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; 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 
 

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. 
 

Why won't some people practice social distancing during coronavirus outbreak? (USA Today)

Regan Gurung, interim director of Oregon State University’s Center for Teaching and Learning and an expert in social psychology, said there are three factors at play in Americans’ decision to ignore CDC recommendations. 
 

Covid-19 in our region (Jefferson Public Radio)

Medical science is scrambling to keep up with the speed and intensity of the Covid-19 outbreak. Every day brings new reports of infection, and government efforts to slow the spread of infection. Chunhuei Chi runs the Center for Global Health at Oregon State University and is following developments closely. He visits with details of the struggle against the virus.  

Oregon dentists urged to limit care to halt spread of coronavirus (Lund Report)

Chunhuei Chi, director of the Center for Global Health at Oregon State University, said the move toward limiting care to emergency needs will protect dental providers and their patients. People in both groups potentially can have the virus and spread it through the close contact of dental care, he said, adding that dentists are “high risk.”
 

News roundtable (Think Out Loud)

We get opinions and analysis on some of the biggest news stories of the week from Christopher McKnight Nichols, Barbara Dudley and Kerry Tymchuk.
 

Today's photo


Student Health Services: The Student Health Service Building was one of two WPA-constructed buildings on campus designed by architect John Bennes, as seen in this 1938 photo.

Today

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. 

End of Term Sale: The OSU Beaver Store will have its End of Term sale starting Monday, March 16. Big discounts on Beaver Gear, while supplies last. Sale goes through Friday, March 20.

Ph.D. defense: Estefania Elorriaga will present her Ph.D. dissertation, titled: “Functional Characterization of Reproductive Development Genes in Populus and Eucalyptus.” Tuesday, March 17, 9 a.m., Richardson 243. Elorriaga is pursuing her doctorate in Molecular and Cellular Biology with Steven Strauss. Contact the FES Department at (541) 737-2244 with questions or for accommodations for disabilities.

2020-21 tuition rate recommendation discussions: The University Budget Committee has made recommendations to President Ray for tuition rates for the 2020-21 academic year. The recommendations are posted at https://fa.oregonstate.edu/budget/tuition-fees. The Office of Budget and Resource Planning is hosting two more open forums to answer questions about the recommendations and hear comments from the university community. Due to precautionary measures surrounding COVID-19, remaining tuition forums on March 17, 2-3 p.m., and March 19, 4-5 p.m. will be offered via Zoom. To join by phone please dial +1-669-900-6833 or 888-475-4499 (Toll Free); Meeting ID: 838 667 083. Comments and questions can also be sent to [email protected].

OSUsed Store Public Sale: The OSUsed Store is open for its weekly evening public sale Tuesday, March 17, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at 644 SW 13th, with added sanitization and social distancing. Personal purchases must be made during public sales. Staff may shop for their department 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. More information on our website.

Lectures, Workshops, Webinars

Do you have a business idea but need some help? The OSU Advantage Accelerator is offering Iterate, a free class for entrepreneurs and wanna-be entrepreneurs who have a business idea but just 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: March 18, all from 4-5:30 p.m. Learn more and register: https://advantage.oregonstate.edu/advantage-accelerator/programs/iterate

UPDATED! Working in a Changing Environment: Cascade EAP has asked to move the workshop on Working in a Changing Environment on March 18, 9 a.m.-10 a.m. to a webinar format that they are hosting remotely. This is due to COVID-19 concerns as the University seeks to reduce the frequency of interactions throughout all campuses, centers, facilities and operations. To access the new webinar interested employees will need to register at this link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6624683307212817675. The Zoom link that was provided previously when the workshop was scheduled to happen here at OSU will no longer work. Please contact [email protected] with questions. 

CANCELLED! CTL lecture: The Center for Teaching & Learning guest speaker Sarah Rose Cavanagh’s lecture scheduled for May 13 is cancelled due to COVID-19 policies at OSU. CTL hopes to invite Cavanagh in the future.

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.

Take Note

DEADLINE EXTENDED – Affordable learning grant application: OSU faculty are invited to apply for affordable learning grants to offset the time and expense required to develop and/or implement high-quality, freely available learning materials in their classes. The new deadline is March 21. All grant recipients will receive assistance from OSU’s Open Educational Resources Unit in locating, adopting or authoring zero-cost course materials. Full details: https://open.oregonstate.edu/opportunities.

Foundation and Alumni Association: All in-person OSU Foundation and OSU Alumni Association events are postponed through April 30. Most Foundation and Alumni Association employees are working remotely through April 30, with minimal staffing at the CH2M HILL Alumni Center, the OSU Foundation office on Research Way, and the OSU Portland Center. For updates, visit osualum.com/covid19.

Employee Online Services will be updated to a new version on March 23. This update contains a new Employee Dashboard landing page. For further details please visit https://hr.oregonstate.edu/banner-9.

Volunteer Opportunity: OSU Commencement is a very special event for our OSU graduates and their friends and family members. Join us in making commencement a joyous and memorable event for all. We need 70 more volunteers to make commencement great. If you are available the morning of June 13, 2020, please sign up and volunteer to help with greeting guests, providing directions, assisting guests with downloading the OSU mobile app, and finding seating in Reser.

CoF International Programs Photo Contest: This spring, CoF International Programs will be holding our first photo contest from March 16 through April 10. Students, staff and faculty can submit their photos of their international research, faculty-led programs, internships, etc. (not vacation) for a chance to win prizes and to display their work to the CoF community. The winners of each category and a selection of nominees for People’s Choice will be printed and displayed during the Spring International Coffee on May 7, 10:30 a.m. in the Peavy atrium, where we will announce the winners and hold voting for People’s Choice. For more information and how to enter, visit forestry.oregonstate.edu/international/photo-contest-2020

Call for nominations: University Mentoring and Professional Development Award: This award recognizes any classified, professional faculty, or faculty member who excels in mentoring, supporting, and encouraging OSU employees, especially women and those from under-represented groups or non-traditional careers, and making available to them opportunities for professional, educational and personal development. The award is presented at University Day. The deadline for nominations is May 1. To access the nomination guidelines and application link, please visit http://leadership.oregonstate.edu/pcosw/awards-scholarships.

RecycleMania: This week’s score places OSU in the lead at 6.90 lbs of recycling per person vs. UO at 4.62 lbs. The RecycleMania Oregon Classic competition between OSU and UO will run through March 28. You can help OSU beat UO in this year’s RecycleMania challenge by recycling the most! For more information visit our website at http://tiny.cc/rm-osu.

Upcoming Online Courses in Digital Marketing, Leadership and Human Resource Management: Join the College of Business Continuing and Professional Education for instructor-led, 100% online courses offered in many topics including business strategy, human resource fundamentals, website development, marketing, web graphics and storytelling through social media. Courses take five to seven weeks to complete and you can earn a certificate in as few as nine months. OSU Faculty and Staff can use discount code OSUSTAFF20 to save 20%. Call (541) 737-1500 for more information or browse the upcoming certificate programs and courses: https://business.oregonstate.edu/continuing-and-professional-education/online-certificate-programs.

Updated! Staff Art Show: Share your creativity at the 10th annual Staff Art Show. Registration has been extended through March 17 and you can submit up to three pieces. Help colleagues learn about your interests beyond your usual day-to-day work. While photography is most popular, all arts and crafts can be considered for this exhibit. Contact [email protected] with questions.

Weather

“I have a total irreverence for anything connected with society except that which makes the roads safer, the beer stronger, the food cheaper and the old men and old women warmer in the winter and happier in the summer." ~ Irish author Brendan Behan.

Corvallis: Frost and then increasing clouds, high of 58, low of 38. Mostly cloudy tomorrow.

Central Oregon: Sunny today, high of 49, low of 27. Partly sunny tomorrow.

Newport: Areas of fog and then increasing clouds, high of 52, low of 38. Mostly cloudy tomorrow.

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