-survey. Contact cssl@osu.edu with any questions.   

Voter Friendly  
Ohio State has been designated a 2025-2026 Voter Friendly Campus by Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project and NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. The initiative recognizes institutions that have planned and implemented practices that encourage their students to register and vote and give their campuses the information and tools they needed to participate in the political process. During the 2024 presidential election cycle, OSU Votes led campus-wide voter engagement efforts by hosting 54 workshops, holding 267 hours of tabling, providing resources for over 9,000 new first year students and engaging in partnerships with 12 units and colleges across campus. Their efforts yielded an over 200% increase in student engagement with OSU Votes from the previous year. 

Thank you for letting me share these notes and resources with you throughout the year. Your partnership means a great deal to me and to our students, and I’ll be back with more information this fall, In a Nutshell. 

 

Melissa S. Shivers, PhD    

Senior Vice President for Student Life     
The Ohio State University