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 new 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: How can you help students make well-informed decisions about your course? Make sure all assignments are accurately listed in the Canvas gradebook. If you have scores hidden, make them visible so students know where they stand. Remind students that the Spring term S/U grading policy and deadline have changed. Encourage them to contact their academic advisors. Visit Keep Teaching for all the Week 9 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. 
 

Oregon National Guard distributes PPE to farmers across the state (KATU)

Farmers like Parks are flocking to locations such as the Oregon State University Extension Service’s drive-thru, where they can pick up this personal protective equipment — for free — to prevent the spread of COVID-19. ​​(see also KDRV)
 

Rebuilding America: How universities and colleges in the Mid-Valley are approaching fall term (Statesman Journal)

The University of Oregon and Oregon State University plan to have students and faculty back on campus come September and have agreed on a framework for reopening with the five other public universities to align with state guidelines. 
 

Research group advocates prioritizing recess as schools look ahead to students' return (Medical Xpress)

"If we look holistically at  and the needs of children, one of the things we know from a whole host of research is that play is crucial to how children learn," said William Massey, one of the authors of the statement and an assistant professor of kinesiology in Oregon State University's College of Public Health and Human Sciences.
 

Oregon State researchers found no coronavirus infections among 649 Corvallis residents tested (Oregonian)

Researchers at Oregon State University did not identify anyone infected with coronavirus among 649 Corvallis residents tested during the weekend of May 9, marking the third consecutive week with similarly low results.
 

Recognizing indigenous lands & peoples: OSU's Land Grant legacy (Corvallis Advocate)

An arm of the OSU150 festival entitled “We Are All Treaty People” took up these questions by acknowledging the long and complex history of the school’s land-grant origins. The series of talks and events was dedicated to “developing a deeper understanding of our shared treaty responsibilities” as members and beneficiaries of a land-grant institution.


Cooking classes move online during pandemic (Hermiston Herald)

Oregon State University Extension Service nutrition educator Angie Treadwell has continued teaching some classes over the video chatting app Zoom, but where she has found real success is in creating her own cooking show on YouTube with her two daughters.
 

Today's photos


Today’s workspaces: Logan Bingle, data reference specialist with Institutional Analytics and Reporting, did a drawing of his home workspace. “I usual do drawings and paintings of landscapes and cityscapes. I am shifting to views from my apartment and still lives now. Also a good time to practice drawing people. Here we see Benny Beaver guarding my printer with a spectacular view of the trees along Third Avenue in Southtown Corvallis.”

“Working from home has many challenges, but being able to Zoom with your coworkers, and seeing their faces and their smiles instead of chatting on Teams, makes the sheltering in more tolerable,” says Angela Meyer, an accountant with financial services for University Facilities Infrastructure and Operations. 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

Strategies for Being Effective in Times of Uncertainty: Uncertainty in organizations will affect each of us differently. Some thrive in ambiguity, while others are dominated by feelings of anxiety, fear, and doubt that negatively affect productivity. This class will provide eight strategies with practical ideas to increase effectiveness in challenging, uncertain times. Zoom session, May 28, 8-9 a.m. Registration required.

NEW! Clothing drive: Gently used clothing is available for children and adults in Bates Hall room 129 through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Ring the bell at the front door and let the front desk attendee know you are there for the clothing drive.

Coaching: A Process for Developing Talent: Participants will learn, and practice, a powerful coaching model that is process- (not content-) driven. When the process is applied in a systems manner, "coachees" develop their unique talents and perform at a higher level. Target audience is supervisors and faculty that advise students. Zoom session, May 28, 9:30-11 a.m. Registration required.

Meredith Jacobson: M.S. defense: Meredith Jacobson will present her thesis, titled: “Why Anchor Forests? Exploring a conceptual framework for tribal leadership in cross-boundary forest governance.” May 28, 9:30 a.m., via Zoom. Jacobsen is earning her Master of Science degree in Forest Ecosystems and Society with Emily Jane Davis and Reem Hajjar. To participate, send a request to Meredith at [email protected] for the Zoom link and password. Please contact [email protected] with questions or for accommodations for disabilities.

After the Blast—Online Author Event with Eric Wagner: Join us for online reading and conversation with Eric Wagner featuring his new book After the Blast: The Ecological Recovery of Mount St. Helens, Thursday, May 28, at noon. Sponsored by the Spring Creek Project. Learn more and get the link to join via Zoom.

UPDATED: Now Open: OSU Honors College Virtual Thesis Fair: The Honors College Thesis Fair is happening now through Friday, May 29 online via Canvas. HC graduates share a poster and a lightning talk describing their research. Additionally, students will be on hand to answer questions regarding their research on Friday, May 29 from noon to 2 p.m. Registration is required in order to gain access to Canvas site. Please plan to register then browse the diverse projects and speak to the students.

Webinar: Managing Stress in the midst of COVID-19 presented by Care@Work: Stress is a normal part of our day-to-day lives. However, in this new era of COVID-19, when you add working from home, home-schooling your kids, and caregiving for ailing parents to the external stressors of our uncertain world, it can be a dizzying balancing act. How can you manage stress when you feel like you have no time for yourself? There are some tangible things you can do to avoid burnout, even when you feel like you have limited time. This seminar will address: Warning signs of a stress overload, techniques to reduce stress and enhance well-being, and ways to get the support and help needed to balance work and life. May 28, 2-3 p.m. Register today.

Do you have a business idea or tech with commercialization potential but need some help? The OSU Advantage Accelerator is offering Iterate, a free virtual class for researchers, entrepreneurs and prospective entrepreneurs who have a business idea or technology with commercialization potential but aren't sure what to do next. Come learn how to create a value proposition, find and understand your market, and more. Iterate consists of four workshops that build on each other: May 28, June 2 and June 4, all from 4-5:30 p.m. Learn more and register: https://advantage.oregonstate.edu/advantage-accelerator/programs/iterate

Pathways of Civic Engagement through Animal Crossing: New Horizons: Community Engagement & Leadership uses the Pathways of Civic Engagement to simplify how to contribute to the common good. Using Animal Crossing’s cute animals that help us stay connected while staying at home, we are hosting a presentation with a multiplayer session/discussion on Thursdays in May at 6 p.m. — join one.

NEW! SEIU 503 Union Meeting: Discussion of new Letter of Agreement, your Q and A. Thursday, May 28, 5:30-6:30 p.m. RSVP to [email protected] to get the call-in information. 

Events

NEW! Music à la Carte (Facebook Live): Kenji Bunch and Monica Ohuchi: The Music à la Carte concert series continues with a series of Facebook Live events on Fridays, keeping alive the decades-long tradition while following Oregon State University’s commitment to help reduce the risk and spread of COVID-19. On Friday, May 29, at noon, the series features the viola/piano duo, Kenji Bunch and Monica Ohuchi. Bunch and Ohuchi collaborate in all facets of their lives. As a performing duo they appear frequently on recordings, in recitals, workshops, live broadcasts, and lecture-demonstrations across the country. Having performed in our Memorial Union on a few occasions in the past, they return to Music a la Carte with a Facebook Live performance from their Portland home. To watch and listen, go to the Music à la Carte Facebook page.

NEW! World Oceans Day Virtual Event: Celebrate World Oceans Day on June 8 at 6 p.m. This virtual event features a short OSU produced film, a Q&A session, trivia, art, music, and a special reading of a children's ocean storybook. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/world-oceans-day-event-oregon-state-university-science-pub-tickets-105897923540

Board of Trustees: The OSU Board will meet from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Friday, May 29, to consider the university’s operating budget for the coming fiscal year and Oregon’s public universities’ consolidated request for operating funds for next biennium to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. The board also will receive a report on the university’s COVID-19 response, hear a legislative update and consider a policy regarding the use and management of the university-provided president’s residence. The board will hear an update on the Corvallis campus vision, a community-based engaged launched by the university to identify how the campus will evolve over the next 10 years. The board also will hold an executive session as part of its agenda, pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(d) to conduct deliberations with persons designated by the governing body to carry on labor negotiations. Given current COVID-19 guidance, the meeting is open to the public and will be hosted through a remote conferencing service. Options for joining the meeting and instructions for providing comment during the board meeting are provided under “Meeting Details” at this webpage. Committees of the board will meet via remote conferencing services on May 26, May 29 and June 5. Agendas and meeting materials for the board and committee meetings are available at http://oregonstate.edu/leadership/trustees/meetings. If special accommodation is required, please contact (541) 737-3449 or [email protected] at least 48 hours in advance.

MOTHERLOAD virtual screening and live Q&A with director Liz Canning: Friday, May 29, from 6-8:30 p.m. MOTHERLOAD is an award-winning, crowdsourced documentary about a new mother’s quest to understand the increasing isolation and disconnection of the digital age, its planetary impact, and how cargo bikes could be an antidote. Get your ticket today. For additional questions, contact [email protected].

Women of Color Caucus Mental Health Summit: Storytelling and expanding your mental health toolkit. May 30, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Keynote by Charlene Martinez of Student Experiences and Engagement, panel with speakers from OSU and other institutions, and mental health workshops by licensed therapists including Shaznin Daruwalla from CAPS. Registration here with refundable fee: http://tinyurl.com/YC7287Q2

World Oceans Day is June 8: The OSU Marine Studies Initiative is compiling OSU-led events and resources to recognize this day and help raise awareness about the importance of a healthy ocean. We invite you to join this celebratory effort. Is your college or unit hosting or involved with seminars or other special events at the end of May through mid-June that raise awareness about issues of the coasts and ocean? If yes, send the information to us at [email protected].

Lectures, Workshops, Webinars

NEW! Department of Integrative Biology Ph.D. Defense Seminar: Sulochana K. Wasala will present “Evolutionary Dynamics of Genomes and Endosymbionts in Plant-Parasitic Nematodes” on Monday, June 1 at 9 a.m. via Zoom. Wasala is completing her Ph.D. in Integrative Biology under the guidance of Dee Denver. https://oregonstate.zoom.us/j/96346206492

NEW! M.S. Defense: Sylvan Pritchett will present his thesis, titled: “Wildfire and Defensible Space: The Role of Arborists in Wildfire Risk Mitigation in Communities of the Pacific Northwest,” June 1, 10 a.m. via Zoom. Pritchett is earning his M.S. in Forest Ecosystems and Society with Paul Ries. Contact Michelle Greene at (541) 225-5774 with questions or for accommodations for disabilities.

NEW! Department of Integrative Biology Ph.D. Defense Seminar: Caroline Glidden will present “Individual host to population scale dynamics of parasite assemblages in African buffalo” on Monday, June 1 at 10 a.m. via Zoom. Glidden is completing her Ph.D. in Integrative Biology under the guidance of Anna Jolles. https://oregonstate.zoom.us/j/98688624009

NEW! Under the Orange Light: COVID 19: The Faculty Senate Executive group will present a series of lightening talks by faculty who will take the audience on an intersectional journey to better understand the current COVID-19 global pandemic, June 4, 5-7 p.m. The faculty presenting include: Bill Ripple, Chunhuei Chi, Christopher McKnight Nichols, Jennifer Alix Garcia, Daniel López-Cevallos, Dina Ribbink, James Sterns, John Selker, and Jeffery Bethel. Faculty will look at the cause of the disease, the history of pandemics, the cultural, political, social and economic impacts and the OSU faculties efforts to study the disease. A Q & A also will take place. Zoom link: https://oregonstate.zoom.us/j/97430347676

Public health talk: The College of Public Health and Human Sciences is meeting the current public health crisis head-on and hosting its Friday Research Seminars online from 1-2 p.m. most Fridays. On Friday, May 29, Jinan Banna, Ph.D., RD, CDN, will present “Results of an intervention using text messages to prevent excessive gestational weight gain in Hawaii WIC” via Zoom. See upcoming presentations and recordings of past presentations at health.oregonstate.edu/seminars and learn how the CPHHS is Meeting the Moment.

M.S. Defense – Sustainable Forest Management: Callan Cannon will present her thesis, “Long-term Effects of Vegetation Management on Soil and Plant Derived Nutrient Budgets for Plantations of Four Western Conifer Species,” on Friday, May 29, at 2 p.m. via Zoom. To participate, please contact Callan for the Zoom information. Callan is pursuing her M.S. in Sustainable Forest Management with her major professor, Carlos Gonzalez-Benecke, in the Department of Forest Engineering, Resources and Management.

Beavers: Ben Goldfarb, author of “Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter,” and Jefferson Jacobs, Riparian Restoration Coordinator for the Oregon Natural Desert Association, will discuss and answer your questions about the natural history of Oregon’s state animal and OSU’s mascot, as well as their importance in restoring ecosystems. They will present on June 6, from 9-10:30 a.m. on Zoom. Register HERE.

Take Note

NEW! Keep Assessing Undergraduate Programs – Annual Assessment Reports for undergraduate learning outcomes are due on Monday, June 1. To submit your assessment report, login to SharePoint. If you need assistance accessing SharePoint, or if you have questions about the assessment process, please contact Tam Belknap [email protected] in Academic Programs and Assessment.

NEW! Committee Interest Form: The Committee Interest Form is due May 29 at noon. If you’d like to volunteer to serve on a University or Faculty Senate committee or council during AY 2020-2021, please complete the online form at https://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ewE5MKJbYTgidrn. A list of the available committees and councils may be viewed from the form before completion of the form begins. If you have questions, please contact [email protected].

Teaching Infographic: See practical solutions to remote teaching issues from the Center for Teaching and Learning. The infographic provides evidence-based solutions with links to useful resources. Need assistance for finishing Spring term or developing Summer or Fall courses? For a teaching consultation, contact CTL

New Oregon State OER services microsite: Oregon State’s Open Educational Resources Unit has launched a new services microsite to support faculty. This site serves as a comprehensive guide for working with the unit to integrate OER into courses. OSU faculty are encouraged to explore the site and learn how the OER Unit can assist, consult and collaborate. For more information, visit https://open.oregonstate.edu/services.

Campus Directions: Learn more from University Facilities, Infrastructure and Operations about how Oregon State's campuses are improving every day. Read the latest issue of Campus Directions to learn how Cordley Hall’s fragile arthropod and herbarium collections will be moved, and more. Interested in keeping up with projects on campus? Subscribe to our newsletter.
 
Kobel retirement: Janine Kobel is retiring. She came to OSU in 1980 as a first-year student, began as a student employee in 1981, became classified staff in 1987, graduated from OSU in 1995, advanced to professional faculty in 2005, and retires June 30, 2020. She is a first-generation college student, a first-gen career professional, and soon, a first-gen retiree! After June 30, she can be reached at [email protected]. In lieu of a gathering, Janine would like her friends and colleagues to send her letters and greeting cards through the U.S. Postal Service: PO Box 2483, Corvallis, OR 97339.

2020 Faculty and Staff Climate Survey: The 2020 Faculty and Staff Climate Survey launched on May 6 with an invitation from President Ray, with additional invitations from Deans and Division leaders. Please check your e-mail to access the survey link. The survey is open until June 5. Copy and paste this link to access the Office of Institutional Diversity website for past reports: https://diversity.oregonstate.edu/climate-assessment Questions about the survey can be directed to OID at [email protected].

Call for submissionsThe 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.

InclusiveExcellence@OSU: IE@OSU is a professional development program for STEM faculty to understand and confront inequities in STEM education. The IE@OSU team is recruiting interested faculty for the Fall 2020 cohort of Fellows. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fall Academy is shifting to a virtual format, which will take place over the course of Fall term. More information about the program can be found here. If you are interested in participating, please click here to complete a short survey; deadline to indicate interest is Friday, June 5. Please contact program coordinator Ann Sitomer with any questions.

Computer Security for Students: University Information Technology has released an “IT Security Program for Students,” with three courses touching on IT security. The topics are: Social Engineering, Email and Phishing, and Creating a Cyber Secure Home. The program is available on Bridge under Student Wellbeing and Support, or can be accessed directly here: https://students-oregonstate.bridgeapp.com/learner/programs/c8ee7dda/enroll. Faculty can also review the program at that link.

Beavers Read: During social isolation, it can help to have good things to read -- to pass the time, to calm your mind, to help you keep learning. OSU Libraries is here to help you find your next good read -- and make sure it is something you can read safely from home. Just fill out this survey to get an email with personalized recommendations: https://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4GHk9YYcjKaHSfz.

Online Professional Development Workshops for OSU Employees Now Open for Registration: UHR Learning and Organizational Development is presenting a variety of online professional development workshops in the upcoming weeks, including: Choose Your Attitude; Running Effective Remote Meetings; Strategies for Being Effective in Times of Uncertainty; and Coaching: A Process for Developing Talent. View and register for upcoming workshops here. Did you know we can also tailor workshops for your team? Email [email protected] with your request.

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.

Weather

"I don't think you're happier if you're thin or beautiful or rich or married. You have to make your own happiness. My heroines do not become beautiful elegant swans, they become confident ducks and get on with life." ~ Author Maeve Binchy, who was born today in 1940.

Corvallis: Sunny today, high of 83, low of 54. Mostly sunny tomorrow.

Central Oregon: Mostly sunny, high of 82, low of 54. Slight chance of thunder storms tomorrow.

Newport: Mostly sunny, high of 64, low of 52. Mostly sunny Friday.

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