Ohio State University: Ohio State students and families excited for move-in
With the approach of fall comes the return of students to campus at The Ohio State University. First- and second-year students and their families will spend the next week moving into residence halls at the Columbus and regional campuses.
This staggered move-in was launched in autumn 2020 to minimize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the process and was so successful that the Office of Student Life has continued to use it.
“Move-in starts today and will end next Saturday,” said Student Life’s Dave Isaacs. “By the time it’s all done, we’ll have about 14,300 students moving into the residence halls here on the Ohio State Columbus campus.”
First-year student Erin Eckman is the last of four siblings to go to college and the first to go to Ohio State.
“I’m very excited to be a Buckeye,” she said.
Her parents are just as thrilled.
“We fell in love when we came here,” said Denise Eckman. “We’ve already got our tailgate stuff planned.”
Move-in went smoothly, the Eckmans agreed.
“This has been amazing,” Denise said. “We just pulled up to the front door. There are carts, everything we need. It’s just great.”
One of the people greeting families at move-in is Lynn Kornegay, who has worked in Ohio State residence halls for the last 21 years. She enjoys meeting new students and takes welcoming them seriously.
“Whenever I see someone looking lost, I guide them to the elevators or to the right place,” she said. “I want people to understand that they’re going to be OK once they get here.”
Staying safe and healthy for the school year
For guidance related to public health, the university maintains and updates the Safe and Healthy Buckeyes website. Additionally, the following information is for members of the Ohio State community:
Students, faculty, staff and visitors should monitor guidance issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as state and local authorities to inform their personal health practices.
The university’s vaccination requirement remains in place: All students, faculty and staff must either complete a full primary series or receive an approved exemption.
Everyone is encouraged to take advantage of COVID-19 booster shots for which they are eligible. Students, faculty and staff can voluntarily report boosters to help guide the university’s response through the university’s COVID-19 reporting forms.
People can choose to wear a mask at Ohio State at any time. The university’s mask-optional policy remains in place on our academic campuses, including classroom buildings and the Ohio Union. Masks are required in clinical health-care settings, child-care centers and COVID-19 testing locations.
Anyone feeling sick should stay home and monitor symptoms. We are encouraging everyone to have at-home tests on hand. Tests can be picked up at campus locations. Testing is also available on the Columbus campus and for symptomatic individuals.
Similar to last year, on-campus isolation housing for residential students will be limited and cannot be guaranteed. All students should have individual plans for isolation and quarantine housing in the event they are exposed or have a positive COVID-19 test.