Welcome, New Buckeye!
Congratulations! On behalf of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI), I applaud your admission to The Ohio State University. As you consider Ohio State as the place to begin your academic journey, I would like to share with you the ways that ODI can support your Buckeye success.
Founded in 1970, ODI is one of the oldest and most comprehensive offices of its kind in the nation, with a mission to help build Ohio State into a world-class model of inclusive academic excellence. As a national leader in retention, mentoring, scholarship and access programs, ODI offers a wide range of opportunities for students to engage in supportive learning communities that will help them to thrive and develop their full potential. We offer programs that build upon the diverse talents and perspectives of our students to promote leadership skills and civic engagement, academic excellence, research, global education, and professional development.
Here at Ohio State, we understand how our values enhance the learning experience by challenging our campus community to consider the thoughts, experiences and practices of others who are different from ourselves. ODI has a rich and long history of uplifting the diversity among its students, faculty and staff, and our programs are both a defining characteristic and an essential source of Ohio State's strength. As an undergraduate, you will have the opportunity to interact with a cohort of students from all regions of the nation and the world who are equally committed to academic excellence and a culture of engagement and service.
We welcome you to one of the nation's most esteemed and beloved institutions of higher learning. We aim to create an environment where all students are valued, and all students can fully participate in the life of the campus.
As you begin the next chapter of your educational journey, we look forward to partnering with you!
Yolanda Zepeda
Interim Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion
P.S. ODI's website offers a wealth of information on early arrival and summer bridge programs, events, activities, and resources related to student success.