OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
Operations
extension.osu.edu
OSU Employee Hidden Benefits
Ohio State offers many hidden benefits, including discounts for faculty and staff. Ohio State works with many local
businesses to provide discounts for a variety of products, services, and attractions. The Office of Human Resources
website has a full list of promotions. While this list may not be all inclusive of everything available, we have attempted to
assemble a comprehensive list available to you. Go to https://hr.osu.edu/benefits/ to learn more about all Ohio State
benefits. For discount programs, scroll down and click on the “Work-Life” icon and choose “Discount Programs.” This is
quick guide to benefits offered by The Ohio State University to their employees.
If you know of other benefits that are not addressed here, we would be glad to add them to this guide. Please send those
via email to myers[email protected].
Discount Programs
As of September 1, 2019, Faculty and Staff discounts have a new home and are now a part of Buckeye Nation Rewards
(BNR), the university official loyalty program. Use your name.#@osu.edu email to sign up or download the app to your
mobile device through Apple Store or Google Play. This new loyalty program makes it easy to win exclusive rewards,
discounts, Buckeye gear, dream vacations, incredible experiences and more, just by staying up to date with Ohio State
and its sponsors.
Buckeye Nation Rewards (Employee Benefits)
Discounted products, attractions and services are offered to Ohio State faculty and staff by a wide variety of companies,
just for being a Buckeye! To access these offerings, please sign-up (Buckeye Nation Rewards) using your university
email. If you are already a member, please update your BNR profile with your university email. A few examples include:
• Hertz and Enterprise/National Car Rental
• AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint
• Nationwide Insurance
• Volvo, Nissan, Ford Motor Company, GM,
Byers Kia, Byers Chrysler Jeep of Columbus
• Midas Auto Service & Tires
• Barnes & Noble
• Great Wolfe Lodge
• 1-800-Flowers.com
• Nationwide Pet Insurance
Employee Assistance Program (https://hr.osu.edu/benefits/eap/)
Ohio State is committed to being a healthy workplace, which includes benefit offerings to help you manage life’s
challenges. As a benefits-eligible Ohio State faculty or staff member, you have access to the Ohio State Employee
Assistance Program (EAP) that offers tools and resources to help address complex issues that can be affecting your
mental and emotional well-being. EAP services are also available to benefits-eligible faculty and staff’s immediate
families, members of their household and parents and parents-in-law.
Services include:
• Legal Assistance
• Identity Theft Recovery Assistance
• Child and Elder Care Resources and Referral
• Referrals to Community Resources
• Incivility or Bullying in the Workplace, at Home
or at School
• Self-Management
• Developing Emotional Intelligence
• Change Management
• Financial Counseling
• Employee Emergency Fund for Short-term Financial
Crises
• Resiliency Training
• Critical Incident Debriefing Services for Workplace
Incidents
• Manager Consultation about mental health or employee
concerns
• Customized Brown-Bag Training (on a variety of topics)
The EAP statewide provider access means that professionals are conveniently located near your home and workplace.
For more information on the EAP program and services, email [email protected]u, call (800) 678-6265, or visit the IMPACT
Solutions Employee Assistance & Work/Life Program (username “buckeyes”) to view expanded services.
Tuition Assistance (Employees & Dependents)
Eligible employees are offered Faculty and Staff Tuition Assistance that pays instructional, general and non-Ohio resident
fees for courses taken at Ohio State, not to exceed specified plan limits on credit hours and dollar amounts.
Eligible employees can apply for Dependent Tuition Assistance that pays a portion of the instructional and general fees for
courses taken by their eligible dependents at Ohio State.
September 2023
Supplemental Retirement Account (SRA) (https://hr.osu.edu/benefits/retirement/sra/)
Ohio State offers supplemental, voluntary savings options to help faculty, staff and student employees plan for retirement.
These options make it possible for you to save additional amounts to meet your retirement financial goals and realize
potential tax benefits. Even small amounts of money invested regularly over your career can provide a significant financial
resource at retirement.
Most Ohio State employees are eligible to participate in the 403(b) and 457(b) Supplemental Retirement Accounts (SRA).
These plans allow you to enhance your retirement savings through voluntary pre-tax (state and federal only) contributions
to a Tax-Deferred Account (403(b) plan) and Deferred Compensation Program (457(b) plan).
The university does not make contributions to your SRA. Your contributions are deducted from your pay on a pre-tax
basis. Other pre-tax payroll deductions (e.g., health care, parking, local taxes, Medicare, etc.) may affect the amount
available to contribute to an SRA. Your contributions and investment earnings grow tax-deferred until withdrawal. You
lower your taxable income while working and increase your income at retirement.
Fitness Center & Wellness Programs
Fitness Center discounts are offered in partnership with Your Plan for Health (YP4H). This includes the Active&Fit Direct
program, which offers access to 10,000+ participating fitness centers and select YMCAs nationwide.
Faculty and Staff Appreciation Buckeye Football Game
Faculty and staff have the opportunity to cheer on the Buckeyes with fellow employees and friends. Employees must opt-
in to enter their name to be randomly selected to receive four complimentary tickets. This announcement comes out via
onCampus Today and emails to OSU employees (in June or July).
Staff Career Development Grant
https://gatewaytolearning.osu.edu/professional-career-development/staff-development-grants/staff-career-development-
grant/.
The Ohio State University is committed to the professional and career development of staff. The Staff Career
Development Grant provides staff with an opportunity to further their growth and development. Grants of up to $1,250 for
individuals, $1,750 for groups of 2-10 and $2,000 for groups of 11 or more will be awarded. Grants are awarded for
education and training costs related to the applicant’s job and/or career goals. The Staff Career Development Grant
Program is administered by The Office of Human Resources in partnership with the University Staff Advisory Committee
(USAC). Applications are accepted in January and July.
Staff Appreciation Week (July)
Staff Appreciation Week is an annual celebration of Ohio State staff members to recognize their contributions to the
university. Activities are held on campus but additional events and activities include exclusive tours of university
landmarks like Ohio Stadium, special promotions, discounts, and ticket offers for local sporting events, and other special
offerings for Ohio State staff. Information is announced in July.
Buckeye Cruise for Cancer Staff Discount
The Buckeye Cruise sails each year in February with a ship full of Buckeye Greats and fans in support of the Urban and
Shelley Meyer Fund for Cancer Research at the OSUCCC – James. Visit www.buckeyecruise.com or call 614.792.6204.
OSU Football Tickets (https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/2023/6/5/ticketed-sports)
The ordering period for faculty/staff football tickets normally open online in March. Those interested in becoming football
season ticket holders must apply. While the demand is high, all faculty/staff ticket requests have been fulfilled since the
2011 season. You can choose from flexible payment plans and access to full ticket management options and well as
away and post season tickets.
Pre-Sale Ticket Offers from the Schottenstein Center
Ohio State faculty, staff and students get an opportunity to purchase tickets for events at the Schottenstein Center before
the public. Watch onCampus Today for pre-sale ticket offers.
Ohio State Day at Cedar Point (May)
Discount tickets are available for Buckeyes, their families, and friends with exclusive park access from 11:00 a.m. – 7:00
p.m. They can also enjoy special Ohio State t-shirt giveaways, performances, and autographs throughout the park!
