The Road Less Traveled: Commuter Students
Story by Josie Donohue
Commuter students are not on campus 24/7, but are still important members of the Ohio University community.
In fall 2020, nearly 2,000 undergraduate students were enrolled as non-residents on Ohio University’s Athens campus. Brady Hobbs, a commuter from Jackson, Ohio is a third-year College of Business student with senior status studying strategic leadership and marketing. Hobbs gives advice to current and future commuter students saying that even though commuters may be a minority on campus, that does not mean that they are alone and commuting will benefit them in the long run.
How much time do you typically spend on campus in a day?
“The days I’m here, I usually come here about three hours before class starts. Sometimes it’s a little more, but it’s about three hours. I don’t usually stay that long after, so I’m here about four to five hours typically. I usually won’t stay here long after, because at that point it’s four thirty p.m. At that point, I usually head home so I can be home at dinner time around five p.m. In that time though, I’ll be studying or sometimes I’ll go eat lunch with a friend. I’m usually working on homework, so it’s nice to get out of the house and work somewhere else.”
Have you ever made use of the commuter lounge in Bromley Hall?
“It was nice having somewhere to go to, but usually if I go somewhere to work or eat, I end up in the library because it’s right in the middle of everything. I honestly don’t pass it [Bromley Hall] that much, but I think I went once my freshman year. I enjoyed it though.”
Do you feel that commuter students have the same opportunities as residential students on campus?
“It depends on how close they live to campus. If someone is from Athens County and they only live two minutes away, then yes, I think so. The farther away you live from campus, then, no. For sure, no. It’s harder to be a part of clubs because I can’t be at meetings at eight p.m. and get home at nine p.m. because I have to stay on campus in the meantime. I can’t get things done that I need to get done at home like laundry or chores around the house. It just depends on the distance more than anything.”
Do you ever feel more or less at an advantage when you are commuting?
“An advantage of commuting is being close to home and having friends and family there. That, and commuting saves a lot of money. The drawback is that sometimes you feel disconnected from campus. Especially for me—I only have one class on campus [this semester] so I’m only here about two days a week. I will sometimes come on the weekend to hang out or see friends, but still, that’s only three days out of a seven-day week. Sometimes it kind of feels distant. It can feel like a second life.”
Do you have any suggestions for current or future commuter students?
“Sometimes you can feel like you’re on your own or that you’re out by yourself, but that’s not true at all—it just kind of feels that way because you’re a minority when it comes to staying on campus. There’s not as many people who do what you do, but in the long run [commuting] will benefit you most financially, and you get to see family and friends and have your own place. Definitely don’t think that since you’re off campus that you shouldn’t be involved or should stay away. Definitely spend time on campus, do the things you want to do. Try new things. Don’t think that just because you’re not on campus, you’re not a part of it, because you still are.”
Bromley Hall located on Ohio University’s Athens campus.
One source that is provided to this type of student on campus is a lounge area dedicated exclusively to commuters. Bromley Hall houses a Commuter and Veteran Student Lounge complete with a fridge, microwave, lockers, couches, and desktop computers. This area allows commuters to have their own space on campus since they do not have a dorm to walk to in between classes and meetings throughout the day.
According to the Ohio University Commuter and Veteran Student Lounge tab of the Housing and Residence Life website, students must first register online to gain swipe access to the room. Guests of commuters or veterans may visit the lounge on occasions, and a sign-in sheet will be provided for them at the door. While this resource is used by participating students, some commuters like Hobbs may not visit the lounge often since it is in a location on campus that is not as easily accessible.
The Commuter and Appalachia Network located in the Office of Multicultural Student Access and Retention, OMSAR for short, serves as a is a great resource for commuter students on campus. They have hosted events in the past such as social events and professional development workshops that are tailored perfectly for this student community on campus.
“The Ohio University Commuter and Appalachian Network (CAN) is a group that celebrates and connects OHIO's commuter students and students from the Appalachian region to each other, opportunities for academic and professional success, community service engagement activities, and potential mentors among OHIO faculty, staff, and alumni,” the website says.
Pat Bungard, the administrative services associate at OMSAR, says events this semester in the CAN have been halted due to staffing issues and restraints of the pandemic. “Because we were remote last year, it took away any option of social events,” Bungard says.
Bungard says that they are eager to start working towards normalcy again for students within the commuter and Appalachian communities on campus. For those interested in coming to events held by the CAN or would like to learn more, students can email omsarcan@ohio.edu.