Today's Update: Monday, October 6, 2025

October 6, 2025

Dear Student Life team, 

I hope your weekend was as fantastic as the Buckeye’s Homecoming win over Minnesota on Saturday!

As promised, I am writing with an update on Student Life’s approach to the upcoming Academic Winter Recess. 

While Student Life is a 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week operation, we are also committed to maximizing our team members’ ability to take advantage of the upcoming Winter Recess, similar to how we handle holidays and other closures. We will prioritize in-person student support needs, prior contracts and commitments, and essential work that cannot be delayed until after the recess, while also advancing mitigation strategies to critically limit the work deemed necessary. This will include the closure of as many facilities as possible to limit the creation of additional work for our facility teams. For work that cannot be avoided, we will take advantage of technology and remote work options to the greatest extent possible. This philosophy is supportive of and in alignment with Student Life’s Culture Commitments of Appreciation, Care, Connection and Support. As a reminder, employees who are required to work during the recess will be paid for that time and will also be offered a bank of equivalent time they can use as paid time off no later than December 23, 2026.

Before the end of the week, each Student Life director will share with their teams the details of their departmental plans so that everyone has ample time to make the necessary arrangements. We will then begin to communicate with students and other stakeholders about impacts, such as building closures.

As always, THANK YOU for your Scarlet and Great work in supporting Ohio State students – and each other.

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