Ohio State has many useful tools and resources available to all students. From obtaining a BuckID to locating materials and resources for your courses, this section will give you the 411. Essential resources you will find in this section include how to find textbooks, access course content for both online and classroom bases courses (CarmenCanvas), disability services, tutoring services, the Digital Union, CampusParc and so much more. After reviewing the section, please complete the quiz to ensure your understanding of this information.
Your Academic Advisor and Academic Resources
Your academic advisor is a resource for helping you navigate the Ohio State resources and systems you will use to meet your academic goals at Ohio State. We understand that our Ohio State transient/visitor and continuing status non-degree students have individual academic goals. Through working closely with your advisor, you will receive personalized advising and planning to work toward completion of your goal. Ohio State is a large university with many resources, and your advisor can identify resources for your successful experience at Ohio State. We will make appropriate referrals to assure you are working with university department that can best assist you with your need. You can find your assigned advisor in My Buckeye Link.
Review important advising information on the Undergraduate Advising at Ohio State page. If you’ve been away from the university or if you are new to Ohio State, review our Grade Forgiveness and Fresh Start rules.
Lastly, you can use OnCourse to schedule appointments with your academic advisor or to review advising notes after you have met with your advisor. Visit go.osu.edu/OnCourse to schedule an appointment or to view advising notes. The resources below can help you use OnCourse.
- An overview video for students that includes how to use the new scheduler: Welcome Video
- A video for students that show them how to use the Meet with Your Success Team feature in the new scheduler to schedule with their Advisor: Schedule with Your Advisor Video
Academic Enrichment & Support
Ohio State is dedicated to providing excellent academic support services and enrichment opportunities to help students achieve academic success at Ohio State. Review the list below to learn more.
General Chemistry Learning Resource Center
The Learning Resource Center (LRC) is available for assistance to General Chemistry students. There is absolutely no charge or appointment needed to get help in the Learning Resource Center -- just stop by. For more information, visit chemistry.osu.edu.
Disability Services
Student Life Disability Services collaborates with and empowers students who have disabilities in order to coordinate support services and programs that enable equal access to an education and university life. For more information, visit slds.osu.edu.
Dennis Learning Center
The Dennis Learning Center supports students so that they can enter, excel in and successfully complete academic programs at The Ohio State University by providing assistance in areas that include motivation, academic stress, procrastination, study skills, time management, test taking, learning from text, note taking and self-regulation. For more information, visit dennislearningcenter.osu.edu.
Math & Statistics Learning Center (MSLC)
MSLC is a resource center for students and instructors in Mathematics and Statistics courses at The Ohio State University. MSLC provides free tutoring, exam reviews, and more. For more information, visit mslc.osu.edu.
Physics Tutoring
Physics tutoring is available for currently enrolled students at OSU. There are opportunities for free tutoring as well as private, paid tutoring. For more information, visit physics.osu.edu/tutoring
Undergraduate Research
The Office of Student Academic Success- Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry strives to nurture and support mentored research pursuits of all undergraduate students to proactively transform and enrich their academic experience by providing inclusive and innovative research engagement opportunities and fostering collaborative partnerships in the world beyond the classroom. For more information, visit ugresearch.osu.edu.
The Writing Center
The Writing Center offers free help with writing at any stage of the writing process for any member of the university community. For more information, visit cstw.osu.edu/our-programs/writing-center.
Younkin Success Center
The Younkin Success Center functions as a hub for services related to student success. For more information, visit younkinsuccess.osu.edu.
BuckID
Starting finals week of the preceding term, you can obtain a BuckID, your student ID card.
- You can get your BuckID in Room 3040 (third floor) in the Ohio Union, located at 1739 North High Street, after you have scheduled your classes.
- You will need your driver’s license and course schedule.
- If you do not have a driver’s license, a passport or state ID will be sufficient. If you do not have any of the forms of identification listed above, two other forms of ID will be required.
- The BuckID has many uses including functioning as a COTA bus pass, access to all University recreational facilities, University libraries card, access to D-Tix (discount tickets) and so much more. For more information and a complete list of BuckID uses, visit buckid.osu.edu Note: In order to utilize student perks and BuckID resources such as COTA bus service, Ohio State employees with a staff or faculty BuckID must exchange it for a student BuckID. For more information, call BuckID at 614-292-0400.
Campus Area Bus Service (CABS)
The Campus Area Bus Service (CABS) provides transportation in and around the campus area. No ID or pass is required for this service. For a full map and schedule, visit ttm.osu.edu/bus.
CampusParc
Students may browse options for parking passes through CampusParc. All non-degree students (continuing status and transient/visitor status) are listed as Rank 1 students and may only purchase a Rank 1 parking pass.
Continuing status students with a bachelor’s degree from another institution can present an unofficial copy of their transcript and an advising report from My Buckeye Link that states the student’s Rank 4 status, to CampusParc, Gateway Plaza, 1560 N. High St., to get Rank 4 student parking. The advising report may be obtained by clicking “Generate Advising Report”, under Academics, within My Buckeye Link.
Students must purchase an annual parking pass. If you only need a parking pass for one term, you can visit the Customer Service Center when you no longer need the permit for a prorated refund for any full months remaining in the permit year.
CarmenBooks
Some Ohio State courses are part of CarmenBooks, a program that offers digital copies of selected textbooks for a fraction of the cost of a new, physical copy. If you register for a course using CarmenBooks, you will see this discounted textbook cost reflected as a course fee.
You may choose to opt out of this program. However, if you do so, you will be responsible for obtaining your textbook and other course materials on your own. To opt out, complete the CarmenBooks opt out form before the end of the 100% refund period for your session. After that date, no refunds will be available.
CarmenCanvas
CarmenCanvas is Ohio State’s online course management system used by instructors, staff and TAs to create and share materials. It’s named for the song Carmen, Ohio — Ohio State’s alma mater. You’ll access course materials and content through CarmenCanvas. If you are enrolled in an online class, CarmenCanvas is where you will access your course.
Visit Getting Started with Canvas to learn more.
Counseling and Consultation Services
Counseling and Consultation Services provides comprehensive individual and group mental health services, psychoeducational prevention and outreach programming to currently enrolled undergraduate, graduate and professional students. We also work with spouses/partners of students who are covered by the Comprehensive Student Health Insurance. For more information, visit ccs.osu.edu.
Digital Union
Four Digital Unions exist on the Ohio State campus to assist students, faculty and staff in the creation of digital content including spreadsheets, videos, presentations and graphic documents. The Digital Unions are located in Denney, Enarson, Hagerty, and Stillman. For hours, as well as exact locations, contact information and specific software available, visit odee.osu.edu/digital-union.
Financial Aid
If you are planning to seek Federal Student Financial Aid assistance for your non-degree enrollment, be sure to carefully review the federal financial aid information for non-degree seekers on the Student Financial Aid page.
Contact the Student Service Center at 614-292-0300 to discuss your questions and eligibility criteria for federal aid.
Military and Veteran Services
Military and Veterans Services is the university's single point of contact for all military and veterans services and concerns. The office strives to ensure the academic success of Ohio State's student-veterans. Any student utilizing VA education benefits must work with this office as part of their registration and enrollment in The Ohio State University. For more information, visit veterans.osu.edu.
Ordering Transcripts
Transcript Ordering is available through the University Registrar.
Purchasing Books
Visit Barnes & Noble, The Ohio State University bookstore, to learn the titles and prices of your textbooks. Some professors may reserve a textbook at one of our Libraries for their course. The bookstore is located at 1598 N. High St.
Student Advocacy Center
The Student Advocacy Center is committed to helping students navigate Ohio State’s structure and to resolving issues that they encounter at the university. For more information, visit advocacy.osu.edu.
Student Health Insurance
International students are required to purchase the Comprehensive Ohio State Student Health Insurance Plan. International students who wish to submit a request for exemption from coverage will need to complete an International Student Health Insurance Waiver from.
All other Extended Education students are not eligible for student health insurance. Under certain circumstances, students may petition for enrollment.
Visit shi.osu.edu for additional information.
Student Technology Resources
Ohio State offers many technology resources, from OSU Wireless to Ohio State Mobile, our University app for your phone. Visit Student Technology Resources to take advantage of the technology resources available to you.
University Libraries
The libraries on The Ohio State University Columbus campus — University Libraries and the Moritz Law Library — have a combined collection size of nearly 5.8 million volumes and regularly receive approximately 35,000 serial titles. Complete information about the libraries can be found at library.osu.edu.
Please complete: Quiz 4 - University Tools and Resources
If you are not an Ohio State employee, complete the Orientation Contact Form as a record of your completion of orientation. Then continue to After Admission: Step 2.
Ohio State employees should continue to the final section: Employee Tuition Assistance.