Commuter Resources
From locker rentals to meal plans to campus police services, we connect you with resources that can help make the transition from home to campus easy.
Campus Police/Parking
The Otterbein University Campus Police web site provides information about where you can park on campus, how to register your vehicle, and a list of possible parking violations .
The Otterbein University Campus Police also provides you with free services including motorist assistance and security escorts.
Housing Obligation Exemption Request Form
Download the Housing Obligation Exemption Request Form (pdf).
Commuter Lounge
The Commuter Lounge is located in the lower level of Towers Hall with vending machines, lockers, and a kitchenette area designed for you to relax or study. If you have any suggestions on how to improve our lounge, please email James Prysock at JPrysock@otterbein.edu.
Locker Rentals
If you’re tired of lugging your books back and forth during your commute, we’ve got a solution for you. The Commuter Lounge has lockers, which you can reserve for a semester or a year, that are available to you. A limited number of lockers are reserved for first-year and continuing commuter students. To reserve a locker, please stop by the Center for Student Involvement in the Campus Center. Lockers are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
Meal Plans
Bon Appétit offers block meal plans and Munch Money options for students. However, the Munch Money option may be best for commuters. You can access healthy, nutritional food choices when you are on campus. It works exactly like a debit card, and you may purchase separately or add to a meal or block plan. Additionally, there is no expiration throughout the school year. Call Student Affairs at 614-823-1250 for more details.
Public Transportation Information
Otterbein University is located near several Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) bus lines. Visit the COTA web site to find bus stops and schedules.
Cardinal Red Alert
Otterbein University provides a free emergency alert/notification system, called Cardinal Red Alert, for the campus community that will send email, text messages and automated phone calls to the campus community in the event of an emergency or a cancellation of classes due to bad weather. By default, all Otterbein email addresses; campus office phone numbers; and all student, faculty, and staff cell phone numbers are entered into the Cardinal Red Alert emergency notification system. Thus, all students, faculty and staff will receive Red Alert messages. No registration or sign-up is required. However, everyone does have the choice to “OPT OUT” of the cell phone notification option, and/or specify if they only want a voice mail or text notification. The instruction to opt out of the phone notification or modify the phone option is below.
Instructions for opting out of Cardinal Red Alert:
To remove your cell phone from use in the emergency alert system, you are given an “opt out” capability. Log in to the My-Ozone portal either by way of the main Otterbein home page or the direct URL listed below:
http://ozone.otterbein.edu
Once logged in, please follow the steps listed below:
- Select the My-Banner folder icon from the top of the screen. You will then be placed in Self Service Banner.
- Select the Personal Information tab or link and select “Answer a Survey”.
- Choose “Option out the use of my cell phone in the alert system” and make your choices to remove your cell phone from the call list and/or the text message list.
- Complete the survey.
Otterbein encourages everyone not to opt out so you can receive the quickest information about closings or delays and so all of us are in a position to aid each other in order to minimize loss of life, injury, and property damage should a true emergency crisis impact Otterbein University. Thank you for your support in keeping our campus safe!
Commuter Student FAQ
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Any student who does not reside in any of the residential halls would be considered a commuter student.
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Check your campus email and My O-Zone for campus announcements and campus events. You can also check the Otterbein University web site. If you’re not on campus, and need additional information please call 614-823-3211 or e-mail Kadia Reid,
kreid@otterbein.edu, in the Center for Student Involvement (CSI).
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Should there be a campus emergency, health alert, weather-related closing, or need to disseminate other pertinent information to the campus community, the University's new emergency notification system,
Cardinal Red Alert, sends text messages, voice messages, TTY/TDD messages and emails to the community. Also check the Otterbein University website, your campus e-mail and your local news and radio stations for any announcements of cancellations or delays. Please ensure you sign up for Red Alert.
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The library is probably the best place for commuters to do homework.
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There is a Commuter Lounge (Towers Hall basement) with vending machines, lockers, and a kitchenette area designed for commuter students. In addition, commuter students are encouraged to hang out or relax in the Campus Center and watch TV, plays games, etc. in between classes.
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The Center for Student Involvement provides lockers for students to rent. These lockers are located in the commuter student lounge. However, we suggest that you do not place any valuables in these lockers for security precautions.
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It's the same reason for all students. Residential students' ID cards only work for the residence halls they live in. In other words, if a student from one hall wanted to visit someone from another hall, he or she would have to contact that person so he or she can open the door. This is for the safety and security of our students to prevent any intrusions. There are call boxes outside the entrance of each residence hall so you can contact someone to let you inside.
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The Otterbein University Police Department is responsible for parking administration. Please see the
Parking section for all information about parking lot locations, permits, licenses, etc.
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If you would like an escort to/from your car, please contact the Otterbein University Police Department at (614) 823-1222 to request an escort to your vehicle or class. This service is provided to all students on campus late at night, and to students that have injuries that limit their ability to walk to/from class or other areas on campus.
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Bon Appétit at Otterbein offers Block Meal Plans for Students. However, the ‘Munch Money’ option is perhaps best for commuters. You can access healthy, nutritional food choices when you are on campus. It works exactly like a debit card and you may purchase separately or add to a meal or block plan. Additionally, there is no expiration throughout the school year. Call 614-823-1250 for more details.
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IMMEDIATELY report your lost or stolen Cardinal Card to the Campus Center Office at (614) 823-3202 (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or to the Police department (614) 823-1222 after hours. Replacement cards can be obtained in the Campus Center during business hours. Please refer to Cardinal Card FAQ’s for additional information related to lost/stolen, or proper use of your card.