New International Student Orientation

Welcome to OWU!

Every year, before New Student Orientation, a one-day pre-orientation program, called New International Student Orientation (“NISO”), is held for new international and global nomad students. Parents and family are also welcome to attend--there will be special sessions for parents during NISO.  All students and their accompanying families attend the annual Helen and Gordon Smith International Welcome Banquet, which celebrates the arrival of our new internationals and honors OWU alumni Helen C. Smith ('56) and Gordon V. Smith ('54) for their support of our international students. 

During NISO new students are also assisted with opening bank accounts, getting their rooms in the residence halls, and the like. There is also a special program and a question/answer session just for parents/guardians.

NISO continues through the first half of the Fall Semester with meetings every Monday night.  Many topics are covered in NISO: from immigration rules and benefits to health insurance, from the academic culture of the USA to what to expect from the weather, from culture shock to local area transportation.

New international and global nomad students are met at Port Columbus International Airport (CMH) on the designated arrival day -- Monday, August 19 -- by our Orientation Leaders.  Please note that students will be picked up only on the arrival day and only at Port Columbus Airport.  Those traveling by car should contact the IOCP.  

Important dates for New International Student Orientation 2013

This is the 2013 orientation schedule: New International Student Orientation 2013 (PDF).  

Please note: International and global nomad students are not expected to attend the June 2013 StART OWU Program. Pre-registration materials for course selection (and other information) will be mailed / E-mailed to students during the summer.  

For more information about StART and about course registration, please see:

StART OWU / Course Registration Information 

For more information about NISO and Orientation, please see:

Orientation Forms

For more comprehensive information, please see:

NISO Pre-Arrival Guide '12 (364k PDF*) (The NISO Pre-Arrival Guide '13 will be similar and will be posted in May.)

Remember to carry a copy of the following forms in your carry-on luggage when you travel to OWU:

• New Student Arrival Information - [PDF]
• USA Port of Entry Procedures - [PDF]

* Note: You will need the free Adobe Reader software to view/print PDF files. Click the "Get Adobe Reader" icon to begin the download process.