Ohio State’s faculty and staff — including our graduate student employees — are at the core of our ability to deliver on Ohio State’s mission, and you will play a central role in the success of our reactivated campuses.
On behalf of all of our leaders, I appreciate your many contributions over the past year, whether you were working on campus, in the medical center, from home or in a hybrid situation. With wide availability of vaccines and continued safety protocols, it will be exciting to see many more of you in person as preparations continue...
Kristina M. Johnson, PhD, President | June 3, 2021
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
I hope you had an enjoyable Memorial Day weekend, despite the cool temperatures, and found a moment to reflect on members of the U.S. armed forces who have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our country and its ideals.
The holiday weekend is traditionally the unofficial start of summer. Here at Ohio State, our summer term is already well underway. There is so much going on in our campus community, and I want to be sure to keep you all up to date.
Kristina M. Johnson, PhD, President | May 13, 2021
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
While Mother Nature did not cooperate, even the rain could not put a damper on the excitement and enjoyment of our first in-person commencements since 2019 – two in one day!
We conferred 12,345 degrees and certificates, and attendees adhered to pre-arranged public health protocols that made these in-person experiences possible. I thank you for your cooperation and for observing requirements to continue to keep yourselves and one another safe and healthy.
Every graduating class of Buckeyes is special, and the Class of 2021 will be forever remembered for epitomizing the very...
Finals are behind us and we’re now in the countdown to our first in-person commencement in over a year. Amid this swirl of activity, I am taking time to look back and recognize how far we’ve come over the past nine months – an experience none of us could have possibly predicted.
Now that things are slowly reopening, we are focusing on new beginnings. The future does look much brighter, which is something to look forward to and celebrate. The difficulties of the past year shaped us and made us stronger. The resilience,...
Kristina M. Johnson, PhD, President | April 28, 2021
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
The last days of the spring semester are upon us, and I wish all of our students the best on their finals this week. It has been an extraordinary year, marked by unparalleled challenges and accomplishments. You are almost at the finish line. Don’t forget to try to take some moments to reflect and look back at how far you’ve come – as individuals and as members of the Buckeye community.
And to our rising freshmen: I’m right there with you in coming to the end of my first academic year as a...
Kristina M. Johnson, PhD, President | April 14, 2021
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
The pace of life is picking up quickly due to the warmer weather. We’ve been through a lot over this past year and, like you, I’m eager to return to something close to normal.
As wonderful as it is to be engaging with one another again, please remember that we must continue to observe public health COVID-19 protocols. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel, though we’re not there just yet. Stay vigilant. Together as Buckeyes, we will come through the other side of this stronger and more united...
Kristina M. Johnson, PhD, President and Harold L. Paz, MD, Executive Vice President and Chancellor for Health Affairs and CEO, Wexner Medical Center | April 13, 2021
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
We are writing to provide an important update on the use of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine.
Earlier today and out of an abundance of caution, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a pause in the use of the J&J COVID-19 vaccine due to the development of a rare blood clotting disorder along with low platelet counts in six patients who have received this vaccine. These patients are all females between ages 18 and...
Kristina M. Johnson, PhD, President and Bruce A. McPheron, PhD, Executive Vice President and Provost | April 9, 2021
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
Our plans to reinvigorate campus life this fall are taking shape as we look forward to an autumn semester of engaged classroom learning, thriving student activities and community events that bring us together, and we need your help to reactivate our Ohio State traditions.
First, we’re writing to share more details and to ask every eligible student, faculty and staff member to be vaccinated and to follow all other safe and healthy guidelines. We will always base decisions on evidence-based public health guidance and the state of...
Kristina M. Johnson, PhD, President | April 5, 2021
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
Spring is finally here! It’s a time to celebrate new beginnings as we shake off winter and embrace the warmth and opportunities of the season. A wide variety of traditions and religions celebrate at this time; whatever your beliefs or practice, I hope you have had – or will have – a joyful and peaceful holiday.
COVID-19 update, expanded testing, town hall
This spring, of course, is particularly special, as it brings with it hope that we might finally be coming out the other side of the coronavirus pandemic. But even...
Kristina M. Johnson, PhD, President | April 1, 2021
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
I write today with exciting news.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has announced guidelines for employer-based vaccine programs starting the week of April 12. Beginning that week and consistent with those guidelines, we are pleased to announce the ability to dedicate 25% of the Wexner Medical Center’s first-dose vaccine allocation to any Ohio State student, faculty or staff member, while maintaining our commitment to our patients and the central Ohio community. This is possible because of the increasing number of doses available to the Wexner Medical Center and...
