Frequently Asked Questions

Any Ohio resident age 60 or older can take Program 60 classes at The Ohio State University. Program 60 classes are tuition-free, noncredit, and non-degree and are offered on a space-available basis at the undergraduate or graduate level. To participate in Program 60, you must have resided in the State of Ohio for one calendar year and be age 60 or older during the semester or term for which you complete the one-time program registration.

Program 60 courses are tuition-free, but you may need to pay for books, supplies or lab fees. There are optional expenses associated with parking and transportation, replacing a lost BuckID or purchasing a membership to the Recreation and Physical Activity Center (RPAC).

Once you are accepted into Program 60, you will receive an email from Ohio State with your Ohio State Username. It is your lastname . (dot) an assigned number, (written like lastname.#). It is also the first part of your Ohio State email address. If you are unsure of your Ohio State Username, please contact Program 60 at program60@osu.edu, and we can help.

If you get a BuckID, your Ohio State ID number is the 8 or 9 digit number listed on your BuckID. To view your Ohio State ID Number online:

1. Go to buckeyelink.osu.edu
2. Type into the search bar "Your OSU ID"
3. Log in with your Ohio State username (lastname.#) and password
4. View your OSU ID

Please refer to the Student Health Services FAQ page about the vaccination requirement.

Complete all the steps to participate, and you’ll be good to go! Program 60 registration (a one-time process) happens three times a year, in December/January, April/May and July/August. If you are already registered, you can request permission to enroll via our online form.

1. Check to make sure you've completed all the items on your To Do list in BuckeyeLink, which is on the right side of the page when you log in to sign up for classes. Requirements such as the Financial Responsibility Statement and Sexual Misconduct Training appear here. Failure to complete these requirements can result in a hold being placed on your account and prevent you from enrolling in classes.
2. Make sure you've looked through the Participant Resources to learn all about being at Ohio State.

Online courses with listed meeting days and times are synchronous. You are required to "attend" online courses using your instructor's preferred software (Zoom, Teams, etc.).

Online courses that specify TBA for the days and times are asynchronous, meaning that for the duration of the semester, the course will be readily available online to access at your convenience. This is why the time is listed as TBA, as there is no particular set time for asynchronous courses.

Books might not be required for every class, but you may have a better experience if you have the materials used for the course. Some instructors may select textbooks after classes are in session.

If you purchase books, review all return policies. Search for required textbooks at Barnes and Noble, The Ohio State University bookstore, or access a customized list within Buckeye Link. To access this list in Buckeye Link, click My Class Schedule, select the term, select Continue, then Buy Books in the upper right-hand corner.

You may choose to opt out of this program. However, if you do so, you will be responsible for obtaining your textbook and other course materials on your own. To opt out, complete the CarmenBooks opt-out form before the end of your session's 100% refund period. After that date, no refunds will be available.

Yes. Please read and consider these Department Policies for Program 60 Participants when selecting your courses for the upcoming semester.

Yes! If no prerequisites are required or you have the permission of the instructor, you may take online courses. To search for online courses, you can use the link go.osu.edu/onlinecourses. Make sure Distance Learning is selected under Instruction Mode.

CarmenCanvas, also known as Carmen, is Ohio State’s online course management system, which your instructors will use to create and share course materials. Please note, this information may not be available until 24 to 48 hours before the semester start date. You log in to Carmen with your Ohio State username (lastname.#) and password and authenticate with BuckeyePass.

If you need help understanding how to use CarmenCanvas, check out the Getting Started with Carmen for Students guide.

Please refer to the Registrar List of Important Dates for course drop deadlines. For a full refund, drop requests must be processed by the first Friday of the term. For additional assistance, contact the Program 60 Coordinator.

You can send questions by email to the Program 60 Coordinator. We cannot accept drop-in appointments, so please do not go to Denney Hall without a previously scheduled appointment. If you need an appointment, you can call 614-247-0868.  We offer phone and zoom appointments at this time. If you need an in-person appointment, send an email to Program 60 with the request.

In recent years, more than 85% of Program 60 credit hours have been taken in College of Arts and Sciences departments — a reflection of the strong connection between our faculty, courses and the Program 60 community. Given this close relationship, it was a natural fit for Arts and Sciences to assume administration of the program. With its resources and expertise, the college is well-positioned to maintain the high quality and strong support that Program 60 learners value.

No. If you have completed the one-time registration form at any point since Autumn 2017, you are still in the program. If you have been placed on a leave of absence from the program for any reason, you can simply reach out to us at program60@osu.edu to request reactivation when you are ready to take classes again.

This is a common concern, and we heard from both Program 60 participants as well as professors who have taught them. While the intention was always to have students in the class by early in the second week, there were impacts we did not consider. After listening to this feedback, we adjusted the plan in the following ways:

• Course instructors will have the option to grant us permission to add students before week 2.
• Other students will be added over the Labor Day weekend so that you are enrolled in the class by the start of week 2 (Sept 2).
• We will collect data to gauge the effectiveness of this plan to inform our processes in future semesters.

The decision to delay Program 60 enrollments into classes until week 2 was made in consideration of our degree-seeking students who are allowed to add a class without permission through midnight on Friday, August 29. Student enrollment behavior has changed over the years, with financial considerations including changing federal financial aid rules often influencing students to postpone course registration until they know they can afford it.

Columbus campus students are eligible to order a student parking permit from CampusParc. CampusParc does not use physical permits such as stickers or hangtags unless you order a permit with garage access. Your license plate is used to verify a paid permit and you should be able to use campus parking immediately after purchasing your permit online.

Regional campuses: 

• Lima: Parking is free but students should register their car with campus security.
• Mansfield: No student parking permit is required.
• Marion: No student parking permit is required. Students are permitted to park in the following areas: Lot 1, 2, 3 N, 3 S, 5 & 6.
• Newark: No student parking permit is required. Please use designated spaces for students and visitors.
• Wooster/ATI: No student parking permit is required.

YesYou can find the information on this page: 

https://artsandsciences.osu.edu/about/program-60/how-participate

You may request undergraduate or graduate level courses in most colleges.

No. We encourage students to request courses that suit their interests regardless of college. There are course policies for specific departments and courses so please refer to that document for more information.

Kris Wethington, an alumna of The Ohio State University and longtime academic advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences, recently transitioned into a new role as Academic Program Services Consultant for Student Success Initiatives. Kris has a strong passion for supporting adult learners and has guided many students—some returning after 20 or even 30 years—to successfully complete their degrees.

Her dedication to adult learners is also personal. Both of her parents worked in higher education at the technical and community college levels, supporting nontraditional students throughout their careers. They were adult learners themselves, instilling in her a deep understanding of the unique challenges and rewards of returning to education later in life.

The college is currently in the process of hiring a new academic advisor whose primary focus will be working with Program 60 students. A formal announcement will be shared once the new advisor is on board.

Appointments by telephone and Zoom are available upon request most days of the week. You can email program60@osu.edu to request one. Please give your name, lastname.# if a current participant, preference for a phone call or Zoom, and some good days and times for you. Be sure to include your phone number if you are not yet in the program and wish to speak by phone.

We are now located in Denney Hall in the Arts and Sciences Advising Office, which is on the central part of campus near many of the classrooms. Limited in-person appointments are available by request only. The Program 60 coordinator shares office space with another person not affiliated with Program 60, and often works from home so please, no drop-ins at this time.