Each month or so, The Snellen Letter will bring you announcements, tips, and news from your Student Services staff team. If you have ideas for Snellen content, feel free to contact Jen Bennett at bennett.1075@osu.edu.

We welcomed the Class of 2027 to the Ohio State Optometry family during Buckeye Launch August 14-18. Thank you to the faculty, staff, and student volunteers who helped get this great group of new students off to a strong start! We are excited to see what they bring to our community over the next four years.

For the safety of others, if you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, please take a COVID-19 test. It’s helpful to have tests on hand in case you need one. If you test positive, please quarantine for five days from the day your symptoms started. You may return to in-person activities on day six if you are fever-free without medication for 24 hours and your symptoms are resolved or substantially better. You must wear a mask for five days once you return. If your quarantine period requires you to miss mandatory class/lab activities or midterms/practicals, please contact your faculty. If you will miss clinic time, please follow notification procedures for being out of clinic.

Ohio State provides many fantastic resources to support positive mental health and well-being. Start strong this fall semester! Take a look at this comprehensive list of resources for most any interest, need, or concern at https://ccs.osu.edu/services/mental-health-resources. Some resources are even available 24/7! If you have questions about how to use or access these resources, feel free to reach out to Jen Bennett.

Fall Nutrition Presentation Series

This virtual series will be open to ALL students, faculty and staff, and will include the following topics. For more information and to register, visit go.osu.edu/NutritionPresentations.

• Intuitive Eating: 10 Principles for Nourishing a Healthy Relationship with Food
• Creating Size Acceptance in a World of Weight Stigma (4-part series)
• Weight Loss Drugs: The Bigger Picture
• Focus on Food: ADHD and Nutrition
• Healthy Eating on a College Budget
• Mindful Masculinity: Intuitive Living and Eating for Men

Nutrition Coaching

As always, students can schedule a free nutrition coaching appointment through the Wellness Center website.

JCPenney’s Fall Suit Up Event will take place on Sunday, September 17 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Polaris Mall. Bring your student ID and receive a 30% off coupon.

Please save the date of Wednesday, January 24 for the College of Medicine’s Annual Education Symposium (AES). The symposium is a daylong event to discuss relevant topics for health sciences education and to showcase current educational research. This year’s theme is “An Introduction to A.I. for Health Sciences Education,” where we will discuss A.I. tools, trends, and considerations as well as other emerging technologies for health sciences education. The symposium is an in-person/hybrid event open to any faculty, staff, or students of The Ohio State University. Abstracts are being accepted now through September 29. For more information about the symposium or abstract submission guidelines, please visit the AES event page.

Jen Bennett, Director of Student Services, 614-292-2973, bennett.1075@osu.edu
Heidi Bosworth, Special Event Coordinator, 614-247-1636 , bosworth.31@osu.edu
Candace Johnson, Assistant Director of Admissions, 614-292-4247, johnson.5380@osu.edu
Kiara Occulis, Admissions Counselor, 614-292-1190, occulis.1@osu.edu
Becca Roby, Assistant Director of Student Services 614-292-0497, roby.77@osu.edu

Dr. Shawn Levstek continues to be available to students via teletherapy on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, and will also be available for in-person sessions on Mondays in Fry Hall 539, if desired. All students with questions or concerns can contact Dr. Levstek directly via e-mail at levstek.4@osu.edu. In addition, all Counseling and Consultation Service counseling resources remain available, and that office can also be reached at 614-292-5766 for crisis or urgent support, 24/7.