Summer First-Year Student Schedule
This schedule is for in-person summer orientation programs for first-year students in May, June, and July 2025. Details are subject to change.
Day 1 Arrival Information: Parking & Shuttle
| Time | Information | Location | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8:30 - 12:30 pm | Parking & Shuttles All participants should park in Lot 55. For GPS directions, enter 10 Rufus Street, Athens, Ohio 45701. Lot 55 is located across the street, and you will see signage marking the area. Orientation Leaders will be stationed at the entrance to distribute parking passes. Shuttles will run regularly from Lot 55 to Jefferson 160, where the first step of check-in begins. Students and guests staying overnight in a residence hall should bring their belongings with them. | Lot 55, 10 Rufus Street | ||
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 staying overnight should bring their belongings, as they will move into their assigned room during this time. Participants requesting an overnight stay exemption are also required to check in at Jefferson Hall 160. | 9:00 - 12:00 pm | 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 campus services. | 9:00 - 12:30 pm | 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! | 10:30 - 12:30 pm | 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 pm | for more information. |
| Optional | Campus Tour | Familiarize yourself with 51ÂÒÂ×’s landscape on an abbreviated campus tour. Trek across the bricks while learning about key resources. | 9:30 - 10:30 am or 10:00 - 11:00 am | 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, a drink from the Beverage Bar, or a quick snack. You can also explore the dining options at West 82 Food Court in Baker University Center. | 8:00 – 2:00 pm & 11:00 – 2:00 pm | Jefferson Marketplace: Jefferson Hall West 82: Baker University Center (1st Floor) |
Day 1 Schedule
| Time | Session | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00 - 1:30 pm | BSO Welcome and Program Overview Kick off your orientation journey with an introduction from university leadership and the orientation team! You’ll meet our student orientation leaders, review the program schedule, and learn more about the rich experience you’ll have at 51ÂÒÂ×. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. | Memorial Auditorium |
| 1:40 - 3:35 pm | Student Dismissal Followed by Belonging to OHIO Led by Campus Recreation staff and Orientation Leaders, this session offers a chance to connect with your peers and learn about the student experience through fun and interactive small-group activities. | Ping Recreation Center *In case of inclement weather OLs will guide students to various locations in Ellis Hall and Tupper Hall for this session. |
| 3:45 - 4:25 pm | Bobcat Breakout Session One (options listed below)
Getting Involved (Schoonover Center 145), Hosted by Center for Student Engagement and Leadership & Sorority and Fraternity Life: Find your community, develop leadership skills, and create lasting memories—these are just a few reasons Bobcats get involved beyond the classroom. Whether it’s Student Government, Sorority and Fraternity Life, or one of the 400+ student organizations in between, there’s something for everyone. In this session, you’ll discover how to search for student organizations, sign up for recruitment, explore service opportunities, and connect with student government representatives. Beyond Books and Tutoring: OHIO's Academic Support Hub (Muck Business Annex 121B), Hosted by Academic Achievement Center, 51ÂÒÂ× Libraries, & First-Generation Programs: 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—especially those new to the college experience—feel connected and confident on campus. Holistic Support at OHIO (Kantner Hall 116. *June 6, 20, & 26- Location moved to Baker Theater, Baker University Center 2nd Floor), Hosted by Counseling and Psychological Services, Student Accessibility Services, Academic Coaching, Survivor Advocacy Program, & Campus Recreation & Well-Being: Your well-being and success go beyond the classroom. This session will introduce you to a variety of support services designed to help you thrive academically, emotionally, and personally. Discover resources like student accommodations, counseling services, survivor advocacy, and academic and well-being coaching to make the most of your Bobcat experience. The Commuter Student Experience (Scripps Hall 16), 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. | Various Locations *Refer to the session description in the middle column for the location of each session. |
| 4:35 - 5:15 pm | Bobcat Breakout Session Two (Same sessions as above, but The Commuter Student Experience is being replaced with OHIO Honors Program) OHIO Honors Program (Scripps Hall 111), Hosted by OHIO Honors Program: The OHIO Honors Program (OHP) empowers students to align their personal interests with their academic pursuits and follow their learning wherever it leads. OHIO Honors students take on challenging coursework through small-group seminars or honors projects in traditional classes. They also apply their learning in the real world through internships, partnerships with community organizations, hands-on research, study-away programs, and other co-curricular activities. Designed to complement any major, the program connects students with fellow scholars across the university to explore ideas and issues from a wide range of perspectives. | Various Locations *Refer to the session description in the middle column for the location of each session. |
| 5:15 - 6:15 pm | Dinner at Nelson Dining Hall Students and guests will eat dinner from 5:15 - 6:15 p.m. | Nelson Commons |
| 6:30 - 7:15 pm | Thriving at OHIO In this session, students will learn more about the expectations of each member of our Bobcat family. Students can expect to learn about ways each of us plays a role in helping our community to thrive. | Morton Hall 201 |
| 7:25 - 8:30 pm | Rufus Rumble In this interactive session with Orientation Leaders, you'll have the opportunity to review what you’ve learned throughout the day through fun activities. | Morton Hall - Various Locations *OLs will guide color groups to their assigned locations. |
| 8:30 - 10:30 pm | BSO Blast! Keep the fun going and make new friends with a variety of exciting activities! Dive into painting, gather around the campfire for s’mores (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 6: Location moved to Living Learning Center |
Day 2 Schedule
| Time | Session | Location | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7:00 - 8:00 am | Residence Hall Move-Out Students and guests who stayed overnight must move out of their assigned residence hall. Shuttles will run between Jefferson Hall, Parking Lot 55, and Baker University Center. | Various Locations | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7:00 - 8:00 am | Breakfast at West 82 Students and guests can eat breakfast from 7:00 - 8:00 a.m. | West 82: Baker University Center (1st Floor) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8:00 - 9:05 am | Day 2 Student Check-In & Succeeding as a New Student All students will check in before the first session of the day at the location below. Following check-in, our orientation staff will provide key information about the academic experience and walk you through important systems and processes involved in course registration. | Various Locations *see table below. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Locations for Succeeding as a New Student
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| 9:15 - 10:45 am | Academic Essentials with Your College Connect with your advisors and learn about university, college, and major requirements as you prepare for course registration. Details about OHIO Guarantee+ Graduation Plans will also be shared at this time. | Various Locations *see table below. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Locations for Academic Essentials with Your College
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| 10:50 - 11:15 am | Owning Your Student Experience In this interactive presentation, Orientation Leaders will share perspectives on what it means to join our community and highlight next steps to prepare for fall semester. You’ll also reflect on your own goals as a new student. | Same as Previous Session | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11:25 - 12:25 pm | Lunch at Nelson Dining Hall Students will eat lunch from 11:25 a.m. - 12:25 p.m. at Nelson Dining Hall. | Nelson Commons | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12:45 - 1:30 pm | 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 payment and receive your financial aid and scholarships. | Memorial Auditorium | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1:45 - 4:45 pm | Advising and Course Registration Academic advisors and orientation leaders will be available to assist you in registration for next semester’s courses. | Various Locations *see table below. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Locations for Advising and Course Registration
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| 1:30 - 5:15 pm | Required Student Check-Out After completing course registration, all students will be required to check-out with the orientation team to end their BSO experience. | Baker University Center 240/242 |