Bobcat Student Orientation to be offered remotely this summer

For the safety of our communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, Bobcat Student Orientation (BSO) will be offered remotely this summer for incoming Athens campus students. Required for all new first-year and transfer students, BSO provides important access to academic advising and course registration and helps families prepare for the transition to OHIO.

The new virtual program will take place on the same dates originally scheduled for BSO. Additionally, some elements of the traditional BSO program now will be offered through new online activities that will take place both before and after the BSO sessions.

Students admitted to the Athens campus for summer or fall 2020 are encouraged to sign up for orientation on the Bobcat Student Orientation website as soon as possible. Beginning in early May, students who have signed up for BSO will receive information regarding placement testing and online modules to complete in advance of participating in BSO remotely. Instructions regarding the program agenda and platform for the virtual BSO program, including details about opportunities for participation for parents and guardians, will be shared in mid-May. Families who have already signed up for orientation should plan to participate on their selected dates or visit the BSO website to select an alternate date if their availability has changed. 

Students will need a computer with an internet connection to participate in the virtual BSO program. Students with concerns about their ability to access technology for the program can contact BSO staff at orientation@ohio.edu or 740-593-1951 to discuss accommodations or alternate arrangements.

Students new to one of OHIO’s regional campuses for summer or fall will be contacted by their regional campus Student Services office with details about virtual orientation activities for that campus.