Student Resources Overview
As an online student at Ohio State, you’re able to receive support and benefits from various organizations and services across the university.
Once you confirm your intent to attend Ohio State, you will be assigned a Student Support Specialist to help you navigate these resources so you can successfully complete your online program and step closer to achieving your personal and professional goals. You’ll receive an email from them to your BuckeyeMail student email account, so please be on the lookout.
Already a student or unsure who to contact? Please reach out here, and we will be in contact to make sure you get your questions answered.
Academic Help
Online students in need of academic support have access to a range of resource offices at Ohio State. Academic Advising is a great place to start when looking for Tutoring Resources, but whether you need assistance developing study habits, revising your writing, or improving your math skills, you can find online help through the following resource offices:
Online students at Ohio State are assigned an advisor to offer guidance on completing their degree requirements, navigating university processes, and exploring the resources available for academic, career, health, and other supports. Undergraduate students will consult with an academic advisor, while graduate students may alternatively work with program coordinators, managers, or faculty advisors.
- Undergraduate students seeking more information on academic advising can visit the Academic Advising site, which also details the types of advisors you may work with and how to both identify your advisor and schedule an advising appointment through OnCourse.
- Graduate students should contact the program administrators in their college if they are unsure who to go to for advising; they can also find a description of graduate advising best practices in the Graduate School Handbook.
The Dennis Learning Center is a department of the Younkin Success Center and provides students with strategies for college success that will enable them to enter, excel in, and complete their programs using expertise in education, psychology, instruction, and technology. The Dennis Learning Center offers academic coaching appointments both online and in-person, and their website also includes other online resources.
The Writing Center, through the College of Arts and Sciences’s Center for the Study of Teaching and Writing, supports all of Ohio State’s community in their various writing needs, in addition to conducting research into writing and writing instruction. Writing consultations are offered in two formats: online drop-off and online live chat.
The Ohio State University Libraries support students, scholars, Buckeyes, and beyond advancing research, teaching, and learning. This includes online students, for whom the Library offers many educational resources and services in the pursuit and dissemination of knowledge. Online students are welcome on campus, but for those learning from a distance, the Library has the following resources available:
Students taking some math and statistics courses can benefit from support offered through the Mathematics and Statistics Learning Center.These services may shift from semester to semester, so online students seeking support are encouraged to review the website and contact the Mathematics and Statistics Learning Center at mslc@math.osu.edu to for more information.
Peer tutoring facilitated through Housing and Residence Education offers tutoring both in-person and online for undergraduate students. Peer tutors are upper-class students and are certified through the College Reading and Learning Association. Appointments can be scheduled through OnCourse.
Additional Support and Benefits
Ohio State is committed to providing the services students need to excel both in and out of the virtual classroom.
100% online students will not receive a physical BuckID card but will have access to a Digital BuckID in the Ohio State App. For information on how to submit the photo for your Digital BuckID, see the Orientation Information section of this the BuckID website. For information on accessing your Digital BuckID, see the Digital BuckID section of the site.
Ohio State offers a wide array of career services to support students in connecting with internships, co-ops, and career opportunities. The university also provides students with training and resources for their career journey. Buckeye Careers is the primary professional development initiative at OSU, but students can find additional professional development guidance through their college. Review the list below to find the college associated with your major for further information:
- College of Arts and Sciences Center for Career and Professional Success
- College of Education and Human Ecology Career Services
- College of Engineering Career Services
- College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences Career Development
- College of Nursing Career Services
- College of Optometry Career Management
- College of Pharmacy Career Services
- College of Public Health Career Services
- College of Social Work Career Services
- College of Veterinary Medicine Office of Career Management and Professional Development
- Fisher College of Business Office of Career Management
- John Glenn College of Public Affairs Office of Career Services
- Lhota Office of Alumni Career Management
- Lima Campus Ohio State Career Services
- Mansfield Campus Ohio State Career Services
- Marion Campus Ohio State Career Services
- Moritz College of Law Career Services
- Newark Campus Ohio State Career Services
- Student Athlete Eugene D. Smith Leadership Institute
- Wooster (ATI) Campus Ohio State Career Services
In addition to the above resource offices, students have access to the following resources for career development:
Handshake is the university’s official job resource for Ohio State students. Handshake is an intuitive, easy-to-use job search system to help students connect with employers for part-time jobs, internships, co-ops and full-time career opportunities. Explore Handshake and email handshake@osu.edu with any questions.
Focus2Career assists advisors and students connecting academic programs to potential careers.
Parker Dewey is a network of highly motivated career launchers and business professionals working together on micro-internships. As a consulting firm, Parker Dewey helps companies more effectively complete tasks and improve hiring. They do this by contracting with college students and recent graduates who want to work on short-term, professional projects so that they can generate income while demonstrating capabilities and gaining practical experience.
The Guides and Tip Sheets created by the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) is a fantastic list of resources, guides, and tips surrounding career services available to all students. CAS has also compiled a list of links to aid in job and internship searches.
The Student Advocacy Center at Ohio State is a resource designed to assist students in navigating complex issues that may affect academic, personal, or social lives. It provides support, guidance, and referrals to help students resolve their concerns and connect with appropriate campus resources. Some of their health services include Mental Health support to help your health and well-being with academic demands and emergency funding through the Mental Health Care Grant.
Learning Tools
You can expect to use a variety of tools while learning online at Ohio State, but here are a few you might use most frequently.
New students will need to activate their Ohio State username (lastname.#) and password, as well as set up BuckeyePass (Ohio State’s two-factor authenticator) before they are able to access the above resources. Should you have issues accessing the sites, contact IT Help and Support (614-688-4357, servicedesk@osu.edu) for assistance.
this Office365 email account is the primary means of communication for all university matters, so it is vital you monitor it closely. Once you are enrolled in coursework, this is the only email account university officials will use for university-related communications. You can set up your account using these instructions. You also have free access to the MS Office Suite of applications through your email account.
this Office365 email account is the primary means of communication for all university matters, so it is vital you monitor it closely. Once you are enrolled in coursework, this is the only email account university officials will use for university-related communications. You can set up your account using these instructions. You also have free access to the MS Office Suite of applications through your email account.
CarmenCanvas is the university’s Learning Management System (LMS). You can think of it as your virtual classroom – the place you’ll go to review and submit coursework for each class you enroll in. You can review resources for getting started here and reference the Canvas Student Guide for additional guidance.
OnCourse is only accessible to undergraduate students and is used to manage connections with some faculty and staff members. You will use the platform to schedule academic advising appointments, as well as meetings with other student support staff. Students can view notes from past appointments on the platform, too. You can log in to find information on how to use OnCourse here, including a brief video tutorial.
University Policies
The primary resource you can turn to for understanding Ohio State’s academic policies is A Buckeye’s Guide to Academic Policies. In the guide, you’ll find a comprehensive list of relevant policies and procedures for students, with additional details and links to information that can help you navigate your university business with ease. The main policy topics are listed below:
- Communication from the university
- Student name and personal information
- Examinations and grades
- Course credit
- Enrollment, attendance, and withdrawals
- Admission
- Academic performance
- Curricular and degree requirements
- Institutional transfer
- Course information
- Fees explanation and other financial information
- Military call to active duty
Each of the above items contains more nuanced information on associated policies and procedures in the guide, so be sure to bookmark the link to your web browser for future reference when you have a question about an academic policy.
Additional Policies
The Code of Student Conduct is established to foster and protect the core mission of The Ohio State University; to foster the scholarly and civic development of university students in a safe and secure learning environment; and to protect the people, properties, and processes that support the university and its mission. Online students are encouraged to review the most recent version of the code, and if you receive notice that you have potentially violated the code, you can find more information on the enforcement process here.
Unauthorized use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) systems or similar technologies to complete academic activities is a form of academic misconduct per the Student Code of Conduct. To maintain a culture of integrity and respect, these generative AI tools should not be used in the completion of course assignments unless an instructor for a given course specifically authorizes their use. Review your syllabi for course-specific policies and consult with your instructor before using AI if a policy has not been explicitly stated.
Title IX makes it clear that violence and harassment based on sex and gender are Civil Rights offenses. These acts are subject to the same kinds of accountability and support applied to offenses against other protected categories. Online students are protected by Title IX just as much as on-campus students. The Office of Institutional Equity is responsible for Title IX reporting and can support you if you find yourself a victim of:
- Sexual assault
- Sexual harassment
- Domestic/dating violence
- Stalking
- Sex-based discrimination
- Pregnancy discrimination
You can contact the Title IX Coordinator at titleIX@osu.edu.