OHIO Honors Early Experience Program

OHIO Honors Early Experience Program

The OHIO Honors Early Experience Program lets selected OHIO Honors Program (OHP) students hit the ground running on their college career. The program features small- and large-group, hands-on activities designed to introduce students to one another, the OHP curriculum, the OHIO campus, and the larger Athens community. Students acclimate to campus life through a personalized, curated experience while becoming familiar with the OHP tenets of personal reflection, place-based learning, and community engagement.

Eligibility:

OHIO Honors Program First-Year Students Residing in Jefferson or Johnson Halls (Honors Housing)

When:

Saturday, August 16 – Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Cost:

$84 meal plan and $125 housing fee, applied to the fall semester bill

Note: The $125 early arrival housing fee can be waived for students who volunteer for the Bobcat Move-In Crew, which assists first-year students with moving into their residence halls. To qualify for the early arrival housing waiver, you must:

• Attend a training session on Tuesday, August 19 (built into the Early Experience schedule below)
• Complete two, 6-hour shifts on Thursday, August 21 and/or Friday, August 22 during move-in week

For more information, visit the Bobcat Move-In Crew website.

2025 Schedule (subject to change):

While we encourage attendance at each Early Experience event, we also understand that students' individual needs vary. Students can address concerns about the schedule through the application. Our team is happy to work with you to ensure each student feels balanced, safe, and connected.

Saturday, August 16
Arrival

9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Arrival and Move-In 
5 – 5:30 p.m. Daily Ignite – Introductions, program overview 
5:45 – 7:15 p.m. Dinner and programming 
7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Evening Event with Student Leaders

Sunday, August 17
Your Community: OHIO Honors Program

8:30 – 9:15 a.m. Breakfast 
9:30 – 10 a.m. Daily Ignite – Grounding, intention setting, day overview 
10:15 – 11:30 a.m. Campus Activity 
11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Small group time with Student Leaders
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Lunch 
1:45 – 2:30 p.m. OHP Program overview with advisors and faculty 
2:45 – 4 p.m. Block 1 with Student Leaders 
4:15 – 5:30 p.m. Block 2 with Student Leaders 
5:45 – 7:15 p.m. Dinner and break 
7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Evening Event, Student Leaders facilitate

Monday, August 18
Your Community: Ohio University

8:30 – 9:15 a.m. Breakfast 
9:30 – 10 a.m. Daily Ignite
10:15 – 11:30 a.m. Coffee with Honors Tutorial College Dean Bross 
11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Small group time with Student Leaders
12:30 – 1:15 p.m. Lunch 
1:30 – 2:45 p.m. Block 3 with Student Leaders 
3 – 4:15 p.m. Block 4 with Student Leaders 
4:30 – 5:15 p.m. History of our communities
5:30 – 7:15 p.m. Dinner and break 
7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Evening Event, Student Leaders facilitate

Tuesday, August 19
Your Community: Athens, Ohio

8:30 – 9:15 a.m. Breakfast 
9:30 – 10 a.m. Daily Ignite 
10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Athens Community Leader Discussion and Passion Works Activity 
12:30 – 1:15 p.m. Lunch 
1:30 – 2:45 p.m. Block 5 with Student Leaders 
3:00 – 3:15 p.m. Break and Snack 
3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Bobcat Move-In Orientation 
4:45 – 5:15 p.m. Room show-and-tell 
5:30 – 7:15 p.m. Dinner and break 
7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Athena Movie Night

Wednesday, August 20 
Wrap Up

8:30 – 9:15 a.m. Breakfast 
9:30 – 10:15 a.m. Daily Ignite with friendship bracelet making and group photo 
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Office of Signature Academic Experiences culminating activity 
11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Small group wrap-up and friendship bracelet exchange 
12:30 – 1:15 p.m. Lunch 
1:15 p.m. Choose your own adventure

Block times include service projects, previewing the Life Worth Living curriculum utilized in the first-year OHP seminar, mobile team building, campus exploration, and working with a well-being coach on academic resilience, goal setting, and personal well-being.

Apply:

Deadline: Space is limited, and interested students are encouraged to apply by June 22. Eligible students will be emailed a direct-link to the application. Those selected to participate will be notified in early July and asked to complete an early arrival housing contract to finalize participation.

Contact Us:

honors.college@ohio.edu