Our office co-hosts a university-wide Military and Veterans Student Wellness Committee dedicated to sharing holistic wellness efforts for all military-connected students. This group meets once each academic semester to share resources and provide updates on the university's efforts in all areas of wellness. It allows members to keep up to date with campus offerings and to collaborate on shared programmatic goals. Members include representatives from Counseling and Consultation Services (CCS), the Suicide Prevention Program, College of Nursing, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, ROTC, Department of Human Services, along with undergraduate student representatives from ROTC, and a student from the graduate college. If you have a topic to bring to this committee or would like to join, please contact Janet Steinbacher, program manager, Military and Veterans Services.
Counseling for Veterans
Returning to college or beginning college for the first time after armed services deployment can be a stressful and highly frustrating experience. Service members coming out of extended periods of exposure to severe emotional or mental trauma and highly stressful working and living conditions may find the transition to college life and academic demands a difficult personal challenge.
The professional staff at Counseling and Consultation Services is composed of independently licensed psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers and counselors (as well as graduate students and trainees in these disciplines who are supervised by the professional staff) and therapists that work to create an atmosphere where veterans can examine and discuss freely and confidentially personal concerns of any type. Clinicians are ready to offer the support and services that will ease the transition of returning veterans to college life, and, when necessary, to provide referrals to other Ohio State and community resources. Staff is committed to helping veterans identify, prioritize and implement strategies to address their specific concerns and challenges.
CCS services are available to all students enrolled on a part-time or full-time basis. CCS offers a range of personal counseling services that include meeting on an individual basis, meeting as a couple or family, participating in counseling groups or workshops facilitated by qualified leaders, or participating in workshops on academic effectiveness skills, stress management, self-esteem and career planning.
Students can schedule a phone screening online by visiting the CCS website.
Another option is to call the front desk at 614-292-5766 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. If you choose to identify as a military-connected student over the phone, you may be scheduled directly with one of the dedicated Military and Veteran therapists at CCS for an in-person consultation. After hours, Counseling and Consultation Service provides crisis consultation for students by calling 614-292-5766 and choosing option 2. The service is also available weekends and holidays.
Veteran Check-In
Veteran Wellness Alliance
Connect to Care
Veterans, service members, and their families experiencing difficulties in daily life or in distress can reach out to Check-In and trust that an advocate will find a licensed professional who can help.
The Veteran Wellness Alliance is an innovative alliance that connects high-quality care providers and veteran peer networks to empower veterans to seek mental health treatment. With proper care, service members and veterans can continue to thrive on and off the battlefield.
Check-In is a user-friendly tool (PDF) designed to connect veterans and their families with high-quality, compassionate care for mental and brain health. A one-page PDF reference is available for download here.
Learn more about Veteran Check-In
UniHealth
UniHealth’s mission is to make sure students’ healthcare futures are equally as bright by giving them knowledge and tools to access high-quality care. Student health and well-being are too important to navigate alone in an increasingly complex healthcare landscape. With UniHealth, no student has to.
By using this free app (available for both Apple and Android), students have access to information regarding on- and off-campus care, crises, and after-hours services, guidance to local pharmacies and listed prescription costs, the ability to maintain their own health passport, and more.
Health and Fitness Resources
Student Health Service
Student Health Services (SHS) includes a variety of care options available to any Ohio state student. SHS services include a general medicine clinic, a gynecology clinic, and optometry, dental, sports medicine, physical therapy and allergy services. There is also a travel medicine component which will assist in providing travel information and with medications and immunizations needed for travel.
The full-service pharmacy and laboratory accept outside orders/prescriptions which would allow veterans an option to obtain lab work or fill prescriptions from an outside site. All veterans enrolled at Ohio State may access Student Health Services for their needs.
Student Health Insurance
Enrolled students at Ohio State can choose from a number of health insurance benefits packages. If you are already covered by a policy, it is important that you waive your Ohio State coverage prior to the opt-out date. Otherwise, you may be automatically enrolled and held responsible for any premiums charged to you. You can find more information on the options for Student Health Insurance on their website.
Recreation and Physical Activity Center (RPAC)
All students taking four or more credit hours on the Columbus campus are assessed the Rec Sports fee, which provides support for all campus recreational sports facilities, programs and services. Students who are assessed the fee are automatic members of all recreational sports facilities and eligible for all member benefits. Students taking three or fewer hours of classes or at an Ohio State regional campus may purchase a membership at the student rate by visiting the Adventure Recreation Center (ARC) or RPAC.
Students may also purchase a membership for their spouse or domestic partner at the student rate. Please come to the RPAC Welcome Center to purchase this type of membership. Student members may also participate in family hours.
Students use their BuckID as their membership card. Your facility access will be updated each quarter that you are enrolled for four or more credit hours.
Guests and Family Participation
Residing students paying the recreation fee, may sponsor up to two guests during a visit. There are a number of guest pass options. A daily guest pass is valid at all facilities for unlimited re-entries in a one-day period. Members must be present at the time of purchase for guest pass transactions.
The Department of Recreational Sports strives to be a family-friendly environment. Members are able to enjoy quality time with their families in the campus recreation facilities. The facilities offer a variety of family-friendly accommodations, including family changing rooms, a leisure pool, Courtside Café and Juice 2 restaurants, a game room, child watch services and the facilities are fully accessible. Anyone holding a current membership can bring their spouse/partner and dependent children (under 18), who have been declared on their membership application, for no additional charge during Family Hours held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the RPAC and ARC. Family members must stay with their designated Rec Sports member at all times. Current family hours.
Programs
A wide variety of programs are offered to meet every participant's needs.
Those interested in a competitive sport experience will enjoy the intramural sports program. Intramural sports provide a competitive experience against other students in sports ranging from flag football to ice hockey and sand volleyball. A variety of sports are offered each quarter. Students may sign up as a team or individual. Registration is always held the first full week of the quarter.
Group Fitness offers cutting-edge services to all recreational sports members of all abilities. Staff of in-house instructors proudly and passionately keeps the Buckeye community in shape and moving. Leaders understand that group fitness should be a fun, challenging and competition free. If you are new to working out, a veteran exerciser, or just getting back into shape, group fitness is an excellent choice. Over 50 classes are offered weekly. For more information on pass options and class schedule, please visit the recreation sports website.
The Outdoor Adventure Center (OAC), which is located in the Adventure Recreation Center, is committed to providing fun, challenging and affordable wilderness-based experiences for the Ohio State University community. Through a variety of workshops and backcountry trips, participants will learn the requisite skills to safely enjoy the outdoors. Whether you want an exciting recreational activity, a chance to learn new skills, the opportunity to meet new people, or simply to take a break from academics, the OAC is for you. Visit the OAC website to learn more.
The Department of Recreational Sports recognizes that our community extends beyond our students, faculty, and staff, to the families, friends, alumni and neighbors of the university. To serve the diverse recreational needs of the entire community, the Age Group and Camps (AGAC) program offers a variety of community programs and services for everyone from infants to seniors. Child and Youth programs at Rec Sports include a wide variety of activities. From learning to swim, to learning game fundamentals, our programs teach life-long skills to children and youth ranging from a few months old, to early teens. A wide variety of classes are offered each quarter including swimming lessons and sport instruction. In the summer the Camp Recky program provides an fun and exciting day camp experience for children. To learn more about the programs offered, visit this website.
The Adapted Recreational Sports (ARS) program offers the opportunity to remain physically active, to connect with others and to explore new challenges. Our goal is to enhance independence and inclusion for individuals with disabilities through recreation and physical activity. Customized programming is offered to meet your needs including a new stretching program and outdoor adventure activities to increase your strength, flexibility and endurance.
Budgeting, Financial Wellness and Resources
To assist students with budget and credit/debt management, Scarlet and Gray Financial Counseling in the Student Wellness Center provides the services of a financial specialist for all Ohio State students. Financial counseling is provided through one-on-one meetings in the Student Wellness Center with one of the trained volunteer peer counselors. These services are available to students at no cost.
Specific areas of support include:
- banking basics
- budgeting
- credit card selection & use
- debt repayment planning
- obtaining credit reports
- investing
Buckeye Careers
As part of the Office of Student Life, Buckeye Careers is an university-wide initiative designed to support students throughout their professional development, with a focus on connecting them with local, national and global organizations.