Lawrence Tower Frequently Asked Questions

November 21, 2024

We know the past several weeks may have been disruptive to your Ohio State experience and, looking ahead to spring semester, we anticipate ongoing renovations will be required. Understanding that this may require additional temporary relocation of residents and potential continued disruption to those living in Lawrence Tower, we will not be utilizing the building for housing in spring semester. Frequently Asked Questions can be found to the right.

December 6, 2024

Thank you again for your patience as we have continued to respond to facility needs in Lawrence Tower. Since our notification message last Tuesday, November 26, we have received a number of questions from students and family members, so we are following up with additional information that we hope is helpful to you:

First Year Students and Housing for 2025-2026

All first-year students who lived in Lawrence Tower for fall semester will be eligible to live on-campus their second year. This is true for students who remain in their contract and those who are released. For students who decide to do the contract release for spring semester you will receive a message from Housing and Residence Education in the Spring asking if you are interested in living on-campus for your second year.

Room Change Request Updates

Please know the Housing and Residence Education team is working diligently to assign students who decide to remain in their housing contract a new room based on your room change request. Our goal is to complete the reassignment process by Friday, December 27.

If you decline a room change assignment, we do not anticipate being able to offer you a space that will better fit your needs. If you decide not to accept an assignment offer, please let us know if you would like to consider a contract release. To cancel your contract please email housing@osu.edu by Thursday, December 12^,and indicate your plan to cancel your housing contract.

Students Staying On-Campus Move Information

Students may sign up for the moving service online and can pick up boxes, tape and labels at the Lawrence Tower front desk. Students will pack all of their items into the boxes and label them with their name and current room number. See the Packing and Moving FAQ document for more information.
Staff, along with assistance from Storage Squad, will move items to a student’s new assignment.
If you plan on staying on campus during the winter break, please notify us through the Housing Portal by Thursday, December 12. If you plan to stay on campus during winter break, you will need to move out of your Lawrence Tower space by noon on Saturday, January 4. You will not have access to Lawrence Tower after noon on Saturday, January 4.
Beginning at noon on Saturday, January 4, students will be able to proceed directly to their new assignment to check-in for spring semester. For those who signed up for move assistance with Storage Squad your items will be in your new assignment waiting for you.

Students Moving Off-Campus Move Information

If you are planning to move off campus, please email housing@osu.edu by Thursday, December 12, and indicate your plan to cancel your housing contract.
If you decide to cancel your contract and do not plan to stay on campus during winter break, you will need to move out of your current space by Friday, December 13, at 2 p.m.
If you plan on staying on campus during winter break, please notify us through the Housing Portal by Thursday, December 12. If you plan to stay on campus during winter break, you will need to move out of your Lawrence Tower space by noon on Saturday,

January 4. You will not have access to Lawrence Tower after noon on Saturday, January 4.

If you need assistance moving your belongings, Student Life will cover the cost through Storage Squad through January 4. See the Packing and Moving FAQ document for more information.

If you are considering a contract release, you can reach out to Off-Campus and Commuter Student Engagement (OCCSE) for support as you secure off campus housing. OCCSE has compiled applicable information into a central webpage with resources such as the Off-Campus Housing Network Housing Search, Off-Campus Living Sessions and off campus housing consultations to guide you and your support systems through the process for living off campus and locating immediate housing.

Thank you very much for your ongoing patience and understanding. We hope you will have a great weekend.

November 26, 2024

Lawrence Tower Update

Thank you again for your patience as we have continued to respond to facility needs in Lawrence Tower. Since our notification message last Thursday (November 21), we have received a number of questions from students and family members, so we are following up with additional information that we hope is helpful to you:

Refund and BuckID Dollars

All Lawrence Tower residents will receive a $450 credit to your university account and $75 added to your BuckID Dollars balance.

Your $450 refund will be applied to your statement of account no later than the end of the day on Monday, December 2.

$75 will be loaded to your BuckID account no later than the end of the day on Monday, December 2.

Spring semester housing options

Lawrence Tower residents continue to have two options moving forward, living on-campus or off-campus (details for each below).

We understand it takes time to make such an important decision, so we are extending the contract release deadline to Thursday, December 12, 2024.

Please refer to the Lawrence Tower FAQ document or email us at housing@osu.edu if you have questions.

On-campus option

If you are planning to stay in your housing contract and live on campus for the spring 2025 semester, please know the Housing and Residence Education team is working diligently to assign you a new room based on your request. Our goal is to complete the reassignment process by Friday, December 27, 2024.

Please make sure you have submitted a room change request via the housing portal by Sunday, December 1, to initiate the room change process to be moved to a different on-campus or university master-leased location near campus.

If you plan on staying on campus during winter break, please notify us through the Housing Portal starting Sunday, December 1. Student Life will assist with the move process. Students who have not already moved to a new housing assignment are able to take advantage of a moving service over winter break.

Students may sign up for the moving service online and can pick up boxes, tape and labels from the Lawrence Tower desk starting early next week. Students will pack all of their items into the boxes and label them with their name and current room number. See the Packing and Moving FAQ document for more information.

Staff, along with assistance from Storage Squad, will move items to a student’s new assignment.

Beginning on Saturday, January 4, students will be able to proceed directly to their new assignments to check in for spring semester. Their items will be in their room waiting for them.

Off-campus option

Lawrence Tower students who would like to cancel their housing contract to move home, live with a close relative or identify alternative housing options can do so.

To select this option, please send an email to Housing and Residence Education at housing@osu.edu by Thursday, December 12, and indicate you plan to cancel your housing contract.

Students who choose to live off-campus will be released from their housing contract for spring 2025 and their second year if they are currently a first-year student.

If you decide to cancel your contract and do not plan to stay on campus during winter break, you will need to move out of your current space by Friday, December 13, at 2 p.m.

If you plan on staying on campus during winter break, please notify us through the Housing Portal starting Sunday, December 1. If you plan to stay on campus during winter break, you will need to move out of your space by noon on Saturday, January 4.

If you need assistance moving your belongings, Student Life will cover the cost through Storage Squad. See the Packing and Moving FAQ document for more information.

If you are considering a contract release, you can reach out to Off-Campus and Commuter Student Engagement (OCCSE) for support as you secure off-campus housing. OCCSE has compiled applicable information into a central webpage about the off-campus housing process with resources to assist in searching for and securing off-campus housing. In addition, OCCSE is hosting an Off-Campus Living Sessions to walk students and support systems through the process for living off-campus and locating immediate housing. The next session is Tuesday, December 3, from 12-1 p.m. You can register for the Living Session online.

Testing

We have completed testing of Lawrence Tower rooms.

So far, the majority of rooms are within the expected range when compared to the immediate outdoor environment.

The air quality testing results come from Eurofins CEI, Inc., a fully accredited by the American Industrial Hygiene Association’s (AIHA) Laboratory Accreditation Program (LAP) for environmental microbiology.

We are sharing the results with residents as they are processed by the university’s Environmental Health and Safety department.

As part of our review process, we are carefully analyzing each room individually and continue to consult with Terracon and Columbus Public Health on recommended next steps based on the results.

Thank you very much for your ongoing patience and understanding. We hope you will have a great extended weekend.