ACTIVATE YOUR ID

Many Ohio University online services require you to log in using a special identifier called your Oak ID and a password. You will need to activate your Oak ID in order to submit your online housing contract or conduct other online transactions with OHIO. Once you have activated your Oak ID, you will receive access to your Ohio University e-mail account as well.  To activate your Oak ID now, go to http://www.ohio.edu/myid/.

How do I apply for grants, loans or work-study?

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in January or very early February to be considered for grants, loans and work-study opportunities. To insure that our Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships (OSFAS) receives your FAFSA results by our March 15 priority deadline, it is a good idea to have the FAFSA filed by February 15. The FAFSA is available online. Students and parents may want to request Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) before filling out the on-line version. The PIN serves as an electronic signature for FAFSA on the web.

When completing the FAFSA, be sure to include Ohio University's federal school code of 003100 to insure we will receive the results.

Award letters detailing financial aid and scholarship offers should be mailed by OSFAS by late March. Federal financial aid award offers will continue to be mailed on a weekly basis to those students whose FAFSA results reach OSFAS after the March 15 priority deadline.

What about scholarship opportunities?

Since the application for admission serves also as the application for scholarships, every student who applies and is admitted to Ohio University is automatically given scholarship consideration. While most of our scholarships are awarded to students for academic excellence; some of our Endowed Scholarships use different criteria.

The Gateway Award Program is our primary scholarship program for first-year students. Don't forget to check with your guidance counselor, or local community and civic organizations. They may also provide opportunities to win scholarships.

Scholarship searches on the web from sources such as FastWeb and FinAid may also be helpful.

HOUSING

I've received a Path to Promise guide with information about my housing contract. What does that mean?

The Residential Housing Office sent a Path to Promise guide to you to assist you with meeting deadlines for submission of important information. From the time you receive this guide, important dates and deadlines will be approaching quickly. You will need to closely monitor the timeline in this guide to ensure that you are staying on track to meet these deadlines. If you are planning to attend Ohio University this fall, you will need to complete the online housing contract and submit it electronically along with a $200 deposit to reserve your place in the freshman class and secure a space in the residence halls. If you do not have internet access, you should request a paper contract from the Residential Housing Office and submit it along with your deposit. The $200 is refundable until May 1st, provided that the Residential Housing Office receives a written request for the refund (via e-mail, fax or letter).

Contact the Residential Housing Office at housing@ohio.edu or 740.593.4090 with questions about your deposit or your housing contract.

To get an overview of our 42 residence halls and to see floor plans for each room, visit the Residential Housing web site.

Do I have to live on campus?

Ohio University requires all first- and second-year students to reside on campus and participate in a meal plan for two academic years (6 quarters/4 semesters) commonly referred to as a “parietal rule”. In most cases, this period comprises the freshman and sophomore years at OHIO. Consideration for housing exemption is given for those with two full years of college credit earned after high school graduation.Students wishing to be exempted from University housing and/or meal plan must submit a Housing Exemption/Termination Request Form for review and approval.Exemption criteria include the following:

• Special/medical conditions
• You live within 50 miles of campus and intend to commute
• You are married
• You are a veteran with 18 months of active duty
• Part-time student carrying 11 credit hours or less
• You are 23 or older

Is on-campus housing guaranteed?

If you are required to live on-campus and return your contract by May 1, the University will provide you with accommodations. However, if you are not required to live on-campus, then on-campus housing is offered on a space-available basis and is not guaranteed.

When do I find out where I will be living and who my roommate is?

The Residential Housing Office will make assignments and roommates available online in mid-July. You will also receive a confirmation of your assignment in the mail around this same time.

ORIENTATION

Orientation

Bobcat Student Orientation is a day and a half long program that you must attend before you begin fall classes. At Orientation, you will take placement tests in English and math as well as select and schedule your fall classes with the help of an advisor. While registration is the primary goal of orientation, advisors also review University expectations and explain the code of conduct.

Paralleling the students' program, an orientation for parents provides them with the opportunity to meet with faculty and student advisors and ask questions pertaining to the Ohio University experience.

Orientation for students entering in the fall quarter begins in mid-July. University College will invite incoming freshmen to register online in mid-May. Students who cannot attend any of the summer Orientation dates can attend an orientation session the day before classes begin in September.

BILLING

Ohio University uses an electronic billing system. The Office of the Bursar will send eBill notifications to the student Oak email accounts once they have registered. If you have returned a housing contract and deposit, you might receive a housing bill before you receive a tuition bill. All billings will reflect financial aid or the monthly payment plan option if that information has been provided to Ohio University prior to the billing date.

For your first fall term, your eBill will be generated in mid-August with payment due of September 1st. If your financial aid exceeds your quarterly tuition and fees, an overage check or direct deposit will be issued to you after the start of the quarter.

For all subsequent terms, your eBill will be generated approximately four to five weeks prior to the start of the term. Payment will be due two weeks prior to the start of the term. Visit the Office of the Bursar web site for more information regarding billing, the billing schedule, payment options, the monthly payment plan option, and direct deposit.

First year students living in the residence halls can move in beginning Thursday, September 2. Classes will begin on Tuesday, September 7. You may wish to consult the Registrar's Office calendar for other important dates.