Office of Student Life
Residence Hall Advisory Council
An Involved Living Organization

RHAC Grants

What are RHAC Grants?  

RHAC grants are an allocated source of funding dedicated to supporting on-campus involved living organizations, and programs looking to improve residence life on campus by focusing on any of RHAC’s five pillars:  

  1. Creating and Developing Community 
  2. Student Advocacy 
  3. Student Development and Wellness 
  4. Student Belonging
  5. Recognition and Leadership  

You should only apply for a RHAC grant after submitting your program for approval through StarRez. You will need to upload a screenshot of your StarRez Event Form showing that you have supervisor approval when submitting a RHAC Grant.


Who can apply to RHAC Grants? 

Currently RHAC Grants can be awarded to resident/community advisors (RAs/CAs), Community Councils, National Residence Halls Honorary (NRHH) and HRE senior staff members.  


How much funding can I receive? 

Funding is granted on a first come first serve basis, according to what elements your programs contain. Funding requests may be subject to change based on the concerns and questions we may have about quantities of certain items including food, transportation, materials/supplies, prizes, people, and other categories. RHAC Grants should not be completely funding your events. They are meant to supplement your funding.

** We also suggest talking to your Community Councils to collaborate or for additional funds prior to submitting a RHAC grant. **

Here are the two categories for RHAC Grants:

  • Floor Events: You can request a maximum of $500 per program
  • Building-wide Events: You can request a maximum of $800 per program

How far in advance should I apply? 


To allow sufficient time for review, please submit your grant application at least three weeks before your program. The Finance Committee reviews applications on a rolling basis every Tuesday evening, so submitting at least 21 days prior to your event ensures adequate time for budget feedback and for you to make necessary purchases.  



Please note that RHAC grants are typically distributed after your event since they function primarily as reimbursement funding.  


What does the timeline for getting grants approved and receiving funding look like? 

Grant applications must be submitted at least three weeks before your event - No exceptions.  


  1. The finance committee will review grant submissions on Tuesdays.  

  2. If the Finance Committee requests clarifications or proposes adjustments, responses must be submitted by the following Tuesday at 6:00 PM to ensure timely review. For example, if your program proposal is submitted on a Wednesday, you will receive feedback or approval by the following Wednesday. 

  3. All receipts must be submitted within two weeks after the program’s completion. Failure to submit the reimbursement form and all required receipts within this timeframe will result in no reimbursement. Please allow at least one week for receipt processing, audit, and approval. Once processed, an email notification will confirm that a journal entry has been submitted, and funds should appear in your account within two weeks. 

RHAC Grant Guidelines: 

  • RHAC grant funding is only intended to be used for students currently living in Ohio State’s residence halls on the Columbus campus 

  • Your request and all its contents must abide by the OSU student code of conduct.

  • Any monetary or material goods from your program must directly benefit the student (we cannot provide funding nor materials for donation) 

  • Students cannot be charged monetarily or required to provide goods to participate in a program that utilizes RHAC grant funding as a resource  

  • Funding eligibility is limited to that which was listed above. If you do not qualify, please consider other resources such as USG or CSA funding or apply for a RHAC collab. 

  • If you have any questions, please contact Julia Jablonski.81@osu.edu

Tips and Tricks: 

  • Apply early! Allowing more time for review will allow more ability to adjust the event to adhere to RHAC funding distribution. It gives you a better chance of getting the full amount of funding requested 

  • Make sure your flyer complies with Ohio State’s accessibility guidelines. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring readable font types and sizes, appropriate color contrast, and an accessible overall design.  

  • Please include links to all expenditures for online purchases and written line items to be bought in person. This helps the committee visualize the products or services you intend to purchase and provides additional context for suggested adjustments – if necessary – instead of outright denying requests. 

  • Selecting all pillars in your proposal does not make you more eligible for funding. Focus on 1-2 of our RHAC pillars and indicate how your program connects to them thoroughly. 

  • One of RHAC's initiatives is to shop from smaller and local businesses. While we live in a world where premium shipping times have become the norm, we urge you to consider the spending power you hold as a consumer. Planning ahead for programs allows for buffer time in longer shipping times. The finance committee is working to create a list of business suggestions that fall under this initiative.  

  • For events containing food, think about how you can be accommodating to dietary restrictions or provide alternative options. (Vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, dairy free, nut free, common allergens, etc) 

  • See where else you can utilize discount codes, seasonal sales, bulk purchasing, or student discounts! Ohio State provides partnership with Coca-Cola to receive grants for free beverages. 

  • Most programs require senior staff approval on your attached programming form for RHAC to be allowed to distribute funding. Try and ensure that this approval has been granted, whether fully approved or approved with reservations. 


Please make sure you've read all of the above requirements before submitting a RHAC Grant

Apply now for a RHAC Grant!