Office of Student Life
Involved Living

R-LEAD Program

About the Residential Leadership (R-LEAD) Program

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 offers first-year students opportunities to interact with their peers and peer mentors, as well as familiarize themselves with campus resources and opportunities before the start of the school year. 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 a small group of their peers, 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.                              

Successful applicants must demonstrate a genuine interest in personal growth and leadership. If you are looking to begin your career as a Buckeye with 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 automatically be registered for the OWL program; no separate application is required. 

Dates of R-LEAD Program (Sat. August 16 - Tues. August 19)

Then, R-LEAD participants will participate in the OWL program once the R-LEAD program concludes on 8/19.

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 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 of $140 to participate in the R-LEAD program.

  • This fee includes covering early Move-In, lunch, and dinner on 8/18 and 8/19, and other program activities. Payment is not required until acceptance to this program is confirmed.
  • 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 residing on the Columbus campus during the 2025-2026 academic year.

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

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The 2025 R-LEAD Program Participant application has closed.

For more information, please contact Leah Wheeler, Assistant Director of Residential Leadership & Involvement at wheeler.1110@osu.edu.