Office of Student Life
Involved Living

R-LEAD Program

About R-LEAD Program

The 2024 R-LEAD Program Participant application is now closed.

R-LEAD was established in 2011 by the University Housing Student Leadership and Engagement Committee. The goal of the program is to introduce first year residential students with a desire to develop their leadership skills to the numerous involvement opportunities provided by Student Life - Office of Residence Life (Now known as Housing & Residence Education). 

R-LEAD is a leadership based early engagement program for incoming residential first-year students at the Columbus-Main campus. The goal of R-LEAD is to provide a head start for emerging leaders. The R-LEAD Program provides opportunities for first-year students to interact with their peers, peer mentors and familiarize themselves with campus resources and opportunities before schools starts. During this early engagement program, we target the personal growth and development of each participant through dialogue and structured activities. Throughout R-LEAD, participants will explore their Values In Action (VIA) character strengths and how they can utilize their strengths in their everyday leadership. The program sessions focus on leadership and emphasize how students will lead their legacy at Ohio State.

Each participant will be assigned to a legacy group, or small group of their peers, which is led by 1-2 peer mentors who are returning OSU students. These peer mentors help build community among participants and help answer questions that their mentees have throughout the R-LEAD program.

The 2024 R-LEAD program will include hybrid aspects where participants will engage in both in-person and virtual events. All updates and further details will be update on this webpage as they are finalized.                                           

Successful applicants just need to have a genuine interest in personal growth and leadership. If you are looking to begin your career as a Buckeye with a leadership experience that will allow you to lead where you live then R-LEAD is the right program for you!

R-LEAD also partners with the Ohio State Welcome Leader (OWL) Program to expand students' leadership skills and service to others. Students selected to participate in R-LEAD will be automatically be registered for the OWL program; no separate application is required. 

Dates of R-LEAD Program (Sun. August 11 - Sat. August 17)

Then R-LEAD participants will participate in the OWL program once the R-LEAD program concludes on 8/14.

R-LEAD also partners with the Ohio State Welcome Leader (OWL) Program to expand students' leadership skills and service to others. Students selected to participate in R-LEAD will be automatically be registered for the OWL program; no separate application is required. If accepted to R-LEAD, all participants are expected to participate in the OWL program the days following the R-LEAD program.

Program Fee 

Students will be responsible for a fee $137

  • This fee includes covering early move-in, lunch and dinner on 8/12 and 8/13 and other program activities. Payment is not needed until after acceptances to this program are sent.
  • The payment portal to pay your program fee will be sent to your OSU email at a later date.

Applicants

Applicants must be incoming first-year students who will be living on the Columbus campus in 2024 - 2025.

If you are an out of state student concerned about purchasing flights prior to being accepted into the program, please email the R-LEAD Director, wheeler.1110@osu.edu, to discuss early acceptance. We can easily confirm your acceptance so you can make flight/travel arrangements.

Benefits of R-LEAD

  • Identify ways to get involved on campus and learn about campus resources. 
  • Reflect on your values, strengths, and how you will lead your legacy at Ohio State. 
  • Familiarize yourself with campus resources and involvement opportunities 
  • Engage in an early arrival and engagement experience.

 Follow Housing and Residence Education on instagram

The 2024 R-LEAD Program Participant application is closed.

For more information, please contact Leah Wheeler, Leadership & Involvement Specialist at wheeler.1110@osu.edu.