Seeking Assistance and Support
Graduate students are valued members of our community, and we strive to create an inclusive and supportive environment. We recognize that students come from different backgrounds and often with hidden pressures and challenges.
Graduate school can be a stressful and challenging time: if you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, we encourage you to communicate with your advisor. Peers in the program and your lab can also be great sources of support.
Several resources are available below for students with concerns about mental health, disability accommodations, diversity, immigration, and student support in general.
Resources – Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
- SLDS offers resources to graduate students and departments, both inside and outside the classroom (e.g., advisor/advisee interactions in the lab)
- Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator's Office
- Watch this video detailing services you can use from SLDS.
- Resources (e.g., readings, videos) related to staying informed and becoming a strong advocate or ally
- Topics: Race and ethnicity, LGBTQ+ and gender identity, and People with Disabilities
- Have readings, videos and podcast suggestions on to explore race and ethnicity, LGBTQ+ and gender identity, people with disabilities, and statements from OSU leadership emphasizing OSU’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Contact:
- Chair of the Faculty Committee on Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
- Dr. Steven Spencer (spencer.670@osu.edu)
- Dr. Steven Spencer (spencer.670@osu.edu)
- Co-chairs of the Graduate Student Committee for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
- Elana Schettini (schettini.1@osu.edu)
- Sydney Williams (williams.7548@osu.edu)
- Chair of the Faculty Committee on Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
- The Office of International Affairs offers assistance related to visas, immigration, English language courses, and general support for international students.
- The Counseling and Consultation Service: CCS provides a wide variety of services to support students’ mental health (e.g., individual therapy, group therapy, workshops, etc.).
Generally, students with OSU Student Health Insurance can receive around ten free counseling sessions per semester.
- CCS offers a wide variety of group counseling, including the following:
- Psychoeducational and Skills Groups (e.g., managing stress, healing from sexual violence, recovering from eating disorders)
- Affinity Groups (i.e., identity-based groups such as SAFE graduate group for students who identify as Black/African American, Latinx graduate group for students who identify as Latinx, Queer grad group for students who identify as LGBTQ+, etc.)
- Interpersonal Groups (e.g., ABD Group for doctoral students who are working on their dissertation, Graduate Student Group for any graduate student)
- Psychoeducational and Skills Groups (e.g., managing stress, healing from sexual violence, recovering from eating disorders)
- Student Wellness Center: The Student Wellness center offers services for holistic wellness related to physical health, mental health, sexual health, and more.
- Student Advocacy Center: The Student Advocacy Center provides support for students to resolve issues related to academics, finances, health, personal life, and more.
- CCS offers a wide variety of group counseling, including the following:
- Gender-Inclusive Restrooms (Additionally, within the Psychology Building: 164T)
- An interactive map of all Columbus campus facilities is also available on the OSU app.
- “The MCC offers several hundred programs a year - cultural and intercultural celebrations, heritage and awareness events, dialogues, workshops, student leadership and cohort meetings, prejudice-reduction training, wellness initiatives and Social Justice Engagement courses.”
- See upcoming events at the bottom of homepage
- See upcoming events at the bottom of homepage
- Workshops and trainings
- Social Justice Workshops
- Ability, Faith and Social Class Workshops
- Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Workshops
- Race, Ethnicity and Nationality Workshops
- Diversity, Intercultural and Community Engagement Certificate Program
- Student cohort groups
- Focus on creating a sense of belonging, well-being, the formation of meaningful relationships amongst peers, and expanding understandings of social responsibility and civic engagement.
- OSU Office of Ombuds Services
- An independent, confidential space where faculty members and graduate and professional students discuss issues and receive informal counsel and advice
- An independent, confidential space where faculty members and graduate and professional students discuss issues and receive informal counsel and advice
- Ombudsperson for faculty:
- Dr. Mollie V. Blackburn - facultyombuds@osu.edu
- Dr. Mollie V. Blackburn - facultyombuds@osu.edu
- Ombudsperson for graduate and professional students:
- Dr. Rebeka Campos-Astorkiza - gradombuds@osu.edu
- The Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) advances diversity, equity and inclusive excellence throughout the university enterprise by implementing student recruitment, retention and success programs, supporting faculty and staff initiatives, and partnering with campus and community stakeholders in the United States and beyond.
- Bells Fellow Program
- An initiative to increase the pipeline of scholars, and the number of social scientists in general, whose research focus is on African American males throughout the lifespan.
- An initiative to increase the pipeline of scholars, and the number of social scientists in general, whose research focus is on African American males throughout the lifespan.
- Dissertation Boot Camp
- A three-day event that provides Ohio State all-but-dissertation students with the space to work on their dissertations/EdD project
- You will receive valuable one-on-one coaching and feedback from experienced faculty.
- A three-day event that provides Ohio State all-but-dissertation students with the space to work on their dissertations/EdD project
- Preparing for Professoriate Retreat
- This annual retreat helps historically underrepresented doctoral students prepare for the rigors of graduate & professional school, provides a scholarly atmosphere of support where students can share and receive ongoing feedback on their research and professional interests and assists students with goal setting and outlining a professional plan.
- Bells Fellow Program
- College of Arts and Sciences Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
- College of Arts and Sciences Diversity Matters
- OSU initiatives on Diversity
- Office of Diversity and Inclusion
- Student Life Multicultural Center
- OSU Office of Student Academic Success Diversity and Inclusion Council
- Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity
- Visit the College of Arts and Sciences, Diversity in Graduate Studies homepage for additional DEI resources.
Want to report a concern or incident?
- The Student Advocacy Center provides support for students to resolve issues related to academics, finances, health, personal life, and more.
- When reporting a concern, the process will look like:
- Concerns are reviewed and addressed promptly. Your report will be acknowledged and your questions and concerns will be relayed to the appropriate parties.
- If an investigation is warranted, an investigative unit will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation.
- Investigators will reach a conclusion and share the outcome of the investigation.
- Concerns are reviewed and addressed promptly. Your report will be acknowledged and your questions and concerns will be relayed to the appropriate parties.
- The Office of Ombuds Services provides an independent, confidential space where faculty members and graduate and professional students can discuss issues and receive informal counsel and advice.
- Ombudsperson for faculty:
- Dr. Mollie V. Blackburn - facultyombuds@osu.edu
- Dr. Mollie V. Blackburn - facultyombuds@osu.edu
- Ombudsperson for graduate and professional students:
- Dr. Rebeka Campos-Astorkiza - gradombuds@osu.edu
- Dr. Rebeka Campos-Astorkiza - gradombuds@osu.edu
- What will the process look like?
- Services are informal, someone hear to listen
- It's up to the students to take action and decide what path or option works best for them
- Can provide advice and coach students once they make a decision
- NOTE: Ombuds person doesn't advocate for individual students.
- NOTE: Ombuds person doesn't advocate for individual students.
- Response time: typically, less than 48 business hours
- Scheduling an appointment: within the 2-5 days of reaching out
- Services are informal, someone hear to listen
- Ombudsperson for faculty:
- The OSU Anonymous Reporting Line offers simple, risk-free ways to confidentially report unethical or inappropriate behaviors and activity for matters such as but not limited to:
- Athletics
- Finances
- Health Care
- Human Resources
- Institutional Equity
- Research
- Student Conduct
- OSU Health
- Ethics
- Other Issues
- Academic matters involving faculty and/or students may be reported to Office of Academic Affairs phone number at 614-292-5881
- Non-academic student conduct matters may also be reported to the Office of Student Life, Student Conduct at 614-292-1748
- Academic matters involving faculty and/or students may be reported to Office of Academic Affairs phone number at 614-292-5881
- What will the process look like?
- Students can call the following number to file a report (1-866-294-9350) or file an online report
- You get connected with a representative who asks a series of questions that can take up to 15 minutes
- You get connected with a representative who asks a series of questions that can take up to 15 minutes
- The representative types up the report and sends it to the appropriate entity at OSU
- Optional to enter Name and email address
- If you provide contact information, you can expect a response within 10 business days
- If you provide contact information, you can expect a response within 10 business days
- Students can call the following number to file a report (1-866-294-9350) or file an online report
- Webpage provides links for:
- University Policies, Title IX (Sexual Misconduct Response and Prevention), “Follow-up on Report” webpage, and more!
- University Policies, Title IX (Sexual Misconduct Response and Prevention), “Follow-up on Report” webpage, and more!
“This web page is hosted on EthicsPoint's secure servers and is not part of The Ohio State University's web site or intranet. You may raise concerns here that are completely anonymous.”
- Title IX in the Office of Institutional Equity handles issues and concerns related to sexual assault, sexual harassment, domestic/dating violence, stalking, sex-based discrimination, pregnancy discrimination
- What will the process look like?
- The Title IX Coordinator oversees reports of sexual misconduct.
- The form provides the following questions:
- Name (optional)
- Number (optional)
- Email (optional)
- Nature of this report
- Nature of sexual misconduct (if applicable)
- Date of incident
- Time of incident (optional)
- Location of incident
- Involved parties
- Details about location
- Description of incident
- Reporting numbers from other reporting forms (optional).
- The Title IX Coordinator oversees reports of sexual misconduct.
This pdf thoroughly outlines how reports of sexual misconduct are handled.
Student organizations
For a full list, please visit the Student Organization section of the Student Activities website.
For a full list, please visit the Student Organization section of the Student Activities website.