Welcome to OSU Today
Your daily news source about all things Oregon State.
OSU Today is published by University Relations and Marketing and is the university’s primary internal communications publication. Submit events, lectures and other activities via the OSU Main Calendar. To submit story ideas and general announcements, email us at [email protected]. Fill out the form here to subscribe to the twice-weekly digest.
On OPB this week
- Oregon State University, where undergraduate researchers study autoimmune disease to save lives.
- OSU, where AI is being used as a key to understanding brain disorders and the complexities of the deep sea.
Celebrating Student Success
This week we're celebrating the Every Student Graduates Success Summit with a collection of stories focused on student success. You'll see student features, events and profiles in OSU Today highlighting the amazing work our students do every day.
Campus News
News from the Colleges
News Releases
Photo of the Day
Educators conference: Sara Wright submitted this photo of herself and two College of Education colleagues, Rachael Schultz and Jennifer Anderson, at the annual meeting of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education in Long Beach, California. We are accepting photo submissions at [email protected]. To view past submissions, visit us on Instagram at @osutoday1.
Take Note
NEW! State of Black Affairs in Higher Education Summit: One week left to register. Oregon State University presents the third annual summit on the State of Black Affairs in Higher Education celebrating Black Joy: Struggle, Resilience, and Restoration on May 22 and 23. Thursday is Summit Day, featuring remarks from OSU leadership, a brilliant plenary speaker, a panel of institutional diversity leaders, a joyful keynote presentation, and networking happy hour. Friday is Caucus Day with light breakfast, thought-provoking concurrent sessions and fireside chat, catered lunch, and abundant Black joy. Attendees may register for one or both days. We look forward to seeing you at the OSU Portland Center in May. Registration closes Tuesday, April 29. Questions? contact [email protected].
NEW! University Operations Update webinar: Featuring our Facilities Services team. The webinar will be held at 2 p.m., April 29. Learn more about what Facilities Services does to contribute to a safe, beautiful and functional campus environment and support the university’s strategic goals outlined in Prosperity Widely Shared. This webinar will provide insight into the work that Facilities Services does behind the scenes to move OSU forward. Register here.
NEW! Fidelity On-Campus Consultations in Spanish or English: Employees can meet with Oana Dunkel, financial consultant from Fidelity to discuss your financial goals and savings plans for retirement. There is no cost for these consultations and they are available to all employees no matter what stage you are at in your career. Appointments are available on OSU Corvallis Campus Tuesday, May 13. Schedule online or by phone at (800) 642-7131.
NEW! Nishihara retirement: The Corvallis OSU community is invited to celebrate Janet Nishihara, executive director of the Educational Opportunities Program, as she prepares to transition into retirement in a couple of months. The celebration will take place from 2-5 p.m., May 15, in the APCC. If you’d like to add a memory to her scrapbook, submit it here by April 28. Contact [email protected]du with any questions.
NEW! Financial Stability Award: The Aerospace Propulsion Outreach Program team has earned the Financial Stability Award at the APOP 2025 National Competition organized by the Air Force Research Laboratory. This recognition was awarded for delivering the most cost-effective functional design of a variable thrust nozzle among teams from 19 universities. This achievement also marks the 11th anniversary of the APOP program at Oregon State University - a journey filled with innovation, teamwork, and consistent excellence. Last year the team brought home the national championship.
NEW! Patagonia program: Explore the stunning landscapes and complex conservation challenges of Chilean Patagonia in this term-long, immersive faculty-led program: Where the Andes Meet the Sea: Study and Intern in Patagonia. Co-taught by OSU and Chilean faculty, students will engage in hands-on fieldwork, cross-cultural collaboration, and a two-week internship tailored to their academic and career goals. Open to all undergraduate OSU students, this 15-credit winter term program includes a January pre-departure orientation followed by ~8 weeks in Chile. Coursework spans forest ecology, aquatic systems, consensus-building in natural resource management, and resilience in the face of disturbance. Applications close July 1. Learn more and apply here.
NEW! Mid-Month Emergency Preparedness Topic: Light: Always have accessible light sources available in case of an emergency but make sure to never leave light sources running when you are asleep or not home. English and Spanish versions of this bulletin can be found here.
Timely Teaching Tips: Did you know that Poll Everywhere will become OSU’s centrally supported Student Response System as of summer 2025? See the Poll Everywhere Overview for specifics. Academic Technologies is hosting a spring Poll Everywhere workshop series. Register now for the workshops on collaboration, co-teaching, and Canvas integration (April 22) and multi-section course management (May 16).
Pride Center grand re-opening: A grand re-opening celebration is being held at the Pride Center on April 25 to celebrate its recent renovation. The event includes a brunch, tours and a time for performances and speakers. The re-opening celebration takes place 11 a.m.-2 p.m., April 25 at the Pride Center, 1553 SW A Ave., Corvallis campus. There will be a formal program from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., but attendees can drop in as their schedule allows.
Are you exposed to loud noise at work? Find out more about OSU’s Hearing Conservation Program and Noise Control Plan. The goal of OSU’s Hearing Conservation Program is to monitor and protect employees who have the potential to develop noise-induced hearing loss – a preventable, permanent and progressive health issue. In collaboration with Environmental Health & Safety, Occupational Health Services provides annual hearing tests for those exposed to loud noise on the job. Training is available through the EH&S website. Contact Occupational Health or Environmental Health and Safety with questions.
Join Dam Proud Day events: Celebrate OSU's biggest day of the year by joining Dam Proud Day events on Wednesday, April 30. Whether you’re joining the festivities at the Student Experience Center Plaza in Corvallis or Bruckner Courtyard in Bend, you don't want to miss the free food, giveaways, activities, games and fun. This year, participate in the OSU Cash Cab, a scavenger hunt, Dam Proud Day Live, yoga, a 5K run and walk, a cheese-making class and more.
Student art exhibit: PRISM, OSU's art and literary student magazine, is hosting an exhibit in PRAx's Student Arts Corridor, featuring work in the upcoming vol.145 issue of PRISM, called "ROOTS" Exhibit runs Thursday, April 17 through Friday, May 9.
Help the OSU Libraries Better Understand How You Find Academic Sources: The OSU Libraries are looking for faculty/instructors/research associates/assistants and students to participate in a study focused on how you find academic sources to help us make decisions about what library resources to invest in. Are you willing to give us a peek at your workflow? If so, choose and complete the research activity you prefer (or you may complete them both): 1) complete an online research log after working on academic source searching for a project you are currently engaged with for a total of 30 minutes, and/or 2) Zoom record your screen while working on academic source searching for a project you are currently engaged with for a total of 30 minutes. You will be gifted a $30 gift certificate to one of several local food or coffee options for each study activity you participate in. To participate: Indication of Interest survey. Contact [email protected] with questions.
April 21-25 marks Holocaust Memorial Week: This year’s events explore both past and present challenges to democracy and human rights. The week begins with a talk on Monday, April 21 by Irene Butter, a survivor and refugee of the Holocaust who became a tireless peace activist. Visit the OSU Holocaust Memorial Program events page for full details, speaker bios, lists of sponsors, registration links, and information about each event’s modality. Events are free and open to everyone, but advanced registration is required for some events.
Fidelity On-Campus Consultations: Employees can meet with Ronald Elia, financial consultant from Fidelity to discuss your financial goals and savings plans for retirement. There is no cost for these consultations and they are available to all employees no matter what stage you are at in your career. Appointments are available on OSU Corvallis campus April 28. Schedule online at www.fidelity.com/schedule, or by phone at (800) 343-0860.
TRY-athlon: Looking for some friendly competition to kick off summer? The 12th annual Faculty Staff Fitness Swim, Run, Walk TRY-athlon is happening June 11. This is a team-building event that brings faculty and staff together to compete for individual event or power team winner. Grab your team and sign up to swim, run, walk or both! Registration is open. Team captains email or call the PAC office to register your team name at [email protected] (541) 737-3222.
Calendar
Around Campus
OSU in the News
Chinese robots ran against humans in the world's first humanoid half-marathon. They lost by a mile (ABC)
Alan Fern, professor of computer sciences, AI and robotics at Oregon State University, told CNN he was "actually very impressed" that the robots managed within the time limit, saying he "would have bet that none of them would finish." (see also Wired, CNN, Reuters)
How is climate change harming health? Studying that just got harder (New York Times)
Perry Hystad, a professor in the College of Health at Oregon State University, had expected to receive a five-year N.I.H. grant to study who is most susceptible to extreme-weather exposure. He planned to follow more than 200,000 people in 27 countries, a far larger subject base than most studies. But he no longer believes he will receive the grant. (to request a PDF of this article email [email protected])
Gray whale die-off feared as starving whales migrate north (Oregonian)
Josh Stewart, an ecologist in Oregon State University’s Marine Mammal Institute in Newport, traces the dangers facing gray whales directly to a massive Arctic warming trend that left many malnourished. (see also Seattle Times)
Where Oregon State, University of Oregon rank in sustainable dining practices (Statesman Journal)
Oregon State University ranked among the top 10 colleges in the nation for its efforts toward sustainability and encouraging students to adopt eco-friendly eating habits.
Flowers and trees are blooming earlier. Is it because of climate change? (NPR)
"Here in the Northwest, we've seen a definite trend towards warmer and drier summers," says Chris Daly, lead author of the USDA plant zone hardiness maps and director of the PRISM spatial climate analysis group at Oregon State University. "We already get very little precipitation in July and August, but even that's dwindling."
Trump Administration opens half of national forest land for logging (KUOW)
Big picture, more than half of the land managed by the U.S. Forest Service is now opening for logging. Soundside spoke with Kristen Boyles from Earthjustice Northwest, Travis Joseph with the American Forest Resource Council, and Tom DeLuca from Oregon State University's College of Forestry to get their thoughts on the recent changes to federal forest management.
Grant helps OSU-Cascades monitor national park data (My Central Oregon)
Researchers at Oregon State University – Cascades received a $2 million grant from the National Park Service to monitor and analyze data gathered by the agency, assess the ecological health and resilience of parks and better understand management practices that can help parks adapt to changing conditions.
How 'leisure crafting' can help you recharge (Harvard Business Review)
A piece co-written by College of Business Director of the Center for Family Enterprise Ted Paterson.
Carey caps NCAA career with top-4 finish in all-around at nationals (KLCC)
Oregon State senior Jade Carey placed fourth in the all-around at the 2025 NCAA Championships Thursday night in Texas. It was the third career top four all-around performance at nationals for Carey, who also finished in a tie for third place on the beam.
OSU extension’s new leader brings small town roots, big time goals (Capital Press)
The Oregon State University Extension Service’s new leader was shaped by growing up on a farm and participating in 4-H and FFA.
Gen Z is reviving this boring job that millennials and boomers abandoned - and it's helping them land six-figure careers straight out of college (Fortune)
“Accounting is the science of the business world,” says Alana Kelley, a third-year accounting and biohealth science major at Oregon State University who has helped dozens of families file their taxes this season as part of her school’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
Salamanders signal health of McKenzie River watershed (LookOut Eugene-Springfield)
The presence of giant salamanders has long signaled the health of an ecosystem. New data show from Oregon State University shows how these amphibians are responding to wildfires and runoff. Their struggle mirrors the broader challenges facing the McKenzie River watershed, the region’s primary drinking water source, as it contends with wildfire-related debris.
No-till gardening could be your new best friend (Yahoo News)
The main benefit of no-till gardening is the preservation of the soil structure, says Erica Chernoh, assistant professor of Practice in Community and Commercial Horticulture at Oregon State University Extension Service.
Oregon FFA spotlights farmer mental health (Capital Press)
Ag and natural resource industries have a much higher than average risk for suicide, said Kaycee Headley, project director for Oregon State University’s AgriStress Helpline, now in its 18th month.
Ag innovation a la mode: $73M renovation spotlights OSU's experiential learning (Capital Press)
A $73 million renovation of Withycombe Hall at Oregon State University aims to energize and expand hands-on learning with new labs for dairy and wine, as well as other upgrades. The project also revives the facility’s creamery, which closed 55 years ago to make room for a theater. (see also KLCC)
Trump administration targets 13 international students from Oregon State University (Oregonian)
Federal officials have ordered the removal of more than a dozen international students at Oregon State University in a significant surge to known visa revocations in the state.
Southern Oregon's pear industry: where it started and how its changed (KOBI)
Dr. Achala KC, Associate Professor of Plant Pathology at Oregon State University, says pear trees thrive in Oregon’s temperate climate. “Between so many different tree fruit crops that were explored, pears stood out as the best. Warm, hot days during the summer and cold nights -that favors pear production,” Dr. KC said.
What vegetables can you plant in Oregon in April? What to know for your garden (Statesman Journal)
Knowing your soil temperatures and having a soil thermometer can make a difference when planting vegetables. Cooler-season crops like onions, kale, lettuce and spinach are best planted in soil that is "consistently at or above 40 degrees Fahrenheit," according to the Oregon State University Extension Service.
Traffic and Maintenance
Dixon: Due to construction and roofing work happening at Dixon Recreation Center, the ADA accessible path that runs along the north and east sides of Dixon will be closed starting on Monday, March 24. This will be a long-term closure which is scheduled to end on Friday, Oct. 10. Bike parking on the east side of Dixon will be closed for the duration of this project. All bikes must be removed from the bike racks before Monday, March 24. Any remaining bikes will be removed by the OSU Department of Public Safety. The east entrance to Dixon Rec Center will be closed.
Use extra caution & avoid construction zones on Washington Way: Infrastructure along SW Washington Way is currently undergoing improvements and the area around SW Washington Way and SW 17th St. is an active construction site. For your safety, please detour around work zones (marked with barriers). We recommend allowing more time to travel around campus as this project continues. For more information about construction work on SW Washington Way and the current closure schedule, click here. If you require accommodations or assistance crossing the SW Washington Way construction zone, please contact [email protected].
