Graduate Student Orientations and Graduate Student Organizations

Online Graduate Student Orientation 

All incoming graduate students, whether beginning online or residential programs, must complete the online Graduate Student Orientation (GSO). This orientation covers important university policies and procedures and, as of 2022, state-mandated anti-hazing training. Students who have not completed the online modules by the middle of their first semester will have a registration hold placed for the following term, which can be lifted only after the orientation is complete.  

In-person Fall Graduate Student Orientation  

On the Thursday prior to each fall semester the Graduate College hosts an orientation for all new graduate students on the Athens campus. Please refrain from holding other sessions on this date and encourage your incoming graduate students to attend.  

The morning is the official university welcome to all new graduate students, with information and activities including university resources and policies. The afternoon includes employment paperwork sessions for all graduate students holding graduate appointments. Staff from University Human Resources and the Graduate College are available during this time. 

The calendar date, time, and location are posted prominently on the Graduate College website in the weeks ahead of the event. 

Specialized orientation sessions are held for incoming graduate students with specific needs.  

Orientation for international graduate students is coordinated in Fall and Spring by International Student & Faculty Services and takes place over several days before the beginning of classes. It includes time for students to present their immigration paperwork for processing as well as sessions designed to help graduate students succeed academically and find their way in the Athens community. 

Graduate Student Senate (GSS) represents graduate students in the Ohio University shared governance structure. For more information about GSS, see their website.

The GSS awards two types of student assistance: Travel Grants and Original Work Grants. For information on awards, please see section on University-Wide Awards, Grants, and Professionalization Opportunities in this Handbook.