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: Contemplating strategies for engaging students remotely? Check out the 20-Minute Mentor series, a great resource to which all OSU faculty have access. Visit Keep Teaching for all the Week 7 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. 
 

1918 pandemic provides history lessons on how to ease lockdowns (CBC)

"This is one of those rare moments that historians can actually more or less agree that there are lessons you can learn that are fairly straightforward and could be applied in the present," said Christopher McKnight Nichols, an associate professor of history and director of the Center for the Humanities at Oregon State University.
 

Ask an Expert: How OSU's study is determining coronavirus prevalence (KATU)

Jeffrey Bethel from Oregon State University joined us via video conference Tuesday to answer questions about the research. He’s an associate professor of epidemiology in the College of Public Health and Human Services. He is also the co-principal investigator in the undertaking.
 

OSU professors land NSF grants (Democrat-Herald)

Four Oregon State University College of Engineering faculty members have been awarded hefty research grants by the National Science Foundation, the university announced on Monday.
 

Deals on cars are 'once in a lifetime' amid pandemic, experts say (KEZI)

"If you look at J.Crew I find that interesting. They just filed for bankruptcy, not that they're going to be shutting down but rather restructuring debt, and you see some pretty significant discounts with them as well," said Todd Montgomery, business expert at Oregon State University.
 

Contribute your pandemic experience to OSU's archive project (KTVZ)

Oregon State University community members are invited to document and share their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic as part of a project created by the university’s Special Collections and Archives Research Center.
 

Oregon State University releases plan to reopen (The Skanner)

Oregon State University is preparing plans to resume in-person instruction in late summer and fall term on its campuses in Corvallis and Bend, pending state authorization. (see also Register-GuardOregonianKLCC)
 

6 things that happen to your body when you don't have sex for a while (Australian Men's Health)

An Oregon State University study found that couples with an active sex life were much happier at work.
 

Zoom manager's plate is full as nearly all remote classes use the platform (LIFE@OSU)

During winter term at Oregon State University, five classes were being conducted via Zoom. Now, thanks to remote learning and working, almost all classes and a majority of work meetings are being conducted via Zoom, not to mention remote counseling and connecting with family and friends. For Ryan Fordham, video communications product manager at Oregon State, managing Zoom has changed dramatically this term. His focus has been fostering the use of Zoom and ensuring that it works smoothly.

Today's photos


Today’s workspaces: Brittany Nefcy, Student Involvement coordinator for Clubs and Organizations, shared her home workspace: “This is the makeshift office my husband and I made in our living room.  Features a dog bed for our terrier mix, Z. She likes to come visit in the afternoons. My husband is Eric Beeler, Program Coordinator for Community Engagement and Leadership.”

Karen Bose, an accounting tech for the Health Sciences Business Center, shares her workspace with her furry companion, Charlie, a golden retriever/mix who has enjoyed having her home (especially since he receives more treats). Send your home workspace photos to [email protected]. They are being run in the order received. 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

Week of Kindness: Celebrate a Week of Kindness on Community Engagement & Leadership’s Instagram from May 11-15 using the hashtag #weshowkindnessOSU. We will be sharing prompts throughout the week that highlight ways to spread kindness and engage in our community during this time and beyond. Video: Learn more about the Week of Kindness.

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. May 12-15 via Zoom, 8:15 a.m. to noon each day. Registration required.

Beaver Classic Cheese is still available: Come stock up on your favorite cheeses at the Corvallis Farmer’s Market. Every Wednesday & Saturday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Buy your groceries direct from the source.

Family Stress and Parenting Children Under 12 During COVID-19: As we all adjust to the "new normal" of social distancing and isolation, we are faced with unique challenges in all aspects of our lives. This webinar will review the following concepts: Family dynamic challenges, parenting children under 12 while in quarantine, co-parenting strategies, creating a family schedule, mindfulness practices for coping with anxious feelings. May 13, 11 a.m. to noon. Register here.

Q&A Forum: Managing Stress & Work Life Challenges During COVID-19: This is an hour-long bi-weekly question-and-answer forum facilitated by a master’s level therapist. This lunch connection is intended as a self-care touchpoint to have a safe space where people can ask for tips on stress management, work-life balance challenges and how to stay connected through challenging times. All attendees remain anonymous and will be able to type in their questions to get immediate feedback from the host. May 13 and May 26, noon to 1 p.m. Register for May 13Register for May 26.

Investment and PERS webinars: The Maps Credit Union CFS investment team is conducting a Weekly Wednesday 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, May 13, noon - Economic Outlook, Investing with Social Responsibility (Calvert)Thursday, May 14, noon - Social Security: Seven Keys to Enhancing Benefits. PERS Related Webinars: Wednesday, May 13, 3 p.m. - Retirement Planning as a PERS Member (These are not OSU events but are tailored to OSU clients and during normal circumstances are held on campus. There is no charge.)

Career Group Counseling: Does COVID-19 have you feeling anxious or stressed about your path from college to career? An OSU career counselor and CAPS counselor will facilitate several small-group dialogue sessions for OSU students. Join us for one of these sessions to get ideas from your fellow classmates, hear shared questions about reaching future career goals in the midst of Covid-19, and hear from people at the university who are dedicated to helping you succeed. This will be an informal conversation and all students are welcome. Session 3: Week 7 – Wednesday, May 13 (noon to 1 p.m.); Register Here.

Virtual event: Valuing diversity in teams. Tune in via Zoom on May 13 from noon to 1 p.m. with former Beaver Basketball player Eric Knox ‘89. In this OSU Alumni Association and Portland Business Roundtable live webcast, you’ll hear Eric’s story of valuing diversity and building teams, both on and off the court, as an admired coach and community leader. Eric coached the Benson High School girls’ basketball team from unranked to state champs in just two years and uses his energetic personality to inspire youth both athletically and professionally. Listen and learn as he shares his tips for supporting and elevating students in his community. Register now.

BEavers HERE NOW Drop-In Meditation via Zoom: Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 3 p.m. visit https://oregonstate.zoom.us/j/207246816 to access each session. No experience necessary. All are welcome. Enjoy a different 15-minute guided meditation each week. Benefits of mediation include: stress reduction, better sleep, sharper concentration, anxiety management and happier relationships. Contact [email protected] for accommodations related to ability.

Catalog, Curriculum, & Scheduling: Do you advance curriculum or course changes? Do you have questions about how course scheduling affects students? Join Mike Jefferis, Associate Registrar for Catalog, Curriculum, and Scheduling, for an informative session on how to ensure your department remains compliant with relevant regulations regarding course scheduling and curriculum changes. Wednesday, May 13, 3-4 p.m. Join Zoom Meeting: https://oregonstate.zoom.us/j/98288303004 Phone Dial-In Information: +1 971 247 1195. Meeting ID: 982 8830 3004

Women of Color student discussion group: Zoom in every Wednesday from 3-4 p.m., by registering at https://beav.es/4MH. Contact Shaznin Daruwalla for registration help at [email protected]

Training the Mind, Training the Heart: Geoff Barstow will be teaching about the theory and practice of Tibetan Buddhist lojong in partnership with OSU's Contemplative Studies Initiative and the Hundere endowed chair in religion and culture. Three Wednesdays: May 13, 20 and 27 from 6-7 p.m. via Zoom. Free and open to all. Register by emailing [email protected]More info here.

Events

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.

Beavers Belong: Beavers Belong is a support network for students, by students. Our program’s goal is to create connection, community and belonging through weekly peer-led groups. Spring term 2020 undergraduate student groups start week 3. For Mondays at 11 a.m., register here: https://beav.es/4Yz; for Thursdays at 5 p.m., register here: https://beav.es/4YK. Graduate student groups take place on Tuesdays at noon. Register: https://beav.es/4Az. Recruiting directors and leaders for 2020-21. Apply today at https://beav.es/4YV.

CAPS Drop-In Mindfulness Meditation via Zoom: Did you know that regular mindfulness meditation can reduce stress, improve cognitive function, increase happiness, improve your immune system, and more? Let CAPS help you begin or maintain your meditation practice with drop-in mindfulness meditation via Zoom. Open to all skill levels. Questions? Contact [email protected]. Each Thursday through finals week. Students: 10-11 a.m.; visit https://oregonstate.zoom.us/j/377777345 to access each session. Faculty & staff: 11 a.m. to noon; visit https://oregonstate.zoom.us/j/900330243 to access each session.

Virtual service project with Benton Habitat for Humanity: Help digitize their pricebook to support ongoing improvement efforts for their donation intake area and pricing process. Meet with peers to work on a meaningful community project and have fun. Register for one or both dates: Friday, May 15, 3:30 p.m. or Wednesday, May 20, 5 p.m. Questions? Contact Dustin at [email protected].

OSU Digital Days of Service: While the ways we support each other are changing, the creativity and resilience of problem-solving Beavers remain as steady as ever. Join fellow Beavs for the first-ever DIGITAL Days of Service May 1-16. Pledge to volunteer, then inspire others to do the same — share about your project and how it felt to help your OSU and local communities.

Prepare Beavers for success beyond Oregon State: Help the Class of 2020 thrive wherever their next steps lead. The OSU Alumni Association’s Winning in Life After College engaging digital event series on life skills and career strategies includes tools for successful online job and grad school searches, LinkedIn presence and personal finances — plus opportunities to network through the “I Wish I Knew” alumni panel and virtual career fair, hosted by the College of Business and Career Development Center. Share the schedule of events, open to all students and alumni.

Lectures, Workshops, Webinars

NEW! Introduction to CORE: The Cooperative Open Reporting Environment (CORE) is OSU's central tool for accessing official university reports and institutional data. All OSU employees have access to CORE reports and dashboards based on their employment classification and job profile. This session is designed to give new employees and CORE users who would like to review the basics an orientation to CORE. Topics in this session include security and policies related to the access and use of data, how to find and save what you need from CORE, and helpful tips and tricks for interacting with and using the system. This is a high level overview of the systems and is appropriate for all CORE. Friday, May 15, 11 a.m. to noon; for Zoom, register here: http://oregonstate.edu/training/session_view.php?sess_id=4868. Questions? Email: [email protected]

NEW! Center for Teaching and Learning SPARKSHOP – Assessing Student Learning: Group Work. Facilitated by Funmi Amobi, CTL Instructional Consultant, College Liaison on Friday, May 15, noon. Join Zoom Meeting. Have your students ever expressed concerns about free-riding by group members upon completion of a group project or task? This Sparkshop will focus on how to apply the principles and strategies that emphasize positive group interdependence and individual accountability to promote valid and reliable assessment of collaborative group work.

NEW! Remote Teaching Symposium - Strategies for Effective Pedagogy: Join faculty panelists from the College of Liberal Arts and the Honors College for a free remote teaching symposium. Join for some or all of the five sessions on effective strategies for Intro-level and High Enrollment Courses; Teaching Film, Music, and the Arts; High-contact Strategies; Honors Courses; and Seminar Courses. All sessions will be delivered via Zoom and are free to attend. Open to OSU teaching faculty from any discipline. Friday, May 15 from noon to 5 p.m. For more information or to join the sessions, please visit liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/remote-teaching-symposium.

NEW! 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 15, Emily Yates-Doerr, Ph.D., assistant professor in the School of Language, Culture and Society in the College of Liberal Arts, will present "'Stay healthy, stay happy' is dangerous language” via Zoom. See upcoming presentations and recordings of past presentations at health.oregonstate.edu/seminars and learn how the CPHHS is Meeting the Moment.

NEW! 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 21, 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

Take part in OER workshops online: The OSU Open Educational Resources Unit is hosting a series of virtual workshops this month on how to find or create no-cost and low-cost learning materials. Topics include implementing affordable learning materials to save students money (May 14); reviewing and becoming familiar with open textbooks (May 19); and the Creative Commons licensing process (May 22). Learn more about each workshop and register today.

UPDATED! Virtual Volunteering with Mapping Prejudice: Visualizing the Hidden Histories of Race and Privilege in the Urban Landscape: Mapping Prejudice uses digital tools to illuminate structural racism and transform our understanding of the past. Register to learn how to contribute to their online map project. Presented by OSU’s Community Engagement & Leadership. May 18, 7-8 p.m.

Effective networking: The Professional Faculty Leadership Association is hosting a Zoom event on Wednesday, May 20, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Effective Networking Online. Please contact Meddie Sims, PFLA Director of Professional Development to register & receive the Zoom link.

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 

Take Note

NEW! COVID-19 Leave Restoration: OSU is committed to restoring leave time taken by OSU employees logged in EmpCenter between March 15-31 for COVID-related matters, even if these hours were logged as sick/vacation/personal. If you still have hours that have not been credited back to you (effective April 1st), email [email protected] and ask that your hours be restored. Specify each date of COVID-related leave taken between March 15-31, the number of hours and type of leave used.

NEW! 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].

Healthy Beaver Bags: The Human Services Resource Center has a new program called Healthy Beaver Bags. Every Friday afternoon from noon to 2:30 p.m., bags are distributed off the back porch of Champinefu Lodge. This program is available for faculty/staff and students who are financially stressed and are looking to add more healthy items to their meals. This resource is also available to former staff or students who recently graduated or are taking a break. We are all in this together and the HSRC is here for those who need us. Each bag has a theme and will feature more and more fresh and local produce as the growing season comes on. An example of what comes in a bag can be seen on the program’s Facebook page. This is a supplement for pantry food boxes, which are currently being distributed every Wednesday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and are NOT restricted to OSU community members.

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

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 who you’re concerned about. Be prepared to lead real-life conversations with students that build resilience, strengthen relationships and connect them with support. To access the student version visit: beav.es/ZD3. For questions contact Tessie Webster-Henry: [email protected].

Criminal History Checks: University Human Resources (UHR) has contracted with a new vendor to conduct national criminal history checks (CHCs). The vendor will provide shorter turnaround times and more affordable prices. The cost of conducting national criminal history background checks will decrease from $41.25 per person to $28.80 per person. Fingerprinting will no longer be a required component of most CHCs. More information can be found at: https://policy.oregonstate.edu/policy/criminal-history-check.

Celebrating Undergraduate Excellence: Register today to attend the May 21-22 Celebrating Undergraduate Excellence (CUE) Symposium presented virtually through Canvas. Registration to attend CUE 2020 is required and accessible only to OSU faculty, staff and students. CUE is an annual showcase for OSU undergraduates to present their research and creative projects to the OSU community. Undergraduates from all academic disciplines, in all years of study, and all stages of research or creative work will be presenting. For more info, visit https://communications.oregonstate.edu/events/cue. For questions, contact Sophie Pierszalowski, associate director of undergraduate research, at [email protected].

Women and Gender Center awards: The Hattie Redmond Women & Gender Center invites nominations for annual awards. There are three award categories: Women of Achievement Award, AYA Award, and Student Leader Award. Nominations close on Sunday, May 17. Information about each award and the nomination process can found at: http://dce.oregonstate.edu/wgcawards

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.

Engineering awards: The Engineering Student Council is introducing Dam Distinguished. We want to recognize engineering clubs for awards they have won throughout the year, and recognize individuals, clubs, and faculty advisors with Dam Distinguished awards. Complete nominations or let us know about awards your club has received using this form. The form will close May 15. Winners will be announced June 5.

BennyBuy Update: The eProcurement HelpDesk is pleased to announce that both Fisher Scientific LLC and ThermoFisher Scientific have been added as Punchout vendors in BennyBuy. Their Punchout stickers can be found in the Lab Supplies section of the shopping showcase. Please contact [email protected] if you have questions.
    
DAM Good Self Care 30-Day Challenge: Celebrate Mental Health Month by taking good care of yourself. Explore a variety of challenges centered around mental, emotional, and physical health. Learn new stress relief techniques and strategies, practice gratitude, get active in creative ways and connect with friends along the way. Visit https://beav.es/4W6 to get started.

Weather

"Contrary to what people may say, there's no upper limit on stupidity." ~ Stephen Colbert, who turns 56 today.

Corvallis: Rain likely, high of 54, low of 48. Rain tomorrow.

Central Oregon: Showers likely, high of 59, low of 40. Rain likely tomorrow.

Newport: Rain and patchy fog, high of 58, low of 47. Rain likely tomorrow.

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