Today's Update: Wednesday, September 17, 2025

September 17, 2025

Dear Student Life team,

I hope you had a chance to watch President Carter’s State of the University Address this afternoon, though if you didn’t, it will be posted online. I can share a link in this week’s High Five Friday message. 

One thing you may have already heard about from the address is that President Carter announced he has reinstituted the Academic Winter Recess, which includes Student Life employees. For those of you unfamiliar with the concept, winter recess is an opportunity to give as many employees as possible the opportunity to be off when there are no classes and significantly reduced campus operations. For this year, those days will be December 26, 29, 30 and 31. December 24 and 25 and January 1 remain recognized university holidays.

Over the coming days, I have asked my Executive Leadership Team to coordinate Student Life’s approach to Winter Recess. The charge I have given them is to facilitate as many of our team members as possible being able to take time away, while also ensuring that we have the appropriate support and services for students remaining on campus, as well as continued operations of critical facility operations. My commitment to you is that we will do all we can to allow Winter Recess opportunities for as many team members as practicably possible. The even more Scarlet and Great news is that employees who are required to work during the recess will be paid for that time and be offered a bank of equivalent time they can use as paid time off no later than December 23, 2026.

I will share with you details about the Student Life approach to Winter Recess as soon as possible. In the meantime, you can read more details on the Human Resources website.

As always, I am Scarlet and Grateful for all that you do to support students as they engage, learn and thrive at Ohio State, and beyond.

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