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OSU Student Guide

A short guide for getting oriented quickly at OSU and in Corvallis. Start here for the essentials, then use the map, local stops, and tutorials when you need more detail.

Start Here

Get your bearings first

Use this section when you need the short version before classes start or when you want to find the right office quickly.

About Oregon State University

Oregon State is a large public research university, so your first weeks move through systems like OSU email, Canvas, advising, OIS, and Student Health. Learning the main buildings and support offices early saves time fast.

About Corvallis

Corvallis is a student-friendly college town. Walking, buses, and biking are normal, rain is part of daily life, and most errands are easy once you save a few key places on your phone.

Quick-start checklist

These are the six things that make the first few days much easier.

Check your OSU email

Watch for onboarding tasks, class updates, OIS messages, and account notices.

Finish onboarding steps

Complete New Student Onboarding early and add OIS steps if you are an international student.

Save important documents

Keep your passport, visa, I-20 or DS-2019, I-94, insurance card, and local address easy to reach.

Set your address and phone

A U.S. phone number helps with Duo, bank codes, deliveries, and school contact.

Use the campus map

Find OIS, Student Health, the Memorial Union, and your classroom buildings before you need them.

Save your first routes

Know the route to your bus stop, grocery store, pharmacy, and home before the week gets busy.

New Student Onboarding OIS Getting Here

First Weeks at OSU

Focus on the systems and habits that matter early

These are the tasks and routines that help freshmen and new arrivals settle in without turning this page into a full handbook.

Accounts and onboarding

  • Finish New Student Onboarding and any orientation steps as early as you can.
  • Activate ONID and Duo so email, Canvas, and protected systems work before deadlines hit.
  • International students should also complete OIS arrival, check-in, and document steps.
  • Check holds and task lists before advising or registration windows open.
Start Onboarding ONID

Classes and academic habits

  • Read OSU email and Canvas every day so you do not miss deadlines or class changes.
  • Save your class schedule and know where each building is before the first busy week.
  • Know your advisor and use professor office hours early when something is unclear.
  • Visit the Academic Success Center before a small problem becomes a hard one.
Academic Success Center Using Canvas

Health, safety, and support

  • Student Health is the best first stop for routine care, basic questions, and insurance issues.
  • Use OIS for immigration questions and required international-student steps.
  • If stress, money, food, or textbooks become a problem, ask for help early through CAPS or Basic Needs.
  • For serious emergencies call 911; for walking safety on campus, use Safety Escort.
Student Health OIS Contact

Campus and Corvallis

Use the map, then save the places you will use most

Start with the campus map for daily buildings, then keep one grocery store, one pharmacy, one bank, and one support location pinned on your phone.

Interactive Oregon State University map

Use this map to find OIS, Student Health, the Memorial Union, your classroom buildings, and common meeting points before the term gets busy.

Open Full Map

Prayer and Muslim student locations

  • Student Experience Center, third floor: quiet space and a foot-washing station between classes.
  • International Living-Learning Center, fourth floor: Multi-Faith Room and foot-washing access.
  • Ettihad Cultural Center in SEC Suite 380 can also be a useful community and study space.
  • Salman Alfarisi Islamic Center is the main local mosque for prayer, Friday prayer, and community support.

610 NW Kings Blvd, Corvallis, OR 97330 • 541-758-0329

Open Mosque in Google Maps

Daily errands: groceries, pharmacy, and banks

Groceries

Good first options for regular shopping or move-in basics:

Fred Meyer Safeway Market of Choice Trader Joe's Walmart WinCo Foods "(24/7)"- Some HALAL frozen meat Bazaar International Market - Best HALAL option

Pharmacies

Save one pharmacy near home or campus before you need medicine:

Samaritan Pharmacy Fred Meyer Pharmacy Safeway Pharmacy Walmart Pharmacy

Banks and credit unions

Bring your passport, visa or I-20/DS-2019, OSU ID, and local address when opening an account.

Bank of America Chase Bank Wells Fargo U.S. Bank

Health and urgent help

  • Use Student Health Services first for routine care, advice, and many insurance questions.
  • Save one urgent-care option now so you are not searching while sick or stressed.
  • Keep your insurance card, local address, and emergency contact on your phone.
  • For serious emergencies, use 911 or go to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center.
Student Health Services Urgent Care

Getting around and free time

  • Buses, walking, and biking are normal parts of student life, so learn your main route early.
  • Use the transportation page for BAT, OSU transit, SafeRide, airport trips, and other travel planning.
  • Use the housing page when you want neighborhood and apartment comparisons in one place.
  • For a simple night out, check AMC CLASSIC Corvallis 12 or view showtimes.
Transportation Page Housing Page

Tutorials and Official Resources

Open a tutorial only when you need the exact steps

These PDFs are the detailed layer of the guide. Use them when you need screenshots and step-by-step help with paperwork, travel records, insurance, or enrollment requests.

Preview the PDF first, then open it in a new tab or download it if you want to keep it on your phone.

Official pages worth saving

Use these when you need the university version of a task, policy, or support page.

OIS Main Page Student Orientation Insurance Plans Basic Needs Center CAPS Support Safety Escort OSU Transit Benton Area Transit

Use this page for the short version. For deadlines, required forms, immigration rules, account holds, and final instructions, always follow your OSU email and the official OSU pages linked above.

Written by Jasem Alhasawi