New to Ohio State?
Are you a new Buckeye? The Student Life Center for Belonging and Social Change (CBSC) is the place for you to find your community.
The dialogues, workshops, and intercultural programming offered by the CBSC touch on a wide range of identity development and social justice issues. The scope of these programs adapts to address the changing culture and climate-related to campus, local and national contexts.
We invite all students of all backgrounds and experiences to participate in our programs and services.
Check out our calendar to stay up-to-date on events. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to find out about upcoming events. Connect with us on Instagram.
Community Connections
The Center for Belonging and Social Change's Community Connections focus on creating a sense of belonging, supporting holistic well-being, forming meaningful relationships among peers, and expanding understandings of social responsibility and civic engagement.
APIDA Connections
Asian, Pacific Islander, Desi American (APIDA) Connections is a space for relationship building, acceptance, and empowerment. We welcome all APIDA identifying students to come together and build community through engaging in conversation, sharing your own unique experience as an APIDA Buckeye, and learning about others across our communities.
Each week we host a different activity or discussion, often facilitated by Peer Leaders, or members of APIDA student organizations, alumni, or community partners.
The APIDA Connections group meets in the Student Life Center for Belonging and Social Change (located on the 1st floor of the Ohio Union) every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. This program is a drop-in space. We encourage folks to come every week, but you are welcome to drop in whenever you can!
For more information, contact Connor Vezina.
Disability Connections
Disability Connections is a weekly group for students with disabilities and their allies at Ohio State who are looking for community. We understand disability broadly to encompass physical disabilities, sensory disabilities, mental health disabilities, developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, chronic illness, neurodivergence, and all folks who self-identify as disabled. All students are welcome and do not need to be registered with Student Life Disability Services to attend!
Disability Connections is an affirming and welcoming space to connect and build community with other students. Each week, we engage in a facilitated discussion about issues that impact disabled college students from a perspective of disability justice and disability pride. We welcome all students—whether you identify as disabled, are questioning a disability identity, or are an ally for disabled folks. We meet weekly, every Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the Alonso Family Room in the Center for Belonging and Social Change. As a drop-in group, you’re welcome to join us as often as you’d like!
Please reach out to Max Grogan with access needs and accommodations.
La Casa
La Casa is a space for relationship building, acceptance, and empowerment. We welcome all Latinx/é identifying students to come together and build community through engaging in conversation, sharing your unique experience as a Latinx/é Buckeye, and learning about others across our communities. We host a different activity or discussion each week, often facilitated by peer leaders or members of Latinx/é student organizations, alumni, or community partners.
La Casa meets in the Student Life Center for Belonging and Social Change (located on the first floor of the Ohio Union) every Wednesday at 6 p.m. This program is a drop-in space. We encourage folks to come every week, but you are welcome to drop in whenever you can!
For more information, contact Madison Eagle.LGBTQ*mmunity
LGBTQ*mmunity is a weekly group for students who are new to LGBTQIA+ life at Ohio State or looking for community. Whether you’re a first-year student, transfer student, newly out, or want to connect with Ohio State’s LGBTQIA+ community, this group is for you!
LGBTQ*mmunity provides space for LGBTQIA+ students to connect and engage with each other in a supportive environment. Meetings delve into a different topic each week, including topics such as campus and community resources, exploring identities, understanding intersectionality, living authentically, self-advocacy, and more. We encourage folks to come every week, but you are welcome to drop in whenever you can!
LGBTQ*mmunity meets on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. in the Center for Belonging and Social Change, Alonso Family Room.
For more information about how to get involved, email Ari Grubaugh.
NativeOSU
NativeOSU is a student community that provides support and creates space for Native American and Indigenous students to explore and understand their personal identity, develop leadership opportunities, and build community. NativeOSU also promotes the awareness of issues concerning Native American and Indigenous students and advances the education and understanding of Native American and Indigenous culture among cohort members and the university community.
NativeOSU meetings are held every week on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. in the Student Life Center for Belonging and Social Change Alonso Family Room.
For more information about how to get involved, email Madison Eagle.
S.C.O.P.E
The purpose of the Student Community Of Progressive Empowerment (S.C.O.P.E.) is to work together as DACA, Dreamers, VISA dreamers, and mixed-status students to create a community that will guide and empower members through a successful college experience while providing them with the necessary life skills to prepare them for a post-college transition.
Each week we host a different activity or discussion, often facilitated by Peer Leaders, or members of the DACA Community.
To find more information about meeting location and time, please contact Indra Leyva Cook
Note: These gatherings are not an appropriate forum to fulfill requirements for academic programs or classes (such as for projects, papers, or graduation requirements), student requirements (such as for First Year Success Series or STEP Professional Development Co-Curriculars), nor for Standards of Excellence requirements from Sorority and Fraternity Life. To find a program that could work for such requirements, check out our calendar for anything with a title followed by DICE.
DICE Certificate Program
Are you interested in exploring diversity, intercultural engagement and socially just leadership practices through interactive learning? Then consider joining the CBSC's DICE Certificate Program.
The Diversity, Intercultural and Community Engagement (DICE) Certificate Program offered by the Center for Belonging and Social Change is a great way to demonstrate a vested interest in diversity and intercultural engagement to future schools and employers! You can receive credits for the DICE certificate by engaging in a variety of programs, including cultural events, Student Education and Empowerment Workshops related to equity and inclusion, signature CBSC programming, approved service projects, and/or diversity leadership retreats.
To find eligible events, check out our calendar for programs with a title followed by (DICE). Learn more about our DICE Certificate Program.
Volunteer Opportunities
The Center of Belonging and Social Change connects Ohio State students, Ohio State Alumni and community members to increase educational opportunities for vulnerable youth and families facing poverty in Central Ohio. Through weekly, long-term, and sustained civic engagement programs and events, the community develops holistic and culturally relevant solutions.
CBSC volunteers serve in a variety of capacities at 8 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, 1 high school, 5 libraries, 3 recreation centers, 2 juvenile detention centers, 1 food pantry, and 1 nursing home.
Learn more about our Volunteer Opportunities.