New Student Families
Welcome Family Members
Whether this is your first or your last child in college, we're here to help.
Families play an important role in the success of your student, and we welcome you
with open arms at OSU. Our team is here to help the student AND their family transition
to college life in Stillwater. We hope you'll join us for orientation and enrollment
because we have a number of sessions set aside just for you. But don't stop there—
we hope you'll stay in touch and reach out if you have any questions or concerns during
your student's first year!
Welcome Cowboy Parents!
Dr. Doug Hallenbeck welcomes you:
I currently serve as vice president of Student Affairs, and I worked in Housing and
Residential Life from 1996-2003 and earned my Ph.D. from OSU. The Division of Student
Affairs covers a wide variety of areas: Career Services, Housing and Residential Life, Leadership and Campus Life, Student
Conduct, Student Union, University Counseling, University Dining, University Health
Services and Wellness. All can have an important role in your student’s life. I am
also a parent of an OSU graduate, so I understand the excitement and stress both you
and your student may be feeling at this time. If we can assist you or your student,
please feel free to call our office at 405-744-5328 or have your student drop by our
office in 201 Whitehurst. Student Affairs is here to support your student and help
them be successful!
Let's Work TogetherSuccess starts with you
We work with your student from orientation through their first year at OSU. We want you to join us at orientation and enrollment to learn more about this journey for you and your student. As the year progresses, we encourage you to ask them questions about their experiences and encourage them to ask for assistance when necessary. Do you think your student could use extra support?
REFER YOUR STUDENT
FAQs
There are many questions you may have regarding your student and their time at OSU. We've compiled a list of frequently asked questions to help you.
- Will there be tutors for my child's classes?The LASSO Center provides tutoring for almost all general education courses at the freshmen and sophomore levels. Additionally, they offer tutoring for some introductory courses to majors where we have had most demand.
- How much does tutoring cost at OSU?LASSO Center, Writing Center and MLSC tutoring do not incur charges. There are some private tutors and other services on campus outside the established centers that may require additional payment.
- What days/times are the tutoring services available?We work hard to provide tutoring at the times students are available. Most of our tutoring centers maintain evening hours to accommodate student schedules. Check their website for specific times and locations.
- Who are the tutors and how do we know if they are the best direction for my student?Students hired in LASSO go through a rigorous application and interview process. They are only allowed to tutor for courses they have taken at OSU and received an A (sometimes B).
- How does my student get scholarships?To keep it simple, we refer to the Scholarships and Financial Aid and Undergraduate Admissions website and talk through the deadlines for taking the ACT. Deadlines and FAFSA. Students should speak with their admissions counselor for specific case-by-case scenarios.
- What does my student need to do to receive a scholarship for the second year if they
did not receive one for their freshman year?OSU, and each of our academic colleges have scholarship opportunities for continuing students. The primary factors in these depend on degree plans, OSU GPA, and, in some cases, leadership/participation within the college or university.
- We’ve been offered loans. How do we decide how much to accept?The best thing to do is create a total cost of education for your student and then determine the financial gap between total cost and money sources available. Then determine from that how much will be needed in loans and how much may be covered through things like choosing less expensive housing, meal plans, or by student employment opportunities that could offset those costs.
- If my student needs medical assistance, how reliable is University Health Services?University Health Services (UHS) is just like going to a local clinic. The physicians work full time for OSU and hold hours Monday–Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Students make appointments online, by calling, or on a walk-in basis. The visits incur a flat fee for service, with any lab work or additional tests adding small fees. UHS has a full service pharmacy and a women’s clinic.
- How are roommates assigned?For students who do not already have a roommate chosen, the online roommate selection process helps match students who have similar living styles and interests through a questionnaire and communication portal. In addition, students may apply to live in specialized “Living and Learning” programs to provide larger groups of students interested in similar areas of study or who come from similar backgrounds.
- What if the roommates do not work out?Residential Life provides opportunities for community mentors (CM) and roommates to work through any transitional issues that might come up. Roommate agreements are strongly encouraged to help lay out some ground rules at the start of the semester. When issues are not alleviated through basic discussion, the CM may initiate a mediation discussion to try and help the situation. In rare cases when issues cannot be alleviated, residential life will do whatever they can to work with the students to find alternate solutions.
- What type of food is available in the on-campus dining options?University Dining has a variety of food options across campus locations. The Student Union is the most popular morning/afternoon spot and provides options from a convenience store to home cooking, to Italian, sandwiches, Asian, TexMex, and standbys like Chick Fil A and Johnny Rockets. The OSU Library houses a café, and the residential areas, University Commons in particular, provide dining options that include additional options for a variety of needs from comfort foods to a grocery store, as well as vegetarian, gluten free, and other special dietary needs.
- What type of support is there for my student having difficulty transitioning to college
life?Students have many resources to help them find their place at OSU and grow in the transition to life on campus. Academic advisers, community mentors, professors, counselors, first year success support staff, tutors, success coaches, and many other faculty and staff are here to support students at every turn. Students are encouraged to talk with their academic advisors, instructors, and community mentors early if they would like to talk through decisions or areas of difficulty in their adjustment to campus. If these front line personnel cannot assist directly, they will refer students to specific areas of campus designed to meet specialized needs. The most difficult thing for many students is to admit they could use someone to talk with or some additional support. We hope you will encourage your student to seek assistance so they realize they are not alone in the way they feel during this time of change and growth.
- How important is membership in a fraternity or sorority?This is completely personal preference. Approximately 23% of OSU undergraduate students are members of Greek organizations, but this does not mean their only connections are through those affiliations. Every student has the opportunity to join one of the many campus organizations, hold leadership positions, serve others, and impact campus. The decision to join a Greek chapter is personal to each student and depends on the type of campus involvement experience sought. Many students find their involvement connections through non-Greek affiliations while others choose a fraternity or sorority affiliation. One way to decide if Greek Life is appropriate is to attend Greek Discovery Day. This event allows students to meet those already in the Greek system and learn more about the houses, their philanthropies, and ways they connect within the OSU community.
- Is a Greek membership more expensive?That really depends on the choices a student makes in terms of traditional on campus housing and/or the specific Greek chapter joined. The best way to make sound financial choices is to research all of the Residential Life housing and dining options and compare those with the fraternity and sorority published costs on the OSU Fraternity and Sorority Affairs website.
