Stay informed about COVID-19

COVID-19 website: To facilitate the ongoing sharing of information about the virus, Oregon State University has added a link on the OSU homepage to a page that provides detailed and up-to-date COVID-19 information; links to OSU, local, state and federal resources; and updates on the latest federal travel restrictions.

NEW! Today’s Timely Teaching Tip: Looking for ways to facilitate active learning in your Summer or Fall term courses? See the Center for Teaching and Learning’s new infographic for successful Strategies to Facilitate Group Activities in remote and hybrid courses. Visit the Teaching Faculty website for all the Mid-Summer Timely Teaching Tips. 

Today in the News Media

Today in the News Media is a synopsis of some of the most prominent coverage of OSU people and programs. Inclusion of any item constitutes neither an endorsement nor a critique, but rather is intended only to make the OSU community aware of significant items in the media. Content appearing includes timely news and feature stories from broadcast, print and online sources. Occasionally, opinion pieces and first-person columns appearing in mainstream media outlets that are written by faculty members and pertain to their academic or professional expertise may be included based on their unique, informative value, timeliness and space constraints. It is not the policy of OSU Today to include Letters to the Editor. 
 

TRACE COVID-19 conducts door-to-door testing in Hermiston (KNDO 23)

TRACE stands for Team-based Rapid Assessment of Community-level Coronavirus Epidemics, run by Oregon State University. It is a partnership between several colleges within OSU. They started in Corvallis, then went to Bend, Newport, and now Hermiston. (see also OregonianLa Grande Observer, YakTriNews)
 

Narcissists don't think they make mistakes, so they don't learn from them: Study (Newsweek)

"Narcissists do this way more because they think they're better than others," Satoris Howes, a researcher at Oregon State University and one of the study's authors, said in a university news release.
 

Second round of sampling suggests significantly lower prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Newport (News Guard)

Preliminary results of a second round of door-to-door sampling by Oregon State University in Newport suggest a significantly lower prevalence of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 on July 11-12 than compared to a similar sampling three weeks earlier.
 

COVID-19 unmasked: Answers to frequent virus questions (Democrat-Herald)

Chunhuei Chi, the director of the Center for Global Health at Oregon State University, addressed some of the misconceptions, falsehoods and questions surrounding COVID-19 in the mid-valley.


Ask an Expert: Tips on fast-growing shade trees (Oregonian)

Summer gardening is in full swing and if you’ve got questions, turn to Ask an Expert, an online question-and-answer tool from Oregon State University’s Extension Service. 
 

Naked barley looks to shed image as an overlooked grain (Food Dive)

Researchers have developed newer varieties of naked barley at Oregon State University and tested by Sorrells at Cornell that were given their own distinctly risque-themed names such as “Streaker” and “Buck.” Unlike earlier versions of naked barley, newer types are higher yielding and more adapted to intensive production.

 

OSU student published on the International Center for Academic Integrity blog (ICAI)

Mahal Miles, a third-year Honors College student studying Managerial Economics, offers a student-perspective on the worried conversations surrounding our COVID-19 reality and academic integrity. “Students are humans who are navigating academics, work, and life during a time of crisis,” writes the Ford Scholar and intrepid Peer Advocate at the ASOSU Office of Advocacy. Miles recommends evidence-based action steps that we can all take, while being mindful of the added burdens caused by the crisis.
 

The Beaver State Podcast (ODFW)

In this episode, we talk to Oregon State University wildlife researcher Vanessa Petro about common misconceptions about beavers and what we do know about beaver behavior and conservation in Oregon.
 

Butterflies wing their way into the garden with the proper room and board (Phys.Org)

It isn't because they necessarily want to leave, said Heather Stoven, an entomologist with the Oregon State University Extension Service. Rather they don't find what they need to park themselves permanently.


Today's photos


Today’s workspaces: “My workspace is my dining room table and my “co-worker” Bean (Pomeranian/Chihuahua 3 month old puppy),” says Erica Fuszek, accountant with the Arts & Sciences Business Center. “She is a great partner in crime.”

“Not cute but workable, “ Analyst programmer Deborah Maguire says of her workspace.  “I’m using one of our flat screen TVs so I have a larger screen than the OSU laptop.” Follow OSU Today on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/osutoday1/ and catch up on any workspace photos you might have missed so far. 

Today

OMN Webinar: Earth’s Wild Music: Celebrations and Laments with Kathleen Dean Moore, July 27, 7-8:30 p.m. We all love the music of the natural world – howling wolves, singing songbirds, chirping frogs, moaning whales. But our joy in their songs is muted by our growing understanding of the existential threats against them. Where can we find hope in a time of extinction? Register Online.

Tuesday

Time Awareness: Too much to do and not enough time? We can't add more hours to the day, but we can be more aware of how we spend our time and make better choices about how we use it. As part of this session, you will learn how to increase your awareness of time-task relationship, empowering you with a useful tool when considering how to best use your time. July 28 via Zoom, 8-9 a.m. Registration required.

Work-life Balance & Integration: The essence of work-life balance is to integrate effectively work responsibilities with the domains (or buckets) in our personal lives. We will share counterbalancing techniques, and you will have an opportunity to get started by mapping out your responsibilities and other “buckets” unique to your situation. July 28 via Zoom, 9:30-11 a.m. Registration required.

Events

Bard in the Yard: Oregon State University’s Bard in Quad presents a fully immersive, audio-only production of “Macbeth,” available for download on all major podcast platforms through OSU theatre’s “Dam the Distance” podcast feed starting Aug. 14. The production has been made possible through support from the OSU Memorial Union and Block 15 Restaurant and Brewery. Virtual tickets for the podcast are available at bardinthequad.org. Patrons can name their own price to help support OSU theatre during this challenging time. The full audio drama production will be available Aug. 14 for download through OSU Theatre’s Dam the Distance podcast feed which can be found through the Bard in the Quad website, Apple podcasts, and all major podcast platforms.

Lectures, Workshops, Webinars

NEW! Investment webinars: The Maps Credit Union CFS investment team is conducting a Weekly Webinar Series on a variety of investment topics that include current market updates. Wednesday, July 29, noon - Economic Outlook - State of the Markets (Brighthouse)Wednesday, July 29, 3 p.m. - Wealth Transfer - Take charge of your legacyThursday, July 30, noon - Investing With Social Responsibility. This is one way to educate yourself without leaving the comfort and safety of your own home. (These are not OSU events but are tailored to OSU clients and during normal circumstances are held on campus. There is no charge.) 

Weight Watchers: WW (Weight Watchers) has launched new private virtual workshops for PEBB members. Get ready to see some familiar faces and join together for a weekly workshop guided by a WW Coach. Move closer to your weight-loss and wellness goals in this fun, supportive and private live Virtual Workshop. Current WW Members can view the Workshop schedule by joining PEBB’s Connect Group here.

Faculty Staff Fitness: OSU’s Faculty Staff Fitness Program is starting in-person fitness programming on campus July 20-Sept. 18. Registration is open. Please see https://health.oregonstate.edu/fsf/schedule/summer for the full list of classes. Not going to campus? FSF is offering over 200 pre-recorded, accessible any time, online fitness classes for summer term June 15-Sept. 18. Classes range from 10, 20, 30 to 60 minutes and involves formats including Weight Training, Cardio Kickboxing, Cardio Dance (similar to Zumba), Barre Fusion, Pilates, various Yoga styles, and more. Registration is $35 and is now open via: https://health.oregonstate.edu/fsf/online.

Diversity, equity and inclusion workshop: Oregon State University – Cascades will host a three-day diversity, equity and inclusion workshop for business leaders and community members interested in furthering their knowledge of social equality. OSU-Cascades business instructor Erika McCalpine will lead the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Intensive workshop. It will be offered via Zoom from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 3-5 and Aug. 17-19. Registration for the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Intensive is $300 per person and each three-day session is limited to 40 participants. Registration closes July 31 for the Aug. 3-5 session, and on Aug. 14 for the Aug. 17-19 session. To register, visit OSUcascades.edu/dei-intensive. For information, contact [email protected].

Core Curriculum for Current OSU Supervisors and Managers: Consists of online modules followed by 4 half-days of classroom training via Zoom. Topics include the performance management cycle (position descriptions, expectations/standards, engagement, appraisals, and integration), equal employment and affirmative action, ADA, discrimination and misconduct, safety and compensation, and supervising represented employees. Aug. 10-13 via Zoom, 8:15 a.m. to noon each day. Registration required; closes Aug. 7.

Clean Water conference: Applications are now being accepted to host project display pages at the 2020 Oregon State Clean Water Virtual Conference, which will take place Sept. 1, 2020. If you are working on a project related to clean and sustainable water technology, this is an opportunity for you to share your work with a wide audience of industry professionals, faculty, students, alumni, and the public. Learn more at engineering.oregonstate.edu/cleanwater2

Managers as Leaders: Applications for Managers as Leaders 2020 are now being accepted. Managers as Leaders is a skill-building course for managers and supervisors. It integrates 6 day-long class sessions with online learning and on-the-job practice.  It features team-learning, mentors, and practical tools. All managers/supervisors are encouraged to apply. Contact Kristen Magis for more information. Submit online applications on the Managers as Leaders webpage between now and Sept. 4. 

Free, self-paced, online training: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Remote Work Environments: The recent pandemic has caused a massive, sudden shift to remote work for many companies. This shift impacts efforts to advance diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace, both in positive and potentially challenging ways. The OSU Center for the Advancement of Women in Leadership created this short (15 minute), self-paced training directed at managers, employee resource group members, HR professionals, and anyone invested in DEI work in their organization. It provides an overview of remote work and DEI, ways in which remote work can promote and challenge DEI efforts, and a series of practical strategies designed especially for promoting inclusion in remote workplaces. Register for the training. Then, join our Slack community to keep the conversation going.

Tier Two workshops, New Tier One dates, Remote delivery of Social Justice Education workshops is happening now: See the schedule and register for Zoom workshops through fall 2020 here. See three brand new Tier Two collaborations created for our community today. The SJEI is an excellent foundational professional development program for all faculty, staff and graduate students. Join your colleagues to begin, or expand, your equity and inclusion journey. Interested in this work for your unit? Contact SJEI director Jane Waite for further information: [email protected]

Search Advocate Workshops: More OSU Search Advocate workshops are now available by Zoom. Search advocates are outside process advisors who participate on employee search committees; their goal is to encourage culture and practices that favor equity, validity, and diversity. Search advocacy offers faculty and staff an opportunity to work with colleagues in other parts of the university, build new skills and perspectives, and contribute to the university’s progress towards inclusive excellence. The initial workshop series is a sequence of four 4-hour Zoom workshops. Those who complete the series may choose to have their names added to the Search Advocate Directory and will be eligible to serve as advocates until September 2021. Three-hour continuing education workshops for current advocates are also available. To register, go to the Professional Development website. Questions? Contact Anne Gillies at [email protected] or 541-760-6160.

Take Note

NEW! What’s Next? A new podcast tells OSU alumni stories: Seizing opportunities is what Oregon State alumni do. Take a closer look at the dreams, achievements and advice of Beaver grads in the brand-new What’s Next? podcast. Check out the first few episodes, and subscribe to hear more. Host Cody Stover, ’15, talks with successful alumni, like Willen Sin, ’13, a fan turned game operations and events manager for the Portland Trailblazers; and Sydney Wiese, ’17, former OSU Women’s Basketball star point guard and current WNBA Los Angeles Sparks player. Listen in at osualum.com/WhatsNext

Free online, self-paced training: Recruiting Diverse Talent: Research links workforce diversity to multiple indicators of employee satisfaction and financial health. This short online training from the Center for the Advancement of Women in Leadership helps search committee members and managers understand why diversity makes good business sense, how implicit bias can impact the recruitment process, and offers strategies for addressing bias in the hiring process to recruit talented, diverse candidate pools. Register today, and let us know your thoughts by joining our Slack community as well.

Master Recycler class: Would you like to learn all about waste reduction, reuse and recycling to help spread change in our community? Secure your spot in this annual class, now on Zoom. Monday nights, Sept. 28-Dec. 7 plus two Thursday Q&A sessions. Free to residents of Linn and Benton County who agree to “pay back” what they learned by completing 30 hours of volunteer service. Visit http://tiny.cc/recycclass for more details and to sign-up.

OSU Libraries announces summer services: From July 20-Sept. 7, the Valley Library will be closed but study spaces will be open in Java II and outdoors on the library plaza.  We’ll continue our digital services. We’ll continue to offer interlibrary loan and Scan and Deliver services, and to mail physical items to users. Book drops will be open. Due dates are extended until the building reopens. We’ll process purchase requests. More info is at https://library.oregonstate.edu/osu-libraries-announces-summer-schedule.

Mid-Monthly Emergency Preparedness Topic: Lighting in Disasters. Lighting is one of the most essential pieces of an emergency kit. While most people are familiar with flashlights, there are other options to consider. This month’s poster can be downloaded at: https://emergency.oregonstate.edu/emergency-preparedness/preparedness-topics/light-disaster

Carol Leder retirement: Carol Leder has served as the head advisor in the College of Business since 2013, and worked in the College since 2001. Her last day will be July 29. Due to COVID-19, the College will not be holding any farewell gathering. However, if you would like to say any thank yous or goodbyes please send them directly to her via email ([email protected]) before that date. The new COB head advisor is Kyle Ross.
 

Traffic and Maintenance

Summer paving: As part of the summer 2020 parking lot paving schedule, parking lot closures for asphalt renewal are planned for the following parking lots: #3278 (Sports Complex East), #3205 (Adams Northeast) and #3313 (Bates North). The lots will be fully or partially closed for construction and planned closure durations are subject to change as construction proceeds. Work for lot #3313 (Bates North) is scheduled to start on Thursday, July 23 and continue through Tuesday, Aug. 11. Work for lot #3205 (Adams Northeast) is scheduled to start on Friday, July 31 and continue through Wednesday, Aug. 19. Work for lot #3278 (Sports Complex East) is scheduled to start on Friday, July 31 and continue through Tuesday, Aug. 25. For questions or comments on this closure, contact Infrastructure Project Manager Aaron Collett at 541-207-2780.

Irish Bend Covered Bridge Rehabilitation: Construction is scheduled to begin on the Irish Bend Covered Bridge along SW Campus Way on July 6, lasting until September. The bridge rehabilitation includes installing a fire suppression system, repainting and repairs to the wood structure. The covered bridge and Campus Way Path will be closed; SW Campus Way will remain open.

Postponed: Annual Steam Shutdown-Campus Wide: Each year Facilities Services performs necessary maintenance on the university’s steam system, which requires shutting off the steam throughout campus, to complete maintenance services at the plant, throughout the steam tunnels and in each building. This process affects hot water supply, heating, and all equipment that uses steam, campus wide. The decision has been made to postpone the annual steam shut down until August in order to stay within the guidelines from the Governor, university, State and CDC’s orders. The steam shutdown for 2020 will occur from Aug. 24 at 11 p.m. to Aug. 27 at 8 a.m. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you all for your understanding. For questions or comments on this closure, contact Facilities Services at 541-737-2969.

Jobs

This email only lists new or recently updated job postings. For a full list of current job postings for OSU Today, go to: http://today.oregonstate.edu/email/jobs To apply for the below positions, visit http://oregonstate.edu/jobs unless otherwise specified

NEW! Executive Assistant to the Dean - The College of Business invites applicants for a full-time (1.0 FTE) 12-month Executive Assistant to the Dean position. Posting #P03891UF. This is an internal employment opportunity. Closes July 30.

Weather

“I'm trying to speak — to write — the truth. I'm trying to be clear. I'm not interested in being fancy, or even original. Clarity and truth will be plenty, if I can only achieve them.” ~ Writer Octavia Butler.

Corvallis: Sunny today with a heat advisory, high of 95, low of 59. Sunny tomorrow.

Central Oregon: Sunny today with a high of 95 and a low of 67. Sunny tomorrow.

Newport: Mostly sunny today with a high of 67 and low of 53. Gradual clearing tomorrow.

Statewide: For OSU employees around the state, find your local forecast here: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/