Today's Update: Wednesday, July 9, 2025

July 9, 2025

Dear Student Life team,

The calendar has now turned to July, and that means the start of the academic year is very, very close!  

It takes a great deal of planning and effort to roll out the scarlet carpet for our new and returning students. Those of you involved in the preparations know this very well, and, if that’s not your role, we need your help, too. It’s all-hands-on-deck to support our students as they arrive and get settled. 

There are a number of ways for you to become involved depending on your time and availability. Just be sure to check to make sure your supervisor is okay with how you spend your time. 

I want to limit the obstacles to team members being able to pitch in. As we do every year, I encourage you to expand “meeting-free Fridays” to include the first day of Move-In (Wednesday, August 20) through the end of Welcome Week on Monday, August 25. Unless it’s an urgent topic, I’d rather people be available to help, rather than in meetings.   

Here are the opportunities and how you can sign up.   

Move-In 
Thousands of students will soon be moving into our residence halls, and team members are needed to provide general guidance to students and families about check-in and assist with any other issues or questions. Staff members will not be asked to assist with moving a student’s belongings. Assistance is needed from Wednesday, August 20, through Saturday, August 23, for various shifts between 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. each day. For more information and to sign up, visit go.osu.edu/moveinhelp. Please contact Aubrie Smith (smith.4488@osu.edu) with any questions.      

Student Involvement Fair  
The Student Involvement Fair will take place on Sunday, August 24, from 4-7 p.m. in the Oval and South Oval. Help is needed for shifts beginning at 8 a.m. and running until 9 p.m. Please fill out the form to help with the Student Involvement Fair by Thursday, July 31, and expect to hear back from our team with your scheduled times and positions by early August. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Liz Westrick at westrick.59@osu.edu.  

Buck-i-Frenzy  
On Monday, August 25, from noon – 3:30 p.m., Buck-i-Frenzy will once again take place in and around the RPAC. We have shifts that run from 7:30 a.m. until clean up after the event. Shifts include traffic control, set-up, vendor move-in, directional guides and more. If you would like to assist with Frenzy, please email buckifrenzy@osu.edu by July 15. If you have a specific role you love doing, please share that information, too.   

Thank you in advance for your help making the start of the new academic year Scarlet and Great!  

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