Campus Map
Student Services
Social Activities
Residence Life
Athletics and Recreation
Performance Activities
Communication Activities
Cultural Activities
Governance
STUDENT SERVICES
Center for Student Involvement
Involvement in activities and academic experiences outside of the traditional classroom are a part of student life and learning in college. The Center for Student Involvement (CSI) sponsors and supports programs and services that provide opportunities for students to learn about both themselves and others, and to develop into independent adults.
CSI designs programs that support students as they transition to Otterbein. Specifically, CSI coordinates all orientation and transition programming including our summer orientation program, S.O.A.R., and our new student week, First Flight. Once they are on campus, CSI supports students through the First Year Experience program and engages with them through the Common Book program. CSI provides additional engagement opportunities through programs such as the Campus Activities Board, Greek Life, Otterbein University Student Government, or through one of our many other campus organizations. With more than 90 student organizations, there’s something for everyone. However, if students are interested in starting a new student organization, they are welcome to contact CSI at 614-823-3202 or via email to learn more.
Commuter Students
The Center for Student Involvement (CSI) provides resources and support for commuter students. Special programs and services for commuter students are offered throughout the year, including Commuter Student Appreciation Week, which aims to acquaint commuter students with one another and to the Otterbein campus in general. Commuter students are encouraged to get involved in the Commuter Student Association. The Cardinal Lounge, a dedicated space for commuter students, is located in the lower level of Towers Hall. The Cardinal Lounge provides access to a television, refrigerator, microwave, and lockers.
Counseling
The Counseling Center provides assessments, consultations, and both individual and group therapy. All Otterbein students are eligible for services. Counseling Center staff utilize a brief model of counseling. If longer term, more intensive, adjunctive, or specialized treatment is needed, the Counseling Center works closely with the Student Health Center and Community Providers and Agencies to effect a smooth transition of care. Counseling records are not part of a student’s record. Confidential information is rarely disclosed, and only in very limited circumstances prescribed by law. The Counseling Center is open year-round on a daily basis for scheduled or walk-in appointments. Contact the Counseling center at 614-823-1333 or via email.
Health
The Student Health Center provides a variety of services to help keep Otterbein students healthy, including: immunizations, treatment for illness and injury, gynecological exams, and preventative education programs. Students are not charged for health care provider services, but are charged for X-rays, laboratory services, and for some medications and supplies. Allergy shots can be stored and administered at the Student Health Center.
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
Sororities and Fraternities
The Greek Community at Otterbein University plays an integral role in the institution’s total educational program. Recognizing that membership in a fraternity or sorority can be a positive and educational experience, the University expects Greek organizations to share in the responsibility for making significant, positive contributions to the educational and personal development of present and future student generations.
Otterbein University has had a long and rich relationship with its collegiate fraternities and sororities. As an important component of the co-curricular programs for undergraduate students, Greek chapters have supported the central mission of the University by providing an enriched out-of-class living/learning experience. Greek letter organizations have existed on the Otterbein campus since 1908, and are characterized by a tradition of involvement and leadership in campus life.
The University has been supportive of the ideals and goals of individual chapters and, collectively, a Greek community. The organizational ideals and goals promote personal development and a strong sense of identity with the institution as well as postgraduate association. The ideals and goals include scholarship, leadership, community service, individual and group initiative, self-governance, and an array of interpersonal and social skill development. Thus, the central purpose of Greek Life is to encourage the individual growth of its members, emphasizing character development. Greek Life also strives to stimulate leadership development and service to others, emphasizing the importance of human relationships and responsible citizenship.
The educational benefits experienced within the Greek community are further enhanced by various adjunct organizations such as the Delta Xi chapter of the Order of Omega (a Greek leadership honorary). Through these organizations and chapter operations, there are numerous leadership opportunities available to members of the Greek community.
| InterFraternity Council Fraternities |
Panhellenic Council Sororities |
National Pan-Hellenic Council Chapters |
| Alpha Sigma Phi |
Epsilon Kappa Tau |
Alpha Kappa Alpha |
| Eta Phi Mu |
Kappa Phi Omega |
Alpha Phi Alpha |
| Lambda Gamma Epsilon |
Sigma Alpha Tau |
Delta Sigma Theta |
| Phi Delta Theta |
Tau Delta |
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| Pi Beta Sigma |
Tau Epsilon Mu |
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| Pi Kappa Phi |
Theta Nu |
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| Sigma Delta Phi |
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| Zeta Phi |
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Religious and Spiritual Life
Spiritual growth is an important part of the college experience, and supporting this growth is an integral part of Otterbein’s campus programming. There are a variety of religious and spiritual opportunities on campus, with several Christian fellowship organizations, a Muslim Student Association, numerous Bible studies, worship experiences, music, retreats and service opportunities. Students are encouraged to grow spiritually, making meaning from their experiences, so that they can learn and mature as spiritual beings. The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life is available for conversation, pastoral counseling, and support as students engage with their faith and spirituality. The Chaplain is also happy to help students organize if a new spiritual or religious group is needed.
Community Engagement
The Center for Community Engagement (CCE) is the student and faculty portal to community service-learning, community-based research, and student-led volunteer activities. CCE offers service-learning courses across the curriculum, providing students with opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills in the community. Partnerships with local schools, non-profit agencies, environmental organizations, and local park systems offer real-life hands-on experiences, grounded in academic exploration.
The CCE’s CardinalCorps Leaders coordinate 14 weekly service programs for all students interested in serving the local community as tutors, mentors, buddies for senior citizens, sports pals, environmental stewards, or political activists. The CCE also organizes campus-wide community service plunges, non-profit service fairs, the Raise Your Voice program, awareness weeks, MLK Day-On of Service, and national Make-a-Difference-Day activities. The Vernon L. Pack Society offers fellowships to students who apply their research skills to community-identified issues.
Student leadership development initiatives are also coordinated by the CCE. Students are invited to participate in The Van Sant Leadership Program, offering ten workshops each semester to help students cultivate their leadership skills. The CCE also hosts the annual spring Van Sant Venture, an off-campus leadership experience for undergraduates.
Diversity
The mission of the Office of Social Justice & Activism (OSJA) at Otterbein University is to foster a diverse and inclusive campus community while promoting the values of respect, personal and civic responsibility, and open-mindedness. We believe that participation in our program supports the academic, cultural, and social needs of diverse populations (e.g. students of color, international students, commuter students and LGBTQIA+ students). We strive to resolve systemic inequities for all members of the campus community through engaged research and education, expanding pathways for access and success, as well as promoting a healthy and engaging campus climate. By providing these opportunities for personal and professional growth, we seek to create a welcoming environment where students, faculty and staff can succeed, thrive and build meaningful relationships.
In addition to advocating for the needs of students from underrepresented populations, the OSJA partners with faculty, staff, student organizations, including the African American Student Union (AASU), Heritage of Latino Americans (HOLA), International Student Association (ISA), Men or Vision (MOV, Sisters United (SU) and the FreeZone! (LGBTQIA+ and Allies Organizations), and individual students to create high quality programs and opportunities for intercultural engagement and dialogue.
Signature programs include the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation, Diversity Education Series, Making the Invisible Visible: Campus Conversations about diversity and inclusion, a transition program for incoming students, and a non-residential host family programming for international students.
Finally, the office partners with faculty, staff and students to create high quality programs and opportunities for intercultural engagement and dialogue.
RESIDENCE LIFE
The Office of Residence Life seeks to promote a sense of community among students in the residence halls, theme houses and Commons apartments. We strive to create living learning environments where students interact with persons different than themselves. Professional and student staff live in the halls, work with students to ease their transition to college and facilitate students becoming a part of our collegiate community.
Living on campus is a new experience for most students, providing an opportunity for meaningful involvement with many new people from diverse backgrounds. The group living situation found in a residence hall can be viewed as a practical laboratory for observing and participating in human relations. We strongly support and celebrate the value of diversity by working to create a community where each individual feels valued and accepted. Living on campus is an opportunity to make decisions on your own, accept responsibility for those decisions and learn from both the positive and negative experiences. The degree of learning is dependent on your degree of involvement, so all students are encouraged to immerse themselves in the experiences available.
To promote involvement in the halls, students can become involved in hall governance through the Resident Student Association (RSA). The Office of Residence Life sponsors a variety of educational and social events for residents every year. A weekly newsletter, Stall Stories, is published and delivered to all traditional residence hall students, promoting involvement and awareness of campus issues and events.
As with any community, expectations and standards for behavior are necessary to protect the rights and privileges of all individuals. These guidelines are developed by the University community and published in the Campus Life Handbook.
A variety of housing options are offered including traditional residence halls, suite-style residence halls, theme houses and Commons apartments. First year students are housed in the traditional halls, where they live with one or more roommates and share communal bathrooms. This environment maximizes the opportunity for new students to interact with others. Students returning to the halls as upperclassmen have the opportunity to live with roommate(s) of their own choosing and may live in the traditional halls, suite-style halls and/or theme houses. Juniors and seniors may be eligible to live in the Commons apartments, featuring single bedrooms and offering more independent living with all the amenities of on-campus housing. Space is limited in each type of housing, so not all students of a class year may live in the same type of housing. Full-time students are required to live in campus housing unless they are of senior class status, 22 years of age, married or a single parent living with their spouse/child(ren), military veteran with 18 or more months of active duty or living within a 30-mile radius with their parents/legal guardians at their permanent legal address.
ATHLETICS AND RECREATION
Intercollegiate Athletics
Otterbein University is a member of the NCAA Division III and the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC). Founded in 1902, the OAC is the third oldest conference in the country.
The 21 varsity sports programs are sponsored by Otterbein. The men participate in football, soccer, cross country, basketball, indoor track & field, outdoor track & field, baseball, golf, tennis, lacrosse, and wrestling. The women field varsity teams in soccer, cross country, volleyball, basketball, indoor track & field, outdoor track & field, softball, golf, tennis, and lacrosse. There are also opportunities for students to participate in cheerleading as well as the dance team.
Otterbein also supports a very active equestrian team which is under the umbrella of the Department of Equine Science.
Recreation and Fitness Activities
The Clements Recreation Center and the Rike Center offer opportunities for students to engage in many types of fitness and recreation activities either as individuals or as part of a group. The Clements Recreation Center features cardiovascular machines and Cybex weight machines as well as a stretching area and a limited number of lighter dumbbells. The main free weight area is located in the Rike Center where the heavier dumbbells, bench stations, and squat racks are available for use.
The Rec Sports program offers a variety of sports each semester such as volleyball, dodgeball, flag football and basketball. Group fitness classes are offered free of charge to students, faculty, and staff members. Class formats include yoga, pilates, kickboxing, Zumba, and muscle conditioning.
Nearby also in the city of Westerville, the Hoover Reservoir Park and Alum Creek Park North offer seasonal activities and the Westerville Community Center offers memberships for year-round activities.
PERFORMANCE ACTIVITIES
Bands
Wind Ensemble is Otterbein’s most select wind band and is designed for the development of the professional performer and the professional educator. Comprised of a select group of 35-40 musicians, the ensemble rehearses for four hours per week. Open by audition.
Jazz Ensemble is the University’s principal instrumental jazz ensemble and features standard instrumentation; and is open by audition. There are other instrumental jazz opportunities as well.
Cardinal Marching Band performs at all home football games and various other functions throughout the Fall semester. Participation is open to any member of the Otterbein community who plays a wind or percussion instrument, as well as visual performers. Visual ensembles within the Cardinal Marching Band include the Cardinal Guard (flag/rifle/saber), the O-Squad Dance Team, and the Otterbein Twirlers.
Pep Band performs at basketball games during spring semester.
Musical Theatre
Otterbein University Theatre presents a major musical production each spring, and in selected years, a second production either in the fall or spring semester; productions are open by audition only. In addition, musical theatre majors have musical theatre ensemble experiences all four years, provided through various curricular opportunities.
Otterbein String Orchestra
The Otterbein String Orchestra is the major orchestral performing ensemble in the department. Four hours of rehearsal per week and additional sectional hour per week. All students whose major instrument is a bowed string instrument (violin, viola, cello or string bass) participate in this ensemble. Membership is open to other interested students in the Department of Music, and from across the campus. The group maintains an active performance schedule. Previous playing experience is required and placement auditions are held prior to the Fall semester each year.
Chamber Ensembles
The Department of Music sponsors many instrumental chamber ensembles, open to all students on campus. For more information, see available ensembles in Banner.
Vocal Music Opportunities
Concert Choir is Otterbein’s most select choral ensemble open by audition only. The ensemble tours domestically every year during spring break, with an international tour instead in every fourth year. The international tour takes place over winter break, but does not conflict with Christmas.
Men’s Chorus and Women’s Chorale are large all-campus ensembles that perform regularly on campus. Otterbein Singers is a mixed choir for BFA musical theatre students, other Theatre majors, and occasionally Music students. All three ensembles are open by audition only.
Opera Theatre presents one major production with orchestra and full production values, and either scenes or a one-act opera workshop production in each semester. All opera theatre projects are open by audition only.
Opus One is a vocal jazz ensemble. Open by audition only
Theatre
Otterbein University Theatre presents six productions during the academic year and three during Otterbein Summer Theatre to an annual audience of more than 27,000 people. Plays include Broadway comedies, classics, children’s shows, musicals, contemporary pieces, and commissioned original scripts. Selected seniors also direct student workshops. Guest professional directors, designers and actors participate every year. Non-majors may participate in theatre activities by enrolling in Theatre 1010 Participation (a class which provides the scenery, lighting and costume crews for the mainstage shows), or by joining Studio 47 (a student organization), and/or by taking classes open to non-majors.
COMMUNICATION ACTIVITIES
Communication Mentors
The Communication Mentors develop and manage a mentoring program for new students and activities and programs for all students in the department. (These may include social and team-building activities, guest speakers, etc.) The program is open to all interested students.
Forensics
Otterbein is a member of the Ohio Forensics Association, National Forensics Association, and Pi Kappa Delta, a national forensics honorary. Students compete in debate tournaments and individual events (public speaking, oral interpretation, and extemporaneous speaking) tournaments which provide travel opportunities to both local and out-of-state contests.
Lambda Pi Eta
Lambda Pi Eta (LPE) is the national honorary society of the Department of Communication. Otterbein’s chapter of LPE is labeled Iota Iota. The chapter is comprised of Junior and Senior communication majors who have earned at least a 3.0 overall GPA and at least a 3.25 GPA within their major. Students who earn acceptance into the chapter demonstrate excellent academic achievement in the classroom, strong leadership in student activities at the department and university level, and promising potential in the professional realm. Once a year, students are given the opportunity to apply for membership. Successful applicants participate in a formal induction ceremony, perform community service activities, and are eligible for scholarships and funding opportunities provided by the National Communication Association.
Public Relations
Otterbein sponsors a chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), a national, pre-professional organization for students interested in public relations. The Otterbein University Chapter sponsors a variety of speakers and workshops and a student-managed public relations agency. In addition, members of PRSSA are eligible for scholarships sponsored by the Public Relations Society of America, receive reduced rates at professional luncheons and workshops and may attend national and district conferences of PRSSA
Publications
The news website, tandcmedia.org/, and the quarterly feature magazine, Tan & Cardinal Magazine, are fully student-produced and edited.TandCMedia.org is updated regularly each week with news, sports and arts coverage and students run both the editorial and business functions of the organization. T&C Magazine is a glossy, full-color magazine including feature stories, profiles, photography, and columns. Both publications offer course credit and paid student staff opportunities. Communication department faculty and local media professionals advise the website and magazine and participation is open to all Otterbein students, regardless of major.
University publications are under the review of the Student Media Board, a subcommittee of the Student Life Committee. Quiz and Quill is a publication of the Quiz and Quill Club and contains the best creative writing of current students. The University yearbook, The Sibyl, is published annually by a student staff. The Department of English sponsors the Quiz and Quill.
Radio Station
WOBN-FM, the student-run radio station, is under the direction of the Department of Communication. WOBN also offers co-curricular opportunities for students majoring in communication and other related disciplines. The station broadcasts 24 hours a day featuring an alternative music format, Otterbein University sporting events and Westerville area news and public affairs. WOBN broadcasts at 101.5 FM and on-line at www.wobn.net.
Television Station
WOCC TV-3 provides programming for Westerville and Otterbein University via local multiple system operators on various channels. Programming includes public affairs, entertainment, education, and sports. By participating, the student has the opportunity for a hands-on learning experience. This includes camera, graphics, audio operation, production and direction, as well as management. Otterbein also offers OTV, an online version with video content relevant to the Otterbein Community.
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
Throughout the year, there will be many opportunities to attend outstanding lectures, concerts and exhibits delivered and performed on campus by both on-campus and off-campus scholars and artists. In addition, a wide variety of cultural activities is available in the city of Columbus.
GOVERNANCE
Activities of the University Governance System are so diverse that you should be able to find an activity which will interest you. At the same time, you will become acquainted with problems facing citizens in a self-governing society.
University Governance gives students voting rights, along with faculty and administration, on all campus policy and decision-making bodies. In the University Senate, which is the major policy-making body, students sit in equal numbers with faculty and administrators. Students also sit on most councils and committees on campus. All students in good standing are eligible for election to the Senate. Students can also participate in a Student Forum.
The Otterbein University Board of Trustees has legal authority over all actions of the Senate. Two voting student seats and two voting faculty seats are on the 30-member board.
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