First Year Experience

Programs | Leadership and Service

Residential Leadership (R-LEAD) Program

Eligibility: Incoming first-year students who will be living on the Columbus campus for the 2024-25 school year.

The 2024 R-LEAD Program is an early arrival and engagement program that targets the personal growth and development of each participant through dialogue and structured activities. In this program, first-year students will get to interact with their peers and peer mentors and familiarize themselves with campus resources and involvement opportunities before schools starts. The program's focus on leadership will help students determine how they will lead their legacy at Ohio State.

R-LEAD also partners with the Ohio State Welcome Leader (OWL) program to expand students' leadership skills and service to others. Students selected to participate in R-LEAD will automatically be registered for the OWL program; no separate application is required. If accepted to R-LEAD, all participants are expected to participate in the OWL program during the rest of that week — and they will need to pay the program fee before the program begins.

Program dates: Sunday, August 11 to Saturday, August 17
Cost: $137 (covers early move-in, meals and workshops)
Apply: Apply to the R-LEAD program online by Sunday, June 30.
Questions? Visit involvedliving.osu.edu/r-lead or contact Leah Wheeler.

---

Ohio State Welcome Leader (OWL) Program

Eligibility: Incoming first-year students who will be living on the Columbus campus for the 2024-25 school year. (Regional campus students may also apply to be an OWL on their campus.)

If you're interested in being part of the excitement of Move-In for 2024, consider applying to be an Ohio State Welcome Leader! The OWL program is an early engagement experience that promotes connections with peers, service to others and school spirit. To be eligible, you must live on campus for the 2024-25 school year.

Program dates: Wednesday, August 14 to Saturday, August 17
Cost: None
Apply: Apply online by June 30 to serve as an Ohio State Welcome Leader!
Questions? Visit involvedliving.osu.edu/owl-program or contact Leah Wheeler.