Program 60 Information for Faculty and Course Instructors
Program 60 has been serving mature learners at Ohio State since 1974. Ohio residents aged 60 years and older may participate in classes on an audit basis, when space is available and permission is granted by the instructor. Ohio Revised Code 3345.27
The university community recognizes the benefits of lifelong learning and the intergenerational learning environments that Program 60 provides. Instructors who have had Program 60 students in their classes typically find them to be engaged and dedicated to learning alongside their undergraduate or graduate students.
In Autumn 2025, the College of Arts and Sciences assumed administration of the program. View the announcement here.
What do I need to know as a course instructor?
The application process is open for new Program 60 students three times a year – typically in November/December, April/May and July/August. This is a separate application process from any other program, and students who wish to enroll in another program must go through the standard application process. We host an information session for prospective students and an orientation session for new applicants, both online via Zoom.
Program 60 students are the last group of students to gain access to registering for courses. Program 60 students must receive written instructor permission to enroll in courses. Beginning approximately 2 weeks prior to the start of semester or the summer term, Program 60 students complete a course request form that automatically sends the permission request to the instructor’s OSU email account. Replying to the permission request sends the decision back to Program 60 who then enrolls the student if permission is granted.
An undergraduate or professional student may audit a course upon the approval of the professor in charge of the course and the dean of the college, or designee, in which the student is registered. (For repetition of courses, see rule 3335-8-28 of the Administrative Code.) A graduate student may audit a course upon the approval of the professor in charge of the course and the student's adviser.
(Board approval date: 7/9/2004)
Program 60 students are eligible to audit courses on a space available basis. Enrollment in courses after the second Friday of the term (or equivalent date for session courses) is not permitted. Enrollment is not permitted into the professional colleges (LAW, MED, VET, etc.) and the College of Nursing.
Students may request undergraduate or graduate level courses, with the majority seeking to enroll in undergraduate courses. They are encouraged to share information about their relevant background in the course request form.
Some courses are not suitable for Program 60 and you can find more information on the Department Policies page.
Because Program 60 students are diverse in both their backgrounds and their learning goals, instructors are encouraged to discuss the requirements of the course with students to ensure that the student's level of preparation aligns with their expectations. The student’s preferred email will be included in the permission request.
You are permitted to deny the request for any reason. However, many instructors find Program 60 students to be quite engaged in the learning process and a welcome addition to the classroom experience.
The level of participation for Program 60 students varies based on expectations set by both the instructor and the student. Please be sure to have a conversation with the Program 60 student regarding expected participation level either prior to or during the first week of classes. If group work is typically expected, consider not assigning the Program 60 student to a group so their participation level does not impact the other students. Foreign language courses typically require full participation by the Program 60 student to maintain a consistent level of knowledge in the classroom.
Class Roster and Carmen Canvas
Program 60 students are included in the Student Information System (SIS), are assigned an Ohio State Username (lastname.#), and will automatically appear on your class roster once they are enrolled into your course. In addition, Program 60 students will appear on your CarmenCanvas class list and will have automatic access to your course in Carmen.
If a student is unable to access Carmen or is not on your course roster, the following issues may exist:
- They have not activated their Ohio State username through my.osu.edu
- They have not completed the required registration form
To verify whether a student is registered in Program 60 or enrolled in your course, please contact the Program 60 coordinator.
Code of Student Conduct
Program 60 students are held to Ohio State’s Code of Student Conduct. If you have a student that you feel is acting in a way that you believe is not appropriate for The Ohio State University, please contact the Program 60 coordinator or The Office of Student Life, Student Conduct, studentconduct@osu.edu.
Library Resources
Program 60 students are allowed access to Ohio State library resources. Students must visit the Thompson Library and present their lastname.# and BuckID or other photo ID each term to reactivate their account. Because Program 60 students appear on the class roster, automatic access is granted to the Secured Media Library.
Grades
The Program 60 student is auditing the class and should be assigned “R” for Audit. The Registrar will send you an email at the beginning and end of the term with a reminder of which students are auditing.
On occasion, students are interested in receiving verification that they successfully completed a course. In these cases, some instructors have provided a letter directly to the student. Some students greatly appreciate receiving an informal grade for courses for which they have completed the work. Again, this communication is between you and the student.
Sometimes students notify the instructor that they are dropping the class but forget to notify Program 60. Other times, the student just stops out similar to other students. Please reach out to Program 60 so we can connect with the student. Program 60 follows the the drop deadlines posted by the Registrar for all students.