OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
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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! Teaching Principle: Make it clear in Canvas how students should begin the course; be proactive about communicating with students. See all the Remote and Blended Course Design and Teaching Principles.
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.
Paul Catino’s summer internship has put him on the front lines of the West’s cataclysmic fire season. He and other workers at timber company Campbell Global launched an initial attack against a wildfire on company land, working until the early morning hours with bulldozers with flashlights to clear a “contingency line” to box in the fire. He was back at it for five or six hours the next day, and the following day worked 12 to 15 hours. “It was an unreal experience for me,” says Mr. Catino, a senior at Oregon State University in Corvallis majoring in forest management.
“The body responds by releasing the same immune cells it would to fight a virus, but unlike a virus, these particles can’t be broken down,” Perry Hystad, an environmental epidemiologist at Oregon State University, said. “They can reach the bloodstream, the heart, liver and even the brain, so these small particles can create all kinds of short- and long-term health concerns.”
Researchers from Washington State University, Oregon State University and the University of California-Davis are all involved in the effort, which carries significant economic ramifications. The farm gate value of winegrapes across the three states is $4.5 billion, Scharlau said — not including the added value of the wine itself.
“It fits into a many-year western United States pattern of more fires. More large fires. More destructive fires,” said Erica Fleishman, director of the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute at Oregon State University. “And all of that is consistent with what climate scientists and ecologists and others have been projecting for decades.”
Larry Griggs, who spent decades working in educational opportunity programs at Oregon State University, has died at the age of 76, the university has announced.
George Poinar, an entomologist and paleontologist at Oregon State University in Corvallis who described the ancient cricket, stands by his conclusions. But regardless of which fossil is the oldest, this new discovery shows that certain features — like giant sperm — have stood the test of time, Poinar says.
Bryson Robertson, associate professor of civil and construction engineering at Oregon State University and co-director of the Pacific Marine Energy Center, agrees. “Fifty percent is low. Like, that’s not a high bar so Oregon should nail that,” said Robertson. “When I start to have misgivings is when people say 100% because getting up to 80 or 90 is actually not incredibly difficult — it’s that last 10% that is incredibly difficult,” he said.
Fall is coming right up and all of those end-of-season projects are looming, and now gardeners are wondering what they need to do to help their plants and soil after the smoke, ash and heavy winds that came with Oregon’s devastating wildfires. If you’ve got questions, turn to Ask an Expert, an online question-and-answer tool from Oregon State University’s Extension Service.
Vehicles carrying new students were corralled in the Reser Stadium parking lot, where students then picked up care packages, self-administered rapid COVID-19 tests and were escorted to their residence halls in small groups. Due to the hybrid approach OSU is taking for classes, the university only expects around 2,500 students to live on campus this year. Many of them are moving in between Friday and Tuesday. (see also KGW, Bend Bulletin)
OSU spokesman Steve Clark said every student is given a COVID-19 rapid test on-site before moving into a residence hall and must show a negative test result to move in. He said the results are visible within the hour. “If they test negative, they're able to move into their residence hall room,” Clark said. “If they test positive, they have two choices. They can either go into isolation within designated isolation rooms we have on campus and remain there until they are no longer testing positive. Or they can return to their home community and return to Oregon State when they're no longer positive.”
McComb is an accomplished academic, and a pioneer in Oregon transgender rights. She served as a dean and vice provost at Oregon State University. She's also an expert on a subject a lot of people around here are debating: forest management.
The 1918 flu pandemic altered American life in ways that are familiar to those living through the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. Conflicting information left people wary and fearful, college classes were held outside, sports were cancelled, masks were challenged as un-American and fines imposed on those who refused to wear them. Christopher McKnight Nichols recounted how the country experienced the events of a century ago and the lessons we might learn. He directs Oregon State University’s Center for the Humanities.
Today’s view: “My home office view has improved tremendously since March," says Keila Mintz, assistant athletic director with Athletic Business Ops. “We added a patio garden, upgraded the patio furniture and rebuilt the patio cover to create a cheerful sight.” We've seen lots of your workspaces. Now it's time to see the view from your windows (or decks or balconies). Submit photos of your view (please don't include photos of people without their permission) and send it in an email to [email protected]. Follow OSU Today on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/osutoday1/ and catch up on any workspace photos you might have missed so far.
University Budget Conversation: On Monday, Sept. 21 from noon to 1 p.m, the Office of Budget and Resource Planning will hold a Zoom webinar to discuss Budget Planning in Uncertain Times with a very brief update and Q&A about budget planning for 2020-2021. The Budget Conversation sessions are limited to 60 minutes with the initial 15-20 minutes spent on presentation of the topic, leaving time for discussion and Q&A. To register for this webinar click here. More information about University Budget Conversations is located on the Office of Budget and Resource Planning website. If you have questions, please contact Sherm Bloomer for more information.
“Hear Voices” of Peace: Sept. 21 is the UN International Day of Peace. Join Ann Mbacke of Progress Village Foundation and Linda Richards of OSU's School of History, Philosophy and Religion who will share audio recordings of Black American leaders who confronted “militaristic” nuclear technological supremacy, followed by a discussion about leadership today. Visit our Facebook page for Zoom link coming soon. Monday, Sept. 21, 7 p.m.
New2OSU: CTL has announced a fully remote and gamified New2OSU program. New2OSU impacts student success by accelerating the effectiveness of those newer to teaching and/or OSU. With customizable learning pathways, New2OSU can support you regardless of your location and the modality in which you teach. Participants are asked to commit 3 hours per week for three terms. CTL accepts 20 applicants per term on a first-come basis and launches Sept. 21. Spots fill quickly. Register now.
NEW! Regional Connections – virtual events for students and alumni: The OSU Alumni Association’s new virtual networking events begin Tuesday, Sept. 22. Students, alumni and friends can join exciting conversations hosted by regional volunteers from Central Oregon, Seattle, Northern California, Southern California and Portland, as well as a special “all-regions” event. Share your experience, connect and network with others in your field, find new friends, get help with career searches or simply socialize. Plus, learn about professional career guidance and other resources available, just for Beaver Nation. Join an event in your region, or drop in on a different region if you’d like to make new friends or learn about the area. See a calendar of upcoming events and register at osualum.com/regionalconnections.
NEW! Open Enrollment for 2021 PEBB Benefits is right around the corner: It will be held Oct. 1-31. Participation in Open Enrollment is optional for all employees this year. There are still some very good reasons to participate in the process. Employees can use this matrix PEBB created to help them decide if they want to participate in Open Enrollment to make changes, updates, or enroll or re-enroll in certain benefits. Detailed information about plan changes and Open Enrollment guidance can be found at: OSU Open Enrollment website: https://hr.oregonstate.edu/benefits/optional-open-enrollment-2021-benefits.
NEW! Virtual Benefits Fair: OSU Employee Benefits is hosting a Virtual Benefits Fair Oct. 5-9. Please take time to check out the virtual booth of each vendor at the Virtual Benefits Fair website. Employees can learn more about the comprehensive benefit options offered at OSU. Employees can download resources, watch videos, chat with vendors, check out the webinar options, and be entered in a drawing for vendor door prizes.
Engineering Student Council: The Engineering Student Council is introducing ENGINEERING+ Launch on Sept. 22. RSVP here. Noon to 1 p.m.: Tune in to a Keynote Address and Q&A with Patricia Walsh. 1-3 p.m.: Learn about clubs, programs, and resources in the College of Engineering, and chat with representatives live. Any questions? Contact [email protected].
Oregon Hemp Field Day: The Global Hemp Innovation Center will host the first annual Oregon Hemp Field Day. Students, Extension and researchers from across Oregon will present highlights of their work thus far in the 2020 season. We will provide a view of hemp being grown in the principal regions south to north, west to east. Due to the statewide fires still out of control, this virtual event originally planned for Sept. 18 has been postponed to Sept. 23 from 10 a.m. to noon. The first half hour will be devoted to the impact of recent fires and smoke to a hemp crop. Registration is required in advance for this meeting: https://agsci.oregonstate.edu/hemp#fd
Professional Faculty Leadership Association open house: This event is open to all OSU employees. Sept. 24, noon to 1 p.m. via ZOOM. Learn more about the benefits of being a member & how you can join PFLA.
UPDATED! Flu shot clinics: OSU will be hosting flu shot clinics in Corvallis and Bend in October for employees and students. The process will look different this year to comply with COVID-19 requirements. Corvallis campus dates are Oct. 1 and Oct. 14 in the MU Ballroom. Complete the online registration process at https://beav.es/flu-clinic. The online registration process collects information ahead of time and enables you to schedule appointments. Complete all three steps in order to successfully schedule an appointment. On the final step, use the zip code 97331 to access the OSU Flu Shot Clinics. For OSU-Cascades, dates are Oct. 7-8, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Drive-up and appointment options will be available. For more information about options and logistics for the Flu Shot Clinics in Bend please contact [email protected]. For more information visit this website.
Beaver Community Fair: Annually the Beaver Community Fair draws together the OSU and greater Corvallis communities to celebrate the start of the academic year. The fair will be held online this year on Friday, Oct. 2. There will be two 2-hour time slots and registrants can choose which time they would prefer. If you would like to be one of the OSU departments or student organizations with a dedicated virtual space, please sign up at our website by Sept. 18 at 5 p.m: https://clubs.oregonstate.edu/bcf
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. This is one way to educate yourself without leaving the comfort and safety of your own home. Wednesday, Sept. 23, noon, Economic Outlook (First Trust); Wednesday, Sept. 23, 3 p.m., PERS and Retirement Planning (OPSRP); Thursday, Sept. 24, noon, CD Alternatives - More Options Than You Think. These are not OSU events but are tailored to OSU clients and during normal circumstances are held on campus. There is no charge.
NEW! Successful Virtual Events: Tips, Tricks and Strategies: This interactive session will provide helpful information for planning and executing two styles of virtual events at OSU: linear events (such as webinars), and non-linear events (such as hub-style conferences). Learn how to set up and run a smooth, professional-looking webinar from start to finish; and how to design the basics of a hub-style event that features multiple, simultaneous participation opportunities for guests. Live audience Q&A included. Presented by Katherine Du Pont (College of Business) and Brad Canfield (College of Engineering). Oct. 7, 11 a.m. to noon. Free and open to all. Register here
Tuesday Teaching: CTL has announced a fully remote Tuesday Teaching +Tech Talks (T4). T4 is a certificated series of interactive teaching workshops that introduce a wide range of pedagogical techniques and educational technology. T4 is open to all. Supporting all teaching modalities, sessions are held via Zoom every Tuesday, 10-11:50 a.m. Recordings will follow. Registration is not necessary. Attend one, some, or all. See the T4 Website for more information. First session: Sept. 22. Concentric Circles of Care: Teaching in Tough Times.
DFA Risk Appetite and Risk Assessment Tools: Train the Trainer: Insurance and Risk Management Services will facilitate a workshop for unit leaders and supervisors to provide exposure to the DFA Risk Appetite Statements and Risk Assessment Tools. Attendees will gain hands-on practice and develop the skills necessary to assist other employees in understanding and incorporating the DFA Risk Appetite Statements and Risk Assessment Tools into their work. Zoom session, Sept. 22, 2 – 3:30 p.m. Registration required.
Faculty Staff Fitness: The OSU Faculty Staff Fitness program will be offering both in-person and online fitness options fall term and winter break 2020. Registration for both opens Sept. 1. In-person, on-campus classes will be 9 weeks from Sept. 23 through Nov. 25. The schedule can be found at: https://health.oregonstate.edu/fsf/schedule/fall. Our on-campus safety procedures can be found at: https://health.oregonstate.edu/fsf/policies/covid. There will be two sessions of Online Faculty Staff Fitness classes with over 300 pre-recorded fitness classes you can access anytime, anywhere with your internet connection. Fall Online Faculty Staff Fitness will run for 10 weeks Sept. 18-Nov. 30, for $35. Winter Break Online Faculty Staff Fitness will run for 5 weeks Nov. 30-Jan. 4, 2021 for $20. More information about our Online Faculty Staff Fitness classes can be found at: https://health.oregonstate.edu/fsf/online. Contact [email protected] if you have questions.
Inspiring conversations with changemaking Beaver alumni: In a new live webcast series, CLA Professor Susan Shaw sits down with alumni who are advancing justice, equity and access in their communities. Join the conversation Oct. 12 to kick off the Changemakers series with former NFL running back Jacquizz Rodgers. Later this fall, learn about the accomplishments of Sen. Sara Gelser and Luhui Whitebear, plus more to come in the free series presented by the OSU Alumni Association. Learn more and register.
Free Webinars: Professional Development for Business, Leadership, and Communication: Join Continuing and Professional Education and the College of Business for topics delivered online to help navigate your professional life. This fall, join industry experts for free one-hour webinars that cover topics including project management, negotiation, leadership, human resources, nonprofit management, and others. Call 541-737-1500 for more information: https://business.oregonstate.edu/programs/continuing-and-professional-education/free-webinars
NEW! Open Enrollment Questions: Due to COVID-19 circumstances the Employee Benefits team will not have scheduled in-person help sessions. If you need assistance with Open Enrollment or have questions, please contact Employee Benefits at [email protected] or 541-737-2805. We can set up a Zoom call or phone call to assist you. You can also schedule an appointment with a Benefits Team member through Microsoft Bookings. Links are listed on the HR Directory page here.
NEW! FEMA Wildfire Assistance: The wildfires in Oregon have impacted OSU employees through evacuations or actual damage to homes. If you sustained uninsured losses or damage due to wildfires beginning Sept. 7, 2020, you may be eligible for disaster aid. Federal funds are available to help eligible individuals recover from wildfire in Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn and Marion Counties. For more information, to check eligibility, or to apply, visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).
NEW! Open Textbook Pilot program: The U.S. Department of Education has announced the call for proposals for its Open Textbook Pilot program. The Open Textbook Pilot is a federal grant program that supports multi-institutional projects that create or expand the use of open textbooks to achieve savings for students in higher education. A total of $6 million in grants will be distributed in FY 2020. For questions, please email Stefanie Buck, director of OSU Open Educational Resources. Deadline is Nov. 16.
NEW! Proposed Updates to University Policies & Standards: Visit the University Policy Program’s What’s New page (http://policy.oregonstate.edu/whats-new) to view a pending policy amendment. Proposed University Standard 07-005 Alcohol Servicedescribes the registration and approval process for serving alcohol. This page is updated frequently with new developments, so we encourage you to check back frequently. Comments or questions may be submitted to [email protected].
President’s Commission on the Status of Women: PCOSW provides funding for OSU community members to pursue professional development, research or other opportunities that support PCOSW’s mission. Scholarships average $300. During this unusual time, we will accept applications for summer, fall and winter terms on a rolling basis. Applications for providing funding for projects/activities that have already occurred since July 2020 will also be considered. We will return to our normal application deadlines at the end of fall term. Please note: PCOSW cannot award scholarships to pay employee fees, salaries, stipends, tuition or wages. https://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0SXJDIba8v71fSt If you have any questions, please contact Joy Jorgensen, PCOSW Scholarships and Awards Committee, [email protected]
Last Chance to Join the Fall Conversation on Blended Learning: Wondering how to engage students in blended courses, now or in the future? Academic Technology and CTL invite instructors and tenured/tenure-track faculty who teach Corvallis and Cascades campus courses to join a faculty cohort and explore blended learning and ed tech during Fall term. Funding provided. See Call for Proposals. Brief proposals due Sept. 23. Space limited; apply now.
2020 Wildfires Resource Page: Many members of the Beaver community are directly affected by these unprecedented wildfires, while others are working night and day to control the fires and provide safety for others. In addition to the regular content on the Beaver Lodge (osualum.com/BeaverLodge), the OSU Alumni Association has gathered info from across OSU to help Beavers and their friends and families navigate these challenging times and learn useful fire tools from OSU experts. You’ll find a range of topics from advice from the Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine about caring for injured animals to tips from the OSU Extension Service about safely cleaning ash from your yard and garden. Visit osualum.com/Wildfires for more info.
University Day: Watch a recording of the University Day Keynote address, visit the virtual Expo and learn about the University Day award recipients by visiting universityday.oregonstate.edu. If you watch the keynote session recording and answer a quiz, you will be entered into the daily prize drawing through Sep. 25. For questions, contact [email protected].
$15K of Funding Available: The OSU Advantage Accelerator is currently seeking proposals that describe technology-based projects in any discipline that will move OSU-owned technologies closer to commercialization. Proposals should describe a project that requires $15,000 or less of funding to achieve an important milestone(s) connected to commercialization. Proposals can include expenses for activities related to customer discovery, prototyping, student time, research, commercialization plan development and more. Each project may be awarded up to $15,000 and should span 9 months or less, beginning in October 2020. Proposals are due no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23. Read the full RFP here: https://advantage.oregonstate.edu/advantage-accelerator/funding-opportunities/aid-fund
IT Strategic Plan 2023: University Information and Technology and the OSU IT community are nearing completion of our joint development of a strategic plan to guide the future of the university’s data and IT systems and services, including those located centrally and in academic or administrative units. To read the plan, learn about our shared vision and submit feedback, visit uit.oregonstate.edu/it-strategic-plan. We encourage the university community to share your thoughts by Sept. 30.
Mid-Monthly Emergency Preparedness Topic: Pets in Disasters - The likelihood that you and your animals will survive an emergency such as a fire or flood, tornado or earthquake is directly related to your level of emergency planning. Keep in mind that what is best for you is also typically best for your animals. This month’s poster can be downloaded at: https://emergency.oregonstate.edu/emergency-preparedness/preparedness-topics/pets-disasters
Join the Professional Faculty Leadership Association: The Executive Board of PFLA would like to invite all OSU employees to join this exciting, rewarding organization. In light of COVID-19, we are waiving our annual membership fee for this year (Sept. 1, 2020-June 30, 2021). So this is the perfect time to check out the benefits of PFLA membership. Visit the PFLA website for more information and Register now.
Apply now for the Ecampus Research Fellows Program: If you are interested in conducting research about online teaching and learning, the Ecampus Research Unit will help you plan your proposal for the Ecampus Research Fellows Program. The Ecampus Research Unit annually funds up to five faculty and/or department projects -- $20,000 each -- to support research in the areas of distance and online education, including hybrid delivery. Info sessions will be held Sept. 29 at 1 p.m. and Oct. 2 at 11 a.m. via Zoom. Applications are due Nov. 1. To register for one of the info sessions, contact Mary Ellen Dello Stritto, [email protected]
“Fall has always been my favorite season. The time when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale.” – Lauren Destefano
Corvallis: Patchy fog before 9 a.m. Otherwise, partly sunny. High of 76, low of 52. Mostly cloudy tomorrow.
Central Oregon: Mostly sunny today, high of 74, low of 42. Mostly sunny tomorrow.
Newport: Areas of fog and mostly cloudy, high of 69, low of 53. Mostly cloudy tomorrow.
Statewide: For OSU employees around the state, find your local forecast here: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/