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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: Do you have students who could benefit from additional support? Provide guidance on setting up remote study groups with their peers to help them build connections and support each other. The Academic Success Center offers successful study group strategies for students. Visit Keep Teaching for all the Mid-Summer Timely Teaching Tips.
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.
F. King Alexander, a prominent national advocate for public higher education, on Wednesday became Oregon State University’s 15th president. Alexander, past president and chancellor of Louisiana State University, was selected by the OSU Board of Trustees in December to succeed Edward J. Ray. Ray, who stepped down June 30, is now president emeritus at Oregon State.
Daniel López-Cevallos, a professor at Oregon State University who studies how health disparities affect Latinx communities, told NPR that another reason Latinx people are more at risk is that they're less likely to trust the government.
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted higher education in a number of ways. Many colleges went largely online with their classes, and some are still figuring out exactly how to handle fall enrollment. But university research of all kinds was arguably even more affected, with many projects paused, stopped or prevented altogether. And not all studies can be easily resumed as the state begins reopening while still in the midst of the pandemic. We talk with Tuba Ozkan-Haller, a marine researcher and associate vice president for research at Oregon State University who tells us how OSU is slowly ramping up research after several months on hold.
Meantime, Oregon State University also has a tentative plan. The idea is to provide on-site, in-person instruction. Many courses might be a hybrid of in-person and online learning to account for social distancing. (see also OPB News)
Oregon State University has received a grant that it says will help researchers across the Pacific Northwest to study how environmental exposure to chemicals affects human health. (see also KTVZ)
As Christopher Stout, a political scientist at Oregon State University, put it: “Wading into racial politics energizes Democrats.”
It turns out that it’s very rare to discover new color pigments. An Oregon chemist made a major breakthrough in the science of color a decade ago. He discovered the first new blue pigment in more than 200 years
When Oregon State University researchers conducted coronavirus testing in Newport in late June, they expected to find cases. They just didn’t know how many. In their random door-to-door sampling, nearly 570 people agreed to be tested. Among those, 13 people came back positive. When the researchers ran those results through their statistical software, which adjusts the results for the percentage of cases researchers would expect to find and the likelihood that the test might not pick up every case, they came up with a surprisingly high rate: 3.4%
Isolating the most effective virus safety measures won’t be simple. John A. Gambatese, a safety expert and professor of civil engineering at Oregon State University, anticipates difficulty in creating a control group against which a specific set of practices can be compared.
Regan A. R. Gurung, Ph.D., is Interim Executive Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning, Director of General Psychology program, Professor School of Psychological Science, Oregon State University. He is a social psychologist working on Applied Cognition in the classroom
Filley, 60, has been a livestock and forage specialist for the Oregon State University Extension Service for the past 21 years. She is based in Roseburg and when hired in 1998, her responsibility was Douglas County. But then because of state budget cuts, her job was extended to cover six counties and then altered again to cover all of Western Oregon.
Locally, officials at University of Oregon, Oregon State University and Portland State University have said they haven’t presented liability waivers to students, athletes, staff or the public. The Ducks, however, have asked athletes attending voluntary workouts to sign a form indicating that they’ve been educated about safety precautions to lessen the spread of the disease – but the form makes no mention of waiving legal rights.
Corvallis artist Andrew Myers (OSU faculty) will lead the project, bringing the joint artistic vision to life as people call, email or chat online about the work.
A Sellwood resident – when he is not teaching at the Oregon State University College of Business – is also building a business of his own with a particular hybrid of seaweed, bred and patented by Oregon State, at its Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport.
Everyone seems to be gardening during the pandemic so if you’ve got questions turn to Ask an Expert, an online question-and-answer tool from Oregon State University’s Extension Service.
Solar energy researchers at Oregon State University are shining their scientific spotlight on materials with a crystal structure discovered nearly two centuries ago.
Alvarado has been teaching creative writing for 30 years. For the first 25 years, she taught at the University of Arizona in her former home of Tucson. For the past five, she’s taught as part of Oregon State University-Cascades’ low-residency master of fine arts creative writing program. Had she not heard the news of her win via OPB, she likely would have learned the news quickly. Soon after the announcement, she began to receive congratulations from colleagues and former students.
A research project by Oregon State University’s Extension Service in Malheur County is examining whether grazing on invasive grasses can help mitigate wildfire threats in the sagebrush steppe.
In addition to being an Oregon State University nursery plant pathology specialist and bilingual educator, Luisa Santamaria is a member of the Oregon Board of Agriculture.
A piece by Alicia Christiansen, OSU Forestry Extension Agent.
Oregon State University will continue to have state troopers on campus through the end of the year, the university's president announced, delaying the creation of a new campus police department. (see also Democrat-Herald)
Today’s workspaces: Lauren Dalton, instructor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, says “This is a view this week of my daughter Faye from my OSU workspace. We start the active learning early with the littlest Beavers.”
When scrambling to find a space for her home office setup, Sonia Reagan decided to use her son’s recently vacated bedroom. “My 21-year-old must have been thinking about the wrong Oregon college when he painted his bedroom green before moving out. Luckily, I have a built-in perfect green screen backdrop for all of these Zoom video meetings, and a nice bright view outside to watch the swallows nesting around my farm.” Reagan is a ½ time Office Manager and a ½ time EPA2, helping to coordinate the Master Gardener Program in Columbia County. Follow OSU Today on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/osutoday1/ and catch up on any workspace photos you might have missed so far.
NEW! SEIU OSU workers meeting: SEIU will provide some updates, action items and answer any and all questions. July 8, noon to 1 p.m. Join Zoom Meeting http://www2.seiu503.org/e/171302/j-98231667690/2j393l/378514895?h=U0RMPNOxwUXXbKy4heUGyfDiRBjD_GE2-ECIzH-QyO4 Meeting ID: 982 3166 7690.
NEW! Celebrate Larry Roper’s retirement: Let’s celebrate Larry Roper’s important contributions, from national leadership to supporting students. We can share our appreciation for how he has changed OSU and wish him well as he takes this next step in life. Zoom gathering: Wednesday, July 8, noon to 1:30 p.m. For Zoom details, email [email protected] or [email protected] as soon as possible.
NEW! Managing People Through Change: If progress requires change, why can change be so difficult? Understanding how the change process impacts us is important to directing change efforts. Several change models will be integrated. As a participant, you will learn what to expect in the cycle of change and how to work with each phase to ease transitions for yourself and others. Recommended for managers and leaders. July 13 via Zoom, 1 – 3 p.m.. Registration required.
NEW! Situational Leadership: The Situational Leadership model illustrates how to adapt your supervisory or lead work style to support a range of employees, from new to experienced, as a way of bringing out the best in their performance. Scenarios will help you to gain practical knowledge and readily use the ideas to encourage employee development and success. Recommended for managers and leaders. July 15 via Zoom, 10 – 11:30 a.m.. Registration required.
NEW! Accountability - Commitment and Responsibility: There is a subtle distinction between accountability and responsibility that when understood changes the conversation when accountability issues arise. This short program will illustrate this distinction and allow you to consider the distinction by examining accountability issues. The end goal is greater commitment that results in increased productivity and personal effectiveness. July 22 via Zoom, 8:30 – 9 a.m. Registration required.
NEW! Developing High Performance Teams: Why do some teams consistently produce outstanding results and other teams perform moderately at best? We will examine distinguishing characteristics of high performing teams and provide tools and principles you can use to develop high level teams. Recommended for managers and leaders. July 22 via Zoom, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.. Registration required.
NEW! 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.
NEW! 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.
NEW! 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. – noon each day. Registration required; closes Aug. 7.
Department of Integrative Biology M.S. Defense Seminar: Emily L. Boring will present “Genetic structure, diversity, and mating system of Leptasterias sea stars: Potential for local adaptation?” on Friday, July 10 at 9 a.m. via Zoom. Boring is completing her M.S. in Integrative Biology under the guidance of Bruce Menge and Felipe Barreto. Free and open to the public. https://oregonstate.zoom.us/j/94274096051
Review an open textbook workshop: Interested in open educational resources but not quite ready to adopt an open textbook for your course? Unsure about the quality and content of OER? One way to get started is by reviewing an open textbook. Join OSU’s Open Educational Resources Unit on July 17 for an OER workshop and learn where to find free and openly licensed course materials. Sign up to review an open textbook and receive $200.
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.
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 July 3 and Aug. 6.
Cultivating Emotional Balance (CEB): 8-Week Series: CEB is a practical skills training committed to utilizing the experience of emotion as a path for developing well-being. By integrating wisdom traditions, modern psychology, current emotion research, and contemplative practices, CEB provides a secular platform for transformation. Led by Jacob Lindsley, an incoming member of OSU's SPS, and sponsored by OSU's Contemplative Studies Initiative. Eight Sundays: July 12-Aug. 30 noon to 3 p.m. via Zoom. $300 if registered by July 1. $100 for OSU Students. Email [email protected]. More info here.
Community Building & Social Distance Webinar: Join the Adventure Leadership Institute as we host a webinar on community building during the age of social distancing. Learn some activities and talk about why maintaining community is crucial during this time. Click the link to register: Community Building & Social Distance, Thursday, July 16, 2-3 p.m. Check out more of our webinars offered summer term here. Questions? Contact Emily Abrams.
Remote Floor Monitor Training: The Office of Emergency Preparedness is offering remote Floor Monitor and Building Manager evacuation training. This is open to OSU floor monitors and building managers to assist in their roles during building evacuation. To schedule, contact [email protected].
NEW! OSUsed Store Hours Extended for Staff: It is more important than ever that OSU use the resources it has and units save on their supplies budgets. Surplus Property now welcomes employees to shop for their OSU departments on Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the OSUsed Store at 644 SW 13th Street. Personal purchases may not be made at these times.
NEW! OSU Research for Undergraduates Network: The OSU Research for Undergraduates Network (RUN) provides space for undergraduate research mentors (faculty, graduate students, post-docs, etc.) and those who facilitate undergraduate research programs to collaborate and share promising practices. In addition to weekly conversations about undergraduate research, this year’s programming will cover topics like using Canvas to streamline undergraduate research experiences, culturally competent mentorship, navigating liability, strategies for remote mentoring, and more. Visit the OSU RUN website for more information: https://undergraduate.oregonstate.edu/research/run
NEW! Updates to University Policies & Standards: Please visit the University Policy & Standards page to learn about recent policy updates: http://policy.oregonstate.edu/whats-new. This page is updated frequently with new developments, so we encourage you to check back regularly. Also, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter here.
Beaver Champion Award: Every year on University Day the president awards the Beaver Champion award to an individual (or individuals) for outstanding effort, the achievement of excellence, extra effort beyond that requested, and performance of the highest quality that has yielded university-wide impact. The President’s Office is seeking nominations for this award. Send nomination letters to F. King Alexander, President, Office of the President, 600 Kerr Admin. Bldg. or to [email protected]. The nomination deadline is Friday, Aug. 14.
ADVANCE Journal: The ADVANCE Journal, hosted by OREGON STATE ADVANCE, announces the publication of its second edition. This issue of ADVANCE Journal highlights effective interventions to support the success of faculty women in STEM. Of particular note are faculty development opportunities that enhance peer support and mentoring. https://www.advancejournal.org/issue/1525
Call for submissions: The ADVANCE Journal, hosted by OREGON STATE ADVANCE, announces a special issue in honor of the 20th anniversary of the National Science Foundation’s ADVANCE program. The special issue theme is Collaborations, Collisions, and Connections. The goal of ADVANCE "is to increase the representation and advancement of women in academic science and engineering careers." Additional information and submissions portal found here: https://www.advancejournal.org/post/444. Deadline for submissions is March 31, 2021.
New Guide to Low-Waste Events: Students and staff from University Events, Campus Recycling, University Catering, Student Leadership & Involvement, and the Memorial Union partnered to develop an OSU-specific guide for hosting low-waste events. This resource is meant to help event planners, be they students or staff, shrink the waste footprint of their event. The document includes tips on reducing plastic, paper, and food waste as well as resources for collecting and managing waste at your events. Access the resource here.
Not sure what the next step is in your business venture? The OSU Advantage Accelerator is currently accepting applications for its first-ever VIRTUAL SUMMER Accelerate cohort which begins Wednesday, July 8. Accelerate is open to Oregon teams and/or teams with a connection to OSU who want to launch a high-growth business or want to explore the commercialization potential of a technology. Upon completion of the eight-week program, teams will have: an elevator pitch, a five minute pitch deck completed, product market validation, feedback from many mentors, and more. For teams with OSU intellectual property, completion of Accelerate enables eligibility for $15k of OSU AID funding. To learn more and apply, visit: https://advantage.oregonstate.edu/advantage-accelerator/programs/accelerate
Faculty & Staff COVID-19 Disaster Relief Fund Under IRS Code Section 139: In collaboration with the OSU Foundation, Oregon State University is offering emergency financial assistance grants through the OSU Faculty and Staff COVID-19 Disaster Relief Fund. The purpose of this fund is to help regular classified and unclassified employees in our university community with unexpected needs during this unprecedented time of the COVID-19 pandemic. All classified staff, professional faculty and academic/research faculty are eligible regardless of service time or FTE. An individual must be actively employed on the date of grant distribution. Read more about the details of the program here. Student hourly employees, graduate assistants, and stipend recipients (e.g., fellows) are not eligible. There are separate programs for students located here: https://financialaid.oregonstate.edu/covid-19.
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.
Planned Power Outage (limited impacts): July 16-18. There will be a planned power outage beginning Thursday, July 16, starting at 5 a.m. and lasting until Saturday, July 18, at 7 a.m. so that Pacific Power can replace switches and cables that feed various buildings along SW Jefferson Way. Fairbanks and Moreland Halls will be without power the duration of the outage; a number of buildings will be affected at the beginning and at the end of the outage. Visit powergrid.oregonstate.edu to learn more.
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.
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! Accessible Formats Coordinator – Disability Access Services invites applications for a full-time (1.0 FTE), 12-month, Accessible Formats Coordinator. Posting #P03852UF. Closes July 22.
“One of the big problems about the way in which our systems work at the moment is that there are so many blind eyes. And we can’t keep making the women to whom this happens responsible — they’re the ones who’ve got to speak. Why? We’ve got to look and say, ‘This is happening!'” ~ Emma Thompson.
Corvallis: Partly sunny today, high of 73, low of 52. Slight chance of showers Tuesday.
Central Oregon: Sunny, high of 76, low of 71. Sunny tomorrow.
Newport: Patchy fog and then mostly sunny, high of 63, low of 52. Slight chance of showers tomorrow.
Statewide: For OSU employees around the state, find your local forecast here: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/
