UC resources, student-approved: A peer guide to thriving on campus

Meet Emily Gehrke and Olivia Dieringer, student workers for the College of Allied Health Sciences, Office of Student Affairs (OSA). 

Dieringer is a recent graduate of the Speech Language Hearing Sciences program. As a Cincinnatus Scholar and eight-time Dean’s List recipient, Dieringer has consistently demonstrated academic excellence and campus leadership. She served as operations chair for the CAHS Ambassadors and engaged in meaningful service-learning through Bearcat Buddies. 

Gehrke is a senior in the Health Sciences Pre-Physician Assistant program, with a minor in Nutrition. She is passionate about leadership, mentorship and community engagement, and serves as president of the CAHS Ambassadors and fundraising and sponsorship chair for the American Cancer Society. With experience as a patient care assistant in oncology and breast imaging and volunteer work in neonatal and pharmacy settings, Gehrke is committed to advancing the allied health field, while supporting others in reaching their goals.

As experienced and involved students, these two have taken full advantage of the resources UC has to offer. Here are some of their favorites that helped them succeed.

Feeling under the weather or just needing a check-up? University Health Services is in the Lindner Athletic Center. It provides easily accessible health care for all UC students.

The facility houses an on-site pharmacy, lab and x-ray services. I recently visited and was able to get my bloodwork done, pick something up at the pharmacy and see my provider all within one visit! It's truly one of the easiest and most convenient health care resources available to UC students!

University Health Services works with most health insurance companies and is committed to assisting students promptly. Getting seen is simple: Just make a phone call to (513) 556-2564. Once established, you can even request appointments directly through your UC Health MyChart account.

Supplemental Instruction (SI) sessions can help tackle demanding courses like organic chemistry. SI leaders are experienced peers, who have not only excelled in the course themselves but also deeply understand how it's taught. They've been in your shoes and are dedicated to guiding you to success!

Typically meeting one to two times a week outside of class, SI sessions are your chance to take control of your learning. These sessions go beyond traditional lectures and often including a mini lecture from your SI leader, collaborative worksheets to work through with classmates and dedicated time for questions.

One of the most valuable benefits of SI sessions is the mock exams. They're crafted in collaboration with the professor, ensuring you're fully prepared for midterms and finals and give you a clear idea of what to expect. My SI leader for both Organic Chemistry I and II was truly the reason I was able to succeed and conquer every challenge I met within the course material. The mock exams were not only a great representation of the material we covered in class, but they prepared me so much for the exams.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is a resource to support mental well-being. The College of Allied Health Sciences even has an embedded counselor within our college for easy access!

Any service from CAPS is free of cost to all University of Cincinnati students. Whether you're experiencing stress, anxiety or dealing with other mental health concerns, CAPS offers a valuable resource. When one of my friends was struggling with social anxiety, she met with a counselor and learned effective ways to calm her nervous system when needed.

CAPS is a fantastic resource to help you navigate the challenges of college life and maintain your mental health.

If you're struggling to grasp a tough concept or retain information for an upcoming exam,  The Learning Commons at the University of Cincinnati offers one-on-one peer tutoring. Tutors, who are fellow students, can explain information in new ways and help you walk through challenging problems. 

Peer tutoring can provide alternative approaches, ensuring you're well prepared for exams. Especially in subjects like math and science, where concepts build upon one other, this personalized approach allows you to piece everything together. 

The IT Help Desk is located in the Health Sciences Building and is open weekly with hours designed to accommodate student schedules. The desk is staffed by friendly and knowledgeable experts ready to assist with all your technology needs.

The IT staff are able to help with internet problems, technical glitches or personalized advice on resolving an issue. For instance, my computer kept getting an annoying pop-up notification that interfered with its use. I brought it to the IT desk, and they ran tests, figured out the cause and made the problem disappear, leaving me with a problem-free computer. Best of all, this invaluable support is free of charge and easily accessible, ensuring you can get the help you need when you need it.

UC’s Student Wellness Center provides a variety of services to support students’ well-being, including financial coaching and health education. It’s a great place for students to get help with budgeting and find ways to stay balanced throughout their college journey. Having personally accessed some of its resources, I feel grateful that such a center is readily available for students on campus.

If you're in need of transportation, the UC shuttle system is a free service for all students, offering routes to various locations across campus. Shuttles can be tracked using the "TransLoc" app, which provides real-time updates on each shuttle’s location. I’ve personally used the shuttle to travel between the main and medical campuses, and the app makes it easy to know exactly when to be at a stop.

In addition to the shuttle service, UC also offers a program called NightRide. NightRide is a free service available from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., seven days a week. It provides students with safe transportation within a one-mile radius of campus. NightRide has been such a big help for me after late study sessions, giving me peace of mind on getting home.

Feeling safe on campus is something I think every student deserves. I discovered the Bearcat Guardian app as a first-year student, and I felt comfort knowing such a resource exists. The app lets students use safety features right from their phones — like a virtual safe walk, a help phone and a way to chat directly with UCPD. It’s a great tool to make sure students feel secure whether, they’re on campus or heading off-campus.

CampusLINK is a great way for students to find clubs, check out events and get involved on campus. With just a UC login, you can easily browse all kinds of student organizations and see what's happening. In my own experience, I found it incredibly easy to search for clubs, which helped me feel more involved at UC. Whether you’re looking to meet new people, explore your interests or just have some fun outside of class, CampusLINK makes it easy to connect with the UC community.

If you're searching for a job, Handshake is a great platform to explore. It connects students with a wide range of opportunities, including internships, part-time jobs and full-time positions, both on- and off-campus. Handshake makes it easy to build a profile, upload your resume and apply directly to jobs that match your interests and qualifications. Many friends have used Handshake to land part-time jobs and internships. They love the easy navigation and direct application process.