Campus Life

Life at Ottawa University is full of activities, excitement and friendship. Your student will have many opportunities to get involved.

Campus Security

Ottawa University is concerned with the safety of its students and employs staff members to provide security for the campus. The officers patrol campus on foot as well as in University vehicles. OU security will contact the Ottawa Police and/or Franklin County Sheriff’s Department when local, state and Federal regulations are violated or when their assistance is appropriate.

OU security officers patrol the campus 24-hours a day. Officers are also available to escort students from one building to another.

Campus Ministries

In keeping with the Christian tradition of Ottawa University, Campus Ministries sponsors a number of programs and activities. The Campus Pastor and student campus ministry interns strive to create a community for OU students based on the exploration and discovery of faith and values. Through retreats, coffeehouse programs and worship services, Campus Ministries attempts to respond to the needs of all Ottawa University students. Students are invited to get involved in campus ministry organizations. Christian Faith in Action (CFA), Get Off the Couch Help Another (GOTCHA), and Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) are the active student groups that focus on faith and service.

Career Services Center

The Career Services Center helps students succeed throughout the college experience and after graduation. Career planning and decision-making is a developmental process. The responsibility of choosing a career is ultimately up to the student, and this office can assist by providing the following support:

• individual career counseling;
• assisting with the identification of internships;
• locating employer contacts for on- and off-campus employment;
• offering workshops in resume' writing, interviewing skills and
• graduate school application writing;
• planning and promoting career fairs;
• offering use of computers and software such as System of Interactive Guidance and Information (SIGI Plus), where students can match their interests, skills, activities and values with potential majors and careers. This program is updated every year to contain the most current information on various fields. The Holland Code Personality paper assessment is available as well.
• College Central Network (CCN), online resource, allows students to post a resume and look for part-time, full-time or internship positions. The web address is www.collegecentralnetwork.com/ottawa.

Our resource room provides publications with information about careers in various fields, company literature and other career guidance subjects. Computers with Internet access are available for student use to search for jobs and graduate schools or to develop resumes. Full-time, part-time and internship jobs are posted in binders to view.

Student Employment

Student employment is coordinated through the Career Services Center located in the Adawe LifePlan Center in the Administration Building. The purpose of the program is to provide part-time work positions for students to earn spending money while attending college. It is through this program various departments and offices provide students the opportunity to gain valuable experience and training for future employment.

First year students must attend a presentation during orientation week. Students receive general information about various types of financial aid, information about the student employment program, and as well as completing the required forms.

Counseling Services

Ottawa University offers personal counseling for students at no charge. Counseling is available for students dealing with personal issues ranging from homesickness to personal crisis. Information shared with the counseling center is confidential and cannot be divulged to parents. Knowing that some students may need assistance beyond the resources of Ottawa University, the counselor is prepared to make necessary referrals to appropriate mental health professionals and mental health agencies.

Myers Library

Open seven days a week, Myers Library offers a number of services and resources to address the research needs of students. In addition, students have full access to the Internet from the library and can communicate with friends and parents via student e-mail accounts at terminals located in the library.

The library also subscribes to a number of research databases for student use. With an interlibrary loan system and access to the University of Kansas online catalog, the library offers easy and efficient access to the specialized research needed for coursework.

Mowbray Student Union

The Mowbray Student Union serves as the keystone to the Ottawa University community. It offers a convenient and comfortable centrally located meeting spot for students, faculty and staff. It also contains the snack bar, dining commons, OU Bookstore, mail center, a number of meeting rooms, a TV lounge, the office of the Student Activities Force (SAF), Health Services, and Counseling Services.

Health Services

The Office of Health Services is located in the Mowbray Student Union (114) and operates in partnership with Ransom Memorial Hospital. The campus nurse is on duty from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Some of the services offered through the Office of Health Services include assessment and treatment of minor illnesses and injuries; tuberculin skin testing; accucheck blood sugar testing; influenza vaccination (offered in fall semester); throat cultures for Strep A; and health education programs. The Office of Health Services also makes referrals as needed to physicians or the Franklin County Health Department for immunization. Ransom Memorial Hospital is located within three blocks of the OU campus.

Health Insurance

Primary Insurance

The University requires all students to have health insurance. Private health insurance policies are available for students who do not have other insurance coverage. For additional information about the health insurance plans, contact the Office of Student Affairs.

Athletic Insurance

All student-athletes, including cheerleaders and members of the dance team, are required to have a secondary policy in addition to individual coverage. Ottawa University will share the cost of the policy with the student. For questions regarding health insurance for student-athletes, contact the Department of Athletics or Office of Student Affairs.

Union Desk and Mail

The Union Desk is the central hub of the Mowbray Union that provides numerous services. Some of the services offered include selling postage stamps and meal tickets for the dining commons, serving as the University’s “lost and found” and receiving special deliveries. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Cash, personal checks, MasterCard, Visa, and Discover are accepted.

The Campus Mail Center (located at the Mowbray Union front desk) is a full-service mail center that processes mail and packages for the United States Postal Service, United Parcel Service and Federal Express. OU receives packages from other carriers, but only ships those listed above. Each student receives a mailbox when they enroll. The box number remains the same as long as they remain an OU student. To reach your student, address all letters, packages and other deliveries in the following manner:

Student Name
Ottawa University
1001 South Cedar Street, #____ (OU box #)
Ottawa, KS  66067-3399

Food Service

Both the dining commons and snack bar are located in the Mowbray Union. These food services are managed by a professional food service company. All meals are served in the dining commons with unlimited portions unless otherwise advertised. Specialty nights are frequently presented and include a variety of special meals, such as steak night, late night breakfasts and special buffets. The dining commons serves breakfast, lunch and dinner during the week, brunch and dinner on the weekend. The dining commons are closed during University breaks and during the summer.

Parking

Student must register their vehicles through the Office of Student Affairs. Please remind your son or daughter to comply with all posted parking regulations, and encourage him/her to pay fines in a prompt manner to prevent loss of parking privileges and additional fines.

OU has open parking and students may park in any lot or space not specifically marked for visitors, handicap access, or fire lane access.

Mowbray Student Union Bookstore

The OU Bookstore provides students with the opportunity to purchase textbooks, supplies, clothing, novelties, greeting cards, and gifts. Telephone and web orders are welcome and items can be delivered to your student or mailed to your home. Cash, personal checks, MasterCard, Visa, and Discover are accepted. Regular hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and on special event weekends. Summer hours vary.