Academic Affairs

Role and Mission

The Academic Affairs committee is dedicated to serving the academic and professional needs of the Ohio State student body. This is achieved through providing free professional development events, grants for students to pursue their professional endeavors, and facilitating policy related to students’ academics. 

Current Projects

Academic Identity Week - Academic Identity Week is a series of events held each semester. These events allow students to explore academic opportunities and aim to provide resources when developing scholarly identity. Academic Identity Week also aims to promote educational equity through free resources. Events range from professional workshops to informational sessions and panels about study abroad as well as post graduate opportunities.  

Academic Enrichment Grants - Academic Enrichment Grants are distributed by the Academic Affairs Committee to students at Ohio State to financially support them in pursuing their professional goals and passions beyond the classroom. Students can apply through our application process in the fall, spring, and summer, to be awarded up to $1,200 for a project occurring that subsequent semester. Eligible projects include study abroad costs, conference travel, and research materials. 

International Students Townhall - The International Students Townhall is an open discussion that allows international students to come and express their needs and perspectives to members of USG. This open discussion helps highlight ways USG can better support and represent the international student population at Ohio State.

Accomplishments 

• Spearheading policy related to the reform of the General Education launch program 

• Awarded 100s of students’ Academic Enrichment Grants to pursue their personal goals

• Spearheaded the first ever “Academic Identity Week” 

• Hosted the first ever USG International Students Townhall to ensure that USG missions represent ALL students 

• Collaborated with UBC Academic Affairs for a Professional Development workshop 

Directors of Academic Affairs

Erin Ciarfella.1

Erin is a second-year Public Management, Leadership, and Policy major with a minor in Law and Public policy from Boston, Massachusetts. She is a co-director for Academic Affairs and her favorite USG memory is Academic Identity week! 

Lily Turner.2134

Lily is a second-year History major from Toledo, Ohio. She is a co-director for Academic Affairs and her favorite USG memory is listening to the Academic Affairs playlist at breakouts! 

Deputy Directors of Academic Affairs

Aimee Liu.11629

Aimee is a second-year Political Science major from Mason, Ohio. She is one of the deputy directors for Academic Affairs and her favorite USG memory was getting to plan academic identity week!  

Chris Coady.37

Samantha Salem.139

The Academic Affairs Committee is dedicated to advancing University policies that significantly impact students' academic experience. Recently, we have undertaken key initiatives to improve the accuracy and fairness of the Student Evaluation of Instruction (SEI) system, ensuring it better reflects the diverse experiences of all students and addresses biases against professors of color. Additionally, the committee successfully led the redesign of the BuckeyeLink website, enhancing its efficiency and accessibility for student resources. We are also developing a self-sufficient textbook exchange network to make textbooks more affordable and have launched the Academic Enrichment Grant initiative to further address financial barriers to academic success. Our ongoing efforts focus on holding the University Administration accountable for providing a high-quality and equitable educational environment.

Policy

• Textbook Buying Tips

• Textbook Affordability

  • Working with access code data to decrease the cost of textbooks

• Study Abroad

  • Policy on more general funding for study abroad experiences.

• Honors and Scholars

  • Improving honors and scholars programming and working with students to better there own experience.

• Academic Advising

  • Collaborated with the committee on undergraduate advising to make recommendations on new Work-day system.

• Libraries

  • Helping test new search features on OSU Library websites and looking to expand collaborative study spaces.

• Digital Flagship

  • Generic policy on making sure iPad and new Apple features work properly.

Get involved with academic affairs to explore academic opportunities, apply for enrichment funding, and share your voice at Ohio State!