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 new page that provides detailed and up-to-date COVID-19 information; links to OSU, local, state and federal resources; updates on the latest federal travel restrictions; and previous university communications about the virus and other information. Additionally CDC information (including Spanish resources) can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/communication/factsheets.html
OSU Experience website: We’re in this together. The OSU Experience website has been updated to support the remote learning experience of students. The site includes ways for students to connect with one another while maintaining social distance, to find mental health support and to engage in online co-curricular programming. Keep checking back as the site will be continually updated throughout the term.
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.
Experts believe COVID-19 is a zoonotic disease that originated in animals before it was transmitted to humans. Bats are believed to have been the source of COVID-19, as well as some other deadly zoonotic disease outbreaks like MERS-CoV and SARS. We hear from Oregon State University professor and veterinarian Christiane Löhr about how infectious diseases can jump from animals to humans.
More than 17,500 people have signed up for a vegetable gardening course at Oregon State University, as people across the country adhere to government orders to stay at home as much as possible.
When Oregon State University's Master Gardener program offered a free online gardening class, the Facebook announcement was shared more than 24,000 times.
The Oregon State University Board of Trustees will meet from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday to discuss tuition rates, public safety, the university’s COVID-19 response and other topics.
An interview by OSU's Susan Shaw.
Regardless of the mechanism, the finding that diversity at the level of a single gene potentially has an impact on yield at the group level could have implications for agriculture—especially considering the gene studied is common across plant species. “I think that it would be interesting to try out a blend similar to the Nicotiana experiment in a crop species and see how it performs over a number of environments,” says Jim Myers, a geneticist and vegetable breeder at Oregon State University in Corvallis, who was not involved in the study.
By the end of March, said Heidi Noordjik, small farms coordinator at Oregon State University, some markets had switched to prepay and drive-thru options only.
The Oregon State University research into the microscopic algae, part of NASA's North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study, was published this week in the International Society for Microbial Ecology Journal.
Today’s workspace: “This is my new coworker, Happy the Siamese cat, who thinks she is super helpful,” says Danielle Franklin, search and events coordinator with OSU Ecampus. Send your home workspace photos 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.
Please be aware that in this quickly shifting environment, some events may be cancelled at the last minute and updates may not have been provided to OSU Today in time.
NEW! SEIU Union meetings by conference call: A Q&A conference call is being held for SEIU members at two different times. For all workers coming to a building/campus: Thursday, April 2, noon to 1 p.m., dial in: 503-673-1609, participant code: 10451. For all employees able to telecommute: Friday, April 3, noon to 1 p.m., dial in: 503-673-1604, participant code: 38516. If you fall somewhere in between, or can only make one call, that's OK; jump on. Email or text/call with questions: 630-699-0281 or [email protected] or see http://local083.seiu503.org/.
NEW! Forestry lectures: The College of Forestry has put together a “Stay At Home Lecture Series” to help people learn about a range of forestry-related issues as they shelter in place. The weekly series begins at 3 p.m. Thursday, April 2, and will include 20- to 30-minute presentations plus time for questions and answers. For more information, see https://www.forestry.oregonstate.edu/stay-home-lecture-series
Punch Through Pandemics spring course open to students, public: Punch Through Pandemics, starting March 30, is brought to you by Oregon State University's School of Psychological Science. This 10-week course is designed to harness the rich tools afforded by psychology to address the current and novel situation we are facing with COVID-19. The PSY 499 course is led by Kathy Becker-Blease, Regan A.R. Gurung, and Kate Gallagher. Students can enroll in an Ecampus or Corvallis section for credit, or sign up for the free public version through Canvas. Members of the public can also sign up for free. For more information, go to https://www.punchcovid19.com/.
NEW! Music à la Carte: The Music à la Carte concert series will host a series of Facebook Live events starting this Friday, keeping alive the decades-long tradition while following Oregon State University’s commitment to help reduce the risk and spread of COVID-19. While the in-person performances have been canceled, a new series of 30-minute Facebook Live events will be held on Fridays at noon throughout the term. This week, on April 3 at noon, tune in to hear Jan Michael Looking Wolf Reibach, on Native American Flute. Reibach, a popular OSU music instructor, is a One World Music Radio Lifetime Achievement Award Winner and has received numerous awards as a Native flute player. The Music à la Carte Facebook page can be found at: https://beav.es/4Ns.
UPDATED! Board of Trustees: The OSU Board of Trustees will meet from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Friday, April 3, to consider tuition rates, mandatory fees and student incidental fees for the 2020-21 academic year and summer session 2020, and a reduction in spring 2020 incidental fees. The board also will consider public safety and enforcement programming for OSU’s Corvallis campus, the university’s biennial capital funding request to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, updates to the educator equity plan required by state statute, the creation of schools within the College of Business, and other reports. The board will receive updates on the university’s COVID-19 response and on Oregon’s most recent legislative session. The board will hold an executive session pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(d) to conduct deliberations with persons designated by the governing body to carry on labor negotiations. In keeping with the Governor’s Executive Order to Stay Home, Stay Safe and university measures to reduce the risk and spread of COVID-19, the meeting will be hosted through a remote conferencing service. Members of the public have several options for providing comment during the board meeting’s general comment period and in testimony before board votes on each action item. Instructions for joining the meeting and options for providing comment are located under “Meeting Details” at this webpage: https://leadership.oregonstate.edu/trustees/meetings/board-meeting-04032020. The Finance andAdministration Committee will meet from 8:30-9:45 a.m. that same day. Instructions for joining the meeting are located under “Meeting Details” at this webpage: https://leadership.oregonstate.edu/trustees/meetings/finance-administrative-committee-meeting-04032020. Agendas and meeting materials will be posted as they are available. If you have any difficulties access the meeting, please email [email protected].
Search Advocate Workshops: All OSU Search Advocate workshops will be offered via Zoom for the next 2+ months. 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 full two-day sequence. 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.
People and Nature Lunch Series: Tuesday, April 7, from noon to 12:50 p.m. via Zoom (https://beav.es/PAN). Kali Abel (Geography) presents “Ice to Waves: Adaptation Limits, Mobility, and Anomic Activity in Santa Marta, Colombia.” The lecture is free and open to all. Sponsored by the Department of Fisheries & Wildlife’s Human Dimensions Lab. For more information: https://PeopleAndNatureOSU.weebly.com.
Health and Community Building Webinars: Join the Adventure Leadership Institute as we host several webinars around adventure, health and community building topics during the age of social distancing. Click the links to register: Nature and Health, April 7 at 5 p.m., and Community Building in the Age of COVID-19, April 15 at 3 p.m. Check out more of our webinars offered Spring term here. Questions? Contact Emily Abrams.
People and Nature Lunch Series: Tuesday, April 14, from noon to 12:50 p.m. via Zoom (https://beav.es/PAN). Kei Lin Chang (Environmental Arts and Humanities) presents “Using National Geographic as a case study for understanding narrative communication strategies." The lecture is free and open to all. Sponsored by the Department of Fisheries & Wildlife’s Human Dimensions Lab. For more information: https://PeopleAndNatureOSU.weebly.com.
OSU Science on Tap LIVESTREAM: Digging into Archeology — Hear about current research by College of Liberal Arts Professor Loren Davis, a nationally recognized expert. Learn about North America’s earliest people, showcasing the discoveries from the Cooper’s Ferry site in western Idaho and on Cedros Island along Mexico’s Pacific Coast. April 7, 6 p.m., osualum.com/sot.
Kognito: Recognizing and Supporting Students in Distress Training: College can be stressful at times and especially now! Build the confidence to talk with a student whom you’re concerned about. Be prepared to lead real-life conversations with students that build resilience, strengthen relationships and connect them with support. Visit beav.es/Zzp to access the faculty/staff online training so you can recognize and support OSU students in distress. To access the student version visit: beav.es/ZD3 For questions contact Tessie Webster-Henry: [email protected]
FSF online classes: Faculty Staff Fitness is now hosting online classes. Programs offered will include strength/weight training, gentle exercise, cardio kickboxing, swim land training, pilates and yoga, which will be tailored to your home environment with household equipment. $20 for an unlimited three-month package. Register here, and receive an invitation to join the page. New content will be added throughout the term to supplement your well-being while being away from your usual fitness routine. If you were already registered for Spring 2020 Faculty Staff Fitness classes, you have two options: Email [email protected] and let us know that you want to sign up for our Online FSF programming and receive an account credit with the rest of your registration for future classes, or receive a full refund by emailing [email protected]. Contact Dee Gillen with questions about online classes or your account.
STEM Academy: STEM Academy is hosting a broad range of STEM Summer Day Camps from mid-June through early-August for students who will be entering 3rd-12th grades in the Fall of 2020. Registration for the summer program is open. Topics include: Transportation, Color Innovation, Coding, iINVENT, Web Design, Engineering, Computer Graphics, Cybersecurity, Biochemistry, Sketch Up, Computational Biology, Drones, Powered Machines, Science Exploration, Lego Robotics, Wildlife Science, and Computational Mystery of Board Games. For more information, or to register online, please visit http://stemacademy.oregonstate.edu. For questions, call 541-737-8139 or email [email protected]. Scholarships available for many camps.
NEW! Facilities Services: Facilities Services continues to work hard to maintain, preserve and protect the Corvallis campus, including working with our custodial partner ABM on developing a specialized cleaning protocol for our campus facilities. The Work Coordination Center is open and up-to-date information on services, resources and access during the COVID-19 response is available on the Facilities Services website.
NEW! University Ombuds Office Offers Remote Consultations to Staff, Faculty and Students: Finding the transition from on-site work and study to telecommuting challenging? The University Ombuds Office is available for the university community during this time of transition. Whether addressing ongoing conflict that has become more complex, or new issues that are arising, the Ombuds are available to listen to your concerns and help you explore options for addressing them. All consultations are confidential and informal. Ombuds are available Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., via phone or Zoom. To schedule an appointment, call 541-737-4537 or email [email protected]. (Confidentiality cannot be promised in matters relating to threats of public safety, child abuse, or when there is imminent risk of serious harm.)
NEW! OSU Homecoming Court 2020: Encouraging all OSU students to apply to represent Oregon State as a member of the 2020 Homecoming Court. Members are honored with a one-time $500 scholarship and opportunities to voice their ideas to distinguished university leaders, partners and alumni throughout the year. Applications will be open through April 20.
NEW! Fiscal policy feedback: In accordance with the fiscal policy program, the Fiscal Policy Committee is soliciting your feedback on new fiscal policy drafts for Cash Out and for Gift Funds. For more information and instructions on how to provide your valued feedback, please visit Policy Under Review on the Fiscal Policy Program website.
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.
Remote Advising Office Hours: To support the current transition to remote advising facing academic advisors and academic counselors, Jenesis Long is offering Remote Advising Consultations via Zoom. Bring your questions or specific situations for in-the-moment problem-solving this week (March 30-April 3): Daily 10 a.m. to noon, plus additional hours 1-3 p.m. Thursday, April 2. Join here. Additional resources for remote advising available in Canvas for Advisors.
Health & Safety: The University Health & Safety Committee wants to promote health and safety by providing the following information from IT in regards to working from home https://uit.oregonstate.edu/keep-working/home-setup. You can also access OSU’s University Health & Safety Committee online at http://ehs.oregonstate.edu/uhsc, including past meeting minutes, information on how to contact a committee member, and a link to report safety concerns online.
Annual Program Assessment Reports, New Due Date: As many faculty are adjusting their courses and student advising to remote delivery, we are extending the due date for undergraduate Annual Program Assessment reports, and Graduate Learning Outcome (GLO) reporting. The new due date is Monday, June 1. Please reach out to Tam Belknap or Heath Henry for questions about undergraduate reporting, or to Steph Bernell or Maureen Childers for questions about GLO reporting. Visit https://apa.oregonstate.edu/assessment-resources for tools and support.
Report Early, Report Often: Unfortunately, criminals and bad actors are responding with as much agility as the rest of us during our COVID-19 response. New fake cures, bad information, scams and phishing emails are popping up by the thousands. Please help us keep our OSU community safe. If you suspect that you have received a phishing email or been the victim of a compromised account, email [email protected] as soon as possible. For more information on keeping your devices safe, check the Keep Learning, Keep Teaching, and Keep Working sites that are being updated regularly.
COVID-19 Resources for Families: With school closures and the need to work/teach/learn remotely, many OSU families are finding themselves home with their children and are unsure how to navigate this new way of work/life. The Family Resource Center has compiled some local resources and parenting tips/tricks that you may find useful during this unfamiliar time. We will continue to update this page as we find new information. Questions? Contact [email protected].
New procedures for OSU Libraries: While entry to Valley Library and Guin Library is temporarily suspended, digital services will be used to support remote teaching and research, and the libraries will focus on delivering materials to all OSU students, staff and faculty on campus and off campus. For more info about how to access library resources and services during spring term, go to https://library.oregonstate.edu/osu-libraries-and-response-covid-19.
Oregon State’s COVID-19 Unsung Heroes: We are looking for submissions from the community to highlight OSU employees and students who are not typically in the spotlight but are going above and beyond during this pandemic. For example, an employee who plays a key role in remote learning technology, someone volunteering on a disaster relief team or someone keeping university buildings operating when many people are working from home. Send your suggestions to [email protected] and our staff may contact them to conduct remote interviews that we would feature in OSU Today and elsewhere.
Mindful @ Oregon State University is an e-newsletter that delivers a weekly care package of mindfulness tips, resources and events to your inbox. Curated by CAPS staff, the newsletter features a weekly guided meditation, "Learn More" section, mindfulness challenge, OSU mindfulness event calendar and crowd-sourced knowledge and recommendations. Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/mindfulOSU
List of K-12 earth sciences online learning resources now available: OSU College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences has curated a list of online resources including map exploration, learning apps, and lesson plans for families to learn about Earth sciences together at home. Click here for more information.
Remote Teaching Canvas Template Available Faculty have access to a new Canvas course template that can be imported into empty Canvas course sites to help instructors rapidly prepare for Spring courses. The template homepage provides directions for use. Questions? Contact [email protected]
NEW! Temporary closure of electric vehicle parking spaces near Fairbanks Hall: Closure will take place from 7 a.m. April 6 to 5 p.m. April 7. As part of the Fairbanks Hall Renovation project, the geotech company working on the project will be drilling test holes and there will be a drill rig on site. The site will be set up in two electric vehicle spaces on the west side of Fairbanks Hall (view map). For questions or comments on this closure, contact Construction Manager Amy Keene at (541) 214-1038 or Capital Construction Manager Lori Fulton at 541-737-4625.
Transportation Services: Effective immediately, any valid OSU parking permit may be used in any zone (All A, B, C and R lots) until further notice. Please observe all other signs, as these still apply. Until further notice the Beaver Bus will not be running. The Transportation Services office in Adams Hall is currently closed to the public, but Transportation Services is still offering direct customer service through their online portal, telephone and email during normal business hours, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Please go online to purchase parking permits or pay citations.
"My success and my misfortunes, the bright and the dark days I have gone through, everything has proved to me that in this world, either physical or moral, good comes out of evil just as well as evil comes out of good." ~ Giacomo Casanova, born today in 1725.
Corvallis: Chance of rain today, high of 50, low of 32. Partly sunny tomorrow.
Central Oregon: Slight chance of snow showers today, high of 39, low of 23. Sunny tomorrow.
Newport: Chance of rain today, high of 48, low of 35. Mostly cloudy tomorrow.
Statewide: For OSU employees around the state, find your local forecast here: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/
