Dear Future Student

Greetings from the Office of International Affairs at The Ohio State University.

In-person classes will resume autumn 2020. Courses will be offered in different formats—some will be in person, some will be online (“distance learning”), and some will offer a blend of in-person, online and other activities (“hybrid” courses). Specific guidelines will be announced in the coming weeks. Learn more about the transition to campus.

The Office of International Affairs will still conduct international student orientation and mandatory immigration check-in virtually.

Over the next few months we will send you weekly emails to help you plan for beginning your academic journey at Ohio State. The emails will also be archived online.

In the meantime, please explore our website, and you are always welcome to email us at iss@osu.edu.

Immigration Check-In

International students are required to attend both immigration check-in and orientation to complete your enrollment requirements.

You will register for an immigration check-in virtual appointment to review your immigration documents, discuss important immigration regulations and answer any questions you may have. Appointments will be conducted via CarmenZoom, Ohio State's academic audio and web conferencing solution. Failure to complete immigration check-in can result in termination of your immigration status. Registration for immigration check-in appointments will open in early July.

Orientation

Orientation will take place virtually through CarmenCanvas, Ohio State's online learning management system. You will be automatically registered for the online orientation modules. The modules will be available beginning July 20 and will consist of a series of presentations and videos aimed at introducing you to Ohio State, providing important information and helping you become familiar with available resources. You will then have opportunity to attend virtual social and information programming in August via CarmenZoom. We will send you more information in the upcoming months. For help accessing CarmenCanvas, refer to the Get Started Guide.

If you have problems accessing CarmenCanvas or CarmenZoom, contact the OCIO Help Desk at ServiceDesk@osu.edu or call 614-688-4357 (HELP).

Living on campus contributes to student success and persistence toward graduation, and the university will continue to house students for the 2020-2021 school year.

In order to maintain physical distancing when students are welcomed back to campus in the autumn, the university will reduce population density in residence halls.

Please keep in mind that the student move-in process will occur over a period of 12 days leading up to the first day of autumn semester, August 25. Residence hall openings will be staggered over this period. Students will need to schedule a move-in date and time to ensure a limited number of students move onto each floor of each building at a time.

University Housing will email you information on your housing and roommate assignment in mid-July. If you are making airline reservations prior to the July building assignment notification, we strongly urge arriving no earlier than August 17.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, residents will be expected to follow all federal, state and local guidelines and additional expectations for housing as outlined by the university. Review University Housing’s living expectations.

If you have questions, contact at housing@osu.edu and by phone at 614-292-8266.

If you are not a first or second year incoming student and are interested in living off-campus, we recommend you start your search with Off-campus and Commuter Student Services. This website maintains an online housing search with information on accommodations both within walking distance and driving distance to campus.

To reach Off-campus and Commuter Student Services, call 614-292-0100 or email offcampus@osu.edu.

Student Legal Services (SLS) provides legal services to Ohio State students. Eligible students pay an annual participation fee for the SLS legal services plan. SLS's scope of services includes Landlord-Tenant disputes.

Before you sign a lease to live off-campus, you should schedule a lease review appointment with an SLS attorney.

Currently, SLS is offering Skype appointments to newly admitted international students to have their housing leases reviewed line-by-line, and to explain students' housing rights and responsibilities under Ohio law. Even if you have already signed a lease, SLS can still perform the lease review. Appointments can be scheduled online (please choose the Civil Matters schedule).

Once you have scheduled your lease review appointment, Student Legal Services will send you a confirmation email including instructions for the Skype appointment, and an agreement that you will pay the SLS annual fee ($40.00 per year).

Be aware that only degree-seeking students are eligible to utilize Student Legal Services. Exchange students are ineligible for lease review, but may contact SLS for materials that can aid in reviewing their own lease.

Contact studentlegal@osu.edu with any questions.

Join the New Ohio State International Students - 2020 Facebook group using your Ohio State email. The group will post about events happening during orientation, and you can meet and chat with your fellow new Buckeyes!

The Global Engagement team oversees all orientation and social programs both before the semester begins and during the academic year. There are a few engagement opportunities this summer:

• Online Speed Friending – every Wednesday, 6 p.m. EST
• Online Game Night – every Thursday, 6 p.m. EST
• Virtual International Film Series – every fourth Wednesday of the month, 7 p.m. EST

Visit our website to review information from previous emails and/or answers to frequently asked questions. If you don't find what you're looking for, contact iss@osu.edu.

• Pre-Arrival FAQ
• Global Engagement
• Office of International Affairs Facebook
• Global Engagement Facebook
• Ohio State International Affairs Twitter
• OSUGlobal Instagram