Summer First-Year Student Schedule
This schedule is for in-person summer orientation programs for first-year students in May, June, and July 2026. Details are subject to change.
Day 1 Arrival Information: Parking & Shuttle
| Time | Information | Location | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8:30 - 12:30 p.m. | Parking & Shuttles All participants should park in Convocation Center Lots 127 or 128. For GPS directions, enter 16 West Green Drive, Athens, Ohio 45701. Follow the “Orientation Parking” signs to the designated area, where Orientation Leaders will be stationed at the entrance to distribute parking passes. Students and guests staying overnight in a residence hall should bring their belongings with them. On Day 1, shuttles will run from 8:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. between parking lots 127 and 128, Jefferson Hall (your first stop for check-in), and Baker University Center. A QR code to track the shuttles can be found at the end of the printed schedule you will receive during check-in with the BSO team. | Lots 127 & 128, 16 West Green Drive | ||
Day 1 Arrival Information: Check-In Process
Required Program Check-In & Optional Activities
Students and guests must complete two required steps during check-in. Additional options are available to personalize your orientation experience. You may arrive anytime during the check-in window, but we recommend arriving at least 1 hour and 30 minutes before check-in closes to ensure enough time for required steps.
| Status | Activity | Description | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Required | Check-In: Step One | All participants must check in at Jefferson Hall 160 as their first stop upon arrival. Students and guests staying overnight should bring their belongings, as they will move into their assigned room during this time. Students requesting an overnight stay exemption are also required to check in. | 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. | Jefferson Hall 160 |
| Required | Check-In: Step Two | All participants must check in with the Bobcat Student Orientation team. During check-in, you will receive program materials, take your student ID photo, confirm your major, and connect with various student services. A valid ID is required. | 9:00 - 12:30 p.m. | Baker University Center 240/242 |
| Optional | BSO Resource Fair | More than 40 campus programs, services, and select off-campus groups will host tables for students and guests to explore available resources. We strongly encourage participants to attend! | 10:00 - 12:30 p.m. | Baker University Center Ballroom (4th Floor) |
| Optional | Residence Hall Viewings | Housing and Residence Life offers room viewings for selected residence halls, showcasing a variety of living style options.
| 10:30 - 12:30 p.m. | Visit this webpage for more information. |
| Optional | Campus Tour | Familiarize yourself with Ohio University’s landscape on an abbreviated campus tour. Trek across the bricks while learning about key resources. | 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. or 10:15 - 11:15 a.m. | Baker University Center 1st Floor (Behind escalators) |
| Optional | Food Options | Grab a bite to eat! Stop by Jefferson Marketplace for a made-to-order sandwich at Brick City Deli (opens at 10:30 am), a drink from the Eastside Grounds, or a quick snack. You can also explore the dining options at West 82 Food Court in Baker University Center. | 8:00 – 1:00 p.m. & 11:00 – 2:00 p.m. | Jefferson Marketplace: Jefferson Hall West 82: Baker University Center (1st Floor) |
Day 1 Schedule
| Time | Session | Location | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:00 - 1:50 p.m. | BSO Welcome and Program Overview Start your experience with a welcome from university leadership and the BSO team! You’ll meet your Orientation Leaders, review the program schedule, hear from the Office of the Dean of Students, and get a preview of what awaits you at Ohio University. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. | Memorial Auditorium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1:50 - 3:35 p.m. | Student Dismissal Followed by Belonging to OHIO
| Various Locations (See Chart) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3:50 - 4:30 p.m. | Bobcat Breakout Session One (options listed below)
Getting Involved (Morton Hall 235), Hosted by Center for Student Engagement and Leadership & Sorority and Fraternity Life: Getting involved will help you find your community, develop leadership skills, and create lasting memories. With 400+ organizations, including student government & sorority and fraternity life, there is something for everyone. Learn more here! Beyond Books and Tutoring: OHIO's Academic Support Hub (Morton Hall 115), Hosted by Academic Achievement Center & University Libraries: Discover campus resources that support your academic success, including tutoring, help services, study spaces, and acclimating to campus. You'll also learn tips to help all students feel connected and confident on campus. Holistic Support at OHIO (Morton Hall 237), Hosted by: Campus Recreation & Well-Being, LINKS Program, OhioHealth Campus Care, Student Accessibility Services, & TRIO Student Support Services: Your well-being and success go beyond the classroom. This session will introduce you to a variety of support services, including student accommodations, peer connection programming, well-being coaching, and student health services. to make the most of your Bobcat experience. The Commuter Student Experience (Morton Hall 127), Hosted by Housing and Residence Life: This session offers you the opportunity to learn about commuter-specific resources, as well as commuter programming, outreach events, and student employment opportunities on campus. | Morton Hall *Refer to the session description in the middle column for the specific classroom for each session. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4:40 - 5:20 p.m. | Bobcat Breakout Session Two (Same sessions as listed above, except the Commuter Student Experience is not offered, and there is a session for the OHIO Honors Program.) OHIO Honors Program (Morton Hall 127), Hosted by OHIO Honors Program: The OHIO Honors Program (OHP) is an experience-based program that supports students through interdisciplinary coursework and out-of-class activities. In this session, admitted OHP students and their guests will learn about program requirements, opportunities, and create a plan for their first semester.The OHIO Honors Program (OHP) empowers students to align their personal interests with their academic pursuits and follow their learning wherever it leads. In this session, you will learn more about the opportunities available and expectations for course registration. | Morton Hall *Refer to the session description in the middle column for the specific classroom for each session. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5:20 - 6:30 p.m. | Dinner at Nelson Dining Hall | Nelson Commons | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6:40 - 7:15 p.m. | Thriving at OHIO In this interactive session, you’ll learn about key resources and expectations designed to help all Bobcats thrive. | Morton Hall 201 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7:25 - 8:30 p.m. | Rufus Rumble It’s time to rumble! Led by Orientation Leaders, you'll have the opportunity to review what you’ve learned throughout the day through a fun activity.learn more about the town and put what you’ve already learned to test. | Morton Hall - Various Locations *OLs will guide color groups to their assigned locations. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8:30 - 10:00 p.m. | BSO Blast! Keep the fun going and make new friends with a variety of exciting activities! Dive into painting or a board game, (weather permitting), join a game of volleyball or basketball, belt out your favorite tunes at karaoke, challenge others to a board game showdown, and more. | Ping Recreation Center *June 5 & June 30: Location moved to Living Learning Center Lawn & South Beach |
Day 2 Schedule
| Time | Session | Location | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6:15 - 8:30 a.m. | Shuttle Information Shuttles will run between Convocation Center Lots 127 and 128, Nelson Commons, Jefferson Hall and Baker University Center, with each shuttle loop taking approximately 20 minutes. | Various Locations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6:30 - 8:00 a.m. | Residence Hall Move-Out Students and guests who stayed overnight must move out of their assigned residence hall. Check-out takes place in your residence hall lobby. | Various Locations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7:00 - 8:15 a.m. | Luggage Storage If you’re unable to store your luggage in your vehicle, you can check it in with the BSO team. You can retrieve your luggage when you check out at the end of the day. | Baker University Center 230 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7:00 - 8:15 a.m. | Breakfast at Nelson Dining Hall | Nelson Commons | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8:25 - 9:25 a.m. | Day 2 Student Check-In & Succeeding as a New Student
| Various Locations *see table below. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9:35 - 11:05 a.m. | Academic Essentials with Your College
| Various Locations *see table below. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11:05 - 11:45 a.m. | Owning Your Student Experience There is no one path to success at OHIO, so let’s find yours! Led by Orientation Leaders, this session uses a personality-style activity to match you with experiences that fit your goals. You’ll also start the Pathfinder badge program to help shape a first-year experience that is uniquely yours. | Same as Previous Session | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11:45 a.m. - 12:55 p.m. | Lunch at Nelson Dining Hall If your supporter joined you at BSO, we encourage you to talk with them about the academic sessions you attended this morning. | Nelson Commons | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1:10 - 1:50 p.m. | Paying for College Join the Office of the Bursar and the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships to learn details regarding key deadlines and essential processes. This session will help you ensure everything is in place to manage your payments and receive your financial aid and scholarships. | Memorial Auditorium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1:50 - 4:45 p.m. | Advising and Course Registration
| Various Locations *see table below. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2:00 - 5:15 p.m. | Required Student Check-Out After completing course registration, all students will be required to check-out with the orientation team and pick up their Bobcat ID to end their BSO experience. | Baker University Center 240/242 |