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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.
TRACE OSU testing: OSU is holding random weekly COVID-19 TRACE OSU testing of students, faculty and staff on the Corvallis and OSU-Cascades campuses and at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport. Free parking will be provided to those working remotely to come to the Corvallis campus for testing. Testing will continue throughout fall term. Here is a link to enroll.
NEW! Teaching Principle: How is your Fall term remote teaching going so far? Do you have questions about how to provide needed flexibility for students? Need a hand navigating pedagogical challenges? Looking for ways to engage students on Zoom? Reach out today to the Center for Teaching and Learning with your concerns. Contact CTL to schedule a 1-on-1 teaching consultation.
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 State University College of Forestry Associate Professor Kevin Bladon visited the Holiday Farm Fire burn area to assess the water and soil.
“We are very proud of our steady increase in research funding over the last five years, as it helps us increase our impact and educate and train the next generation of critical thinkers, creators, and innovators,” said Irem Tumer, OSU’s vice president for research.
“I’m optimistic,” said Larry O’Neill, director of Oregon Climate Services at Oregon State University in Corvallis. “You can’t say for sure. But with all the information that we have, there’s good reason to be optimistic.”
"There's a real chance that the democrats might pick up just enough seats to have a quorum proof supermajority," said Christopher McKnight Nichols, an associate professor at Oregon State University's School of History, Philosophy, and Religion.
“From a water perspective, this is just when the problems are all about to begin — when we put the fire out,” said Kevin Bladon, associate professor of forest ecohydrology and watershed science at Oregon State University. “We can see effects (on water) persist for decades.”
Fall has arrived and there’s still plenty to do in the garden. If you’ve got questions, turn to Ask an Expert, an online question-and-answer tool from Oregon State University’s Extension Service.
Oregon State University – Cascades Vice President Becky Johnson has appointed two alumni to serve on the campus’s Advocacy and Advisory Board.
Oregon State University Extension educator Christy Tanner is slated to move from Malheur County to the Willamette Valley.
Both Oregon State and the University of Oregon will open their seasons at home. The Beavers will host Washington State while the Ducks will host Stanford. When the schedules were released Saturday, Oregon was ranked No. 14 in the Associated Press poll, but moved up to No. 12 on Sunday.
Today’s view: “Living in the country, I enjoy the view from all of my windows, but I especially like the view from my work window because it includes a few hummingbirds that visit frequently throughout the work day,” says Christina Hull, buyer for Food Science & Technology. 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 osutoday@oregonstate.edu. Follow OSU Today on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/osutoday1/ and catch up on any workspace photos you might have missed so far.
Protected Leave for Supervisors: Join OSU’s Protected Leave Officer Whitney Brown for a presentation regarding protected leave information for supervisors including information about expansions to both federal (FMLA) and state (OFLA) protected leave programs related to COVID-19. Oct 5, 10 a.m. Register in advance for this webinar: https://oregonstate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UDW_wKhnS9ah9SjzMjo7pg
Department of Horticulture Seminar Series: Join us for the Horticulture Fall 2020 Seminar Series Mondays at noon via Zoom. On Oct. 5 at noon, Meghan Avolio, John Hopkins University, will present “Plant community assembly in urban areas.” Free and open to the public. Register for the Zoom meeting in advance: https://beav.es/oQL. Once you register, a password will be emailed to you in advance of the meeting.
NEW! Department of Integrative Biology Seminar: Ben Wiggins, Department of Biology, University of Washington, will present a seminar, “Second Generation Active Learning: Online Teaching Methods that Build and Use Student Societies” on Monday, Oct. 5 at 4 p.m. via Zoom webinar https://beav.es/Fall2020Smnrs. Further webinar details can be found at https://ib.oregonstate.edu/smnrs. The seminar is free and open to the public.
2020 OSU Authors and Editors recognition: The Authors and Editors Series celebrates the remarkable range of literary and scholarly books OSU faculty publish each year by featuring selected authors/editors for readings and panel conversations. Oct. 5, 8 and 9 at 4:30 p.m. via Zoom. Visit the OSU Authors and Editors page to register for one or all of these events.
Virtual Benefits Fair and Webinar Series: OSU Employee Benefits is hosting a Virtual Benefits Fair Oct. 5-9. Webinars will be hosted by the following vendors that week: ASI Flex, Fidelity, PEBB, TIAA, Moda, Kaiser, Providence, Delta Dental, Willamette Dental, VSP, Oregon Savings Growth Plan, Weight Watchers, SHIBA – Medicare Education, Faculty Staff Fitness, Beyond Benefits EAP, Protected Leave Teams, The Standard, Care.com and more. To see a list of webinar dates and times go to this link: https://hr.oregonstate.edu/benefits/virtual-benefits-fair-2020/webinars. Check out the virtual booths of 32 different vendors at the Virtual Benefits Fair website. Employees can download resources, watch videos, chat with vendors, check out the webinar options, and be entered in a drawing for door prizes.
Monday Night Meditation: OSU's Contemplative Studies Initiative hosts a virtual meditation session every Monday night of the year. 6:30-8 p.m. on Zoom. Students, faculty, staff & community welcome. Join for the first half hour, or the whole session which is organized into sections for guided practice, movement/walking meditation, and silence. Led by Audrey Perkins and Kate Gallagher.
NEW! Virtual Speed Friending with CAPS: Join the CAPS student staff for an evening of fun and friendship. Meet new people in a safe and physically distanced environment. Tuesday, Oct. 13, 4 p.m. Register at: beav.es/oAN
Fall Career Days: Student registration is now open. Oregon State University Fall Career Days are going all virtual, using Handshake. Click the fair link below, to register and sign up for 1:1 and group info sessions with employers like Fast Enterprises, Lucid, Avalon, Lease Crutcher Lewis and many more. Oct. 21: Civil and Construction Engineering Fair; Oct. 22: STEM Fair and Natural Science, Earth, and Environmental Fair; Oct. 28: Fall Career Fair; Oct. 29: Agricultural Career Fair; Nov. 18: Forestry Career Fair. As you prepare for the fair, it’s important that you register for employer sessions in advance. You can only attend sessions you registered for. Check out this article to learn how to register.
FEATURED! 2020 Distinguished Lectures: David Williams, Distinguished Professor, and Helen P. Rumbel, Professor for Cancer Prevention, Eat-Live Eat-Die: Carcinogens and Anti-Carcinogens in Food, Oct. 6, 5 p.m. Zoom registration. Yuji Hiratsuka, Distinguished Professor of Art, The Art of Print Making: Process and Content, Oct. 7, 5 p.m. Zoom registration.
NEW! SciENcv training: Get your NSF senior personnel docs compliant with new NSF guidelines going into effect Oct. 5. College proposal support personnel are offering two trainings/work sessions via Zoom: Oct. 6 from noon to 1 p.m. and Oct. 9 from 10-11 a.m. Please register to participate in a session. Questions? Contact Liz.Etherington@oregonstate.edu, Cyndy.Kelchner@oregonstate.edu, Melora.Park@oregonstate.edu
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
NEW! Bioinformatics Users Group (BUG): “Update on CGRB Infrastructure” with Christopher Sullivan (Center for Genome Research & Biocomputing), Wednesday, Oct. 7, noon via Zoom. Register here. BUG consists of life scientists, bioinformaticians, computer scientists, mathematicians, engineers, statisticians and researchers of all types who meet to discuss topics related to these fields of study. Meetings are generally informal, consisting of discussions, interactive talks or short workshops. All are welcome. No experience needed to participate. For additional information, see https://cgrb.oregonstate.edu/bug
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, Oct. 7, noon: Plan and build your secure financial house; Wednesday, Oct. 7, 3 p.m.: When is your retirement date?; Thursday, Oct. 8, noon: Wealth transfer - Take charge of your legacy. These are not OSU events but are tailored to OSU clients and during normal circumstances are held on campus. There is no charge.
NEW! TRIAD: The OSU TRIAD Club’s programs will be online and free this term, with all welcome. The first program of the term will be Thursday, Oct. 8 at noon: Jaime Herrera, University Housing and Dining Services, “Feeding the OSU campus in unprecedented times.” Zoom link: https://oregonstate.zoom.us/j/92998604793?pwd=c2poQjdSRm8wVUc3UTFSKzN6Z2ZRdz09, password: 448617. Contact Janice Nave-Abele at janice.nave-abele@oregonstate.edu for more information.
NEW! Anthropology Lecture Series: "Race, Colonialism, and the Origins of Professional Law Enforcement in the Americas: Mexico City's 'Lantern Guards'" with Dr. Nicole von Germeten. Presented by the School of Language, Culture and Society and the OSU Office of Institutional Diversity. Friday, Oct. 9 at noon. Free and open to all; to join use Zoom meeting ID 918 9649 8232 with password 8c574f.
NEW! Virtual Lecture: Meghna Babbar-Sebens, associate professor of water resources engineering: "Climate Change Resilience: A Case for Human Machine Collaboration in Solving Humanity’s Most Urgent Threat." Oct. 27, noon to 1 p.m. Free and open to the public. Full details and registration here.
CTL Tuesday Teaching + Tech Talks: Advancing Social Justice Education: Integrating Critical and Inclusive Pedagogies: Jeff Kenney, Director of Institutional Education for Diversity, Equity + Inclusion will speak on “What does it mean to practice social justice education?” Interact with peers and experts to explore the distinctions and tensions between critical and inclusive pedagogies and imagine ways to grow your praxis. Oct. 6, 10-11:50 a.m. https://oregonstate.zoom.us/my/ctl.t4 Password: CTL. Recordings of each session will be available the following Friday (beav.es/CTLT4). Handouts, materials and resources: beav.es/BOXT4
Cabildos Speaker Series: Oregon State University’s School of History, Philosophy and Religious Studies is hosting a live webcast speaker series called the Cabildos Speaker Series that seeks to center Black voices in academia. The Oct. 6, 4 p.m. webcast will feature Youssef Carter, an assistant professor and Kenan Rifai Fellow in Islamic Studies at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Carter will speak on “Theological Tensions and Disparate Freedom Dreams in a Black Religious Soundscape.” Register for Zoom here.
Protected Leave for Employees: Join OSU’s Protected Leave Officer Lori Schmidt for a presentation regarding protected leave including information about expansions to both federal (FMLA) and state (OFLA) protected leave programs related to COVID-19. Oct 6, 2 p.m. Register in advance for this webinar: https://oregonstate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UK_6tslRTDi97mnePxNIdg
WIC kick-off on responding to student writing: The Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) Program is holding its Fall Kick-Off event on Wednesday, Oct. 7 from noon to 1:30 via Zoom. Learn how you can respond to student writing in ways that encourage revision and help students develop effective writing habits. Faculty member Mary Nolan and Ecampus instructional designer Tianhong Shi will share insights and ideas about how to adapt in-person strategies for remote teaching. Registration form
Research Ready Workshop for Undergraduates: Encourage undergraduates to register now for the Office of URSA’s campus-wide Research Ready Workshop on Oct. 7, 5-6:30 p.m. Students who attend this workshop will explore options for getting involved in undergraduate research, learn how to identify potential research mentors, and hear from a panel of undergraduate researchers and faculty mentors.
Core Curriculum for Current OSU Supervisors and Managers: This workshop 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. Oct. 12-15 via Zoom, 8:15 am to noon each day. Registration required (open until Oct. 8).
CAPS Group: Building Anti-Racism Stamina as a White Person: Given the systemic racism that continues in all levels of our lives – intra-personally, inter-personally, institutionally, and structurally – this group will focus on building mental stamina to examine and deconstruct racism within ourselves as White-identified people, and the institutions that we are a part of. Meets via Zoom Thursdays 3:30-4:45 p.m. starting Oct. 15. Contact michele.ribeiro@oregonstate.edu or noreen.marsland@oregonstate.edu to join.
Salary Negotiations and Earning a Raise: They say you can’t get what you don’t ask for. Sadly, that’s often the case when it comes to getting a raise. And only 37% of people have asked their current employer for a higher salary. Gain the confidence and skills you need to master the negotiation process from three managers. Take a lunch break Oct. 21 at noon and join Blair Paulik ’16, Kimberly Ward Barowicz ’11, and OSUAA’s Yuliya Dennis ’10, ’12, for this OSU Alumni Association Career Webcast series presentation, followed by an interactive Q&A. Register with Zoom.
Beavers SAVE Lives: Learn how to reach out and help a friend. Suicide is one of the most preventable causes of death. This workshop will provide the skills you need to effectively help or intervene with a friend or family member who is considering suicide. Live via Zoom on Oct. 21, noon to 1:30 p.m.: register at https://beav.es/oMe. For Nov. 3 session, register at https://beav.es/oMn. For additional information or ability-related accommodation requests, contact tess.websterhenry@oregonstate.edu.
Professional Development Workshops in October: The Learning and Organizational Development team is presenting a variety of online professional development workshops this month, including: Stretch Goals, Developing High Performance Teams, 100 Day Project Plans, Delivering Exceptional Service, Strategies for Being Effective in Times of Change, and Running Effective Meetings: Emphasis on 6 Conversational Designs. Learn more and register for upcoming workshops here.
Search Advocate Workshops: More OSU Search Advocate workshops are now available by Zoom. 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 sequence of four 4-hour Zoom workshops. 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 anne.gillies@oregonstate.edu or 541-760-6160.
Save the Date: Provost’s Lecture Series: The Provost’s Lecture Series is a partnership of the Office of the Provost and the OSU Foundation to bring renowned thinkers, artists, designers and leaders to OSU to engage the community on topics of global significance. Please mark your calendar for Henry Louis Gates, Jr. on Nov. 12, and Mae C. Jemison on Feb. 4, 2021. Registration information is available here.
NEW! Celebrate World Mental Health Week by Becoming a Mental Health Super Hero: You have the power to stop suicide. It's World Mental Health Week and we're encouraging you to become a resource for those in need by completing Kognito: Recognizing and Supporting Students in Distress Training. Visit beav.es/ZD3 to complete the student training or beav.es/Zzp to complete the faculty/staff training. THEN complete this survey after the training to receive the #BeavsStopSuicide sticker to display and show others that you're a resource. If your entire department completes the training also indicate that on the survey, and we will give you a shout out on our social media and send you digital and print signage to brag about this achievement on your social media, website and office bulletin board.
NEW! 2020 Alumni Fellows share their expertise: These Beaver alumni have had long and accomplished careers, and they still choose to show up and serve, lead and educate in their industries and communities alike. Between Oct. 20-23, the 10 distinguished recipients of the 2020 Alumni Fellows recognition will lead inspiring conversations on topics from incorporating traditional ecological knowledge in the sciences to leading during a crisis to mentoring and educating diverse learners. View presentation topics and register at osualum.com/fellows.
From Idea to Societal Impact — Funding & Training Opportunities: OSU faculty and graduate student researchers are invited to join the OSU Advantage office on Thursday, Oct. 8 for a one-hour virtual event that will describe funding and training opportunities that support innovation and entrepreneurship at the federal, state and OSU levels. At this event, you will also learn how to apply for a special $5,000 Innovation Award available from the Office for Commercialization and Corporate Development (OCCD). Register here for a Zoom link: https://lnkd.in/gXJnKgM
Fall 2020 Remote Learning Student Survey Review: Prior to Fall 2020, a survey was sent to all Corvallis-based undergraduate students seeking feedback on their perceptions and plans for fall term. Questions were grouped into three general categories: What do they imagine fall will be like for them, what they might need from OSU to be successful and what concerns they have heading into fall term. Student responses will be shared with participants, with lessons learned from the presenters. Participants will be given time to ask questions and will be granted access to reference materials after the session. Part of the Fall 2020 FYI Friday series, Oct. 9, 9-10 a.m. via Zoom. Registration required.
Apply for the $5k Innovation Day Award by October 16: OSU faculty members are invited to submit a one-page Idea Pitch to the OSU Advantage office for the chance to receive a $5k award. The Idea Pitch should answer a commercial question in the faculty member’s research such as “With this proof, I can confirm that I have unique innovative technology” or “I can confirm which industry will be interested in the outcome of this research.” Attendance at the Oct. 8 “From Idea to Societal Impact” virtual event is required to be eligible to submit. More information is here: https://lnkd.in/gXJnKgM
Opportunity for Student Engagement on OSU’s Tuition and Budget: Have you always wondered how the University sets tuition and determines budget priorities? We are looking for students to join the Student Budget Advisory Council (SBAC). SBAC is a student group that serves in an advisory role to the University Budget Committee (UBC). The SBAC gives students the chance to engage with peers to provide input, raise issues and ask questions about OSU’s tuition, fees, finances and budget priorities. The University Budget Committee considers the SBAC’s input an important part of tuition and budget decision processes. The SBAC meets Monday evenings at 7 p.m. Meetings will be held via Zoom through the Fall. Benefits of SBAC participation include peer engagement, leadership, skill development and more. For those interested in tuition and fee rates, policies including short-term recommendations for 2021-2022 and long-term planning strategy for OSU tuition please complete an SBAC Membership Application Form via https://tinyurl.com/sbacapl or for more information feel free to check us out on the web at https://tinyurl.com/sbacmain or contact Nicole.Dolan@oregonstate.edu.
SEIU Admin Class/Comp Survey: During bargaining SEIU and Management agreed to review the class and compensation system for the Administrative Support job family class and the Accounting Tech/Payroll Tech specifications. This includes all Admin classifications, OS classifications and payroll tech or accounting tech. Please take the survey:
We need your input. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey. If you have questions you can contact OSU SEIU leader Jessica King or organizer Siobhan Burke at burkes@seiu503.org.
Monthly Emergency Preparedness Topic: Earthquake - Experts predict that the Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake will occur within our lifetime. The projected magnitude is 9.0, with shaking lasting for 5-7 minutes. The Oregon coast will also experience a tsunami (30-40 foot wave) that follows the earthquake. This month’s poster can be downloaded at: https://emergency.oregonstate.edu/emergency-preparedness/preparedness-topics/earthquake
Correction regarding pay: Below is specific information regarding pay for those classified employees who were required to work onsite during the time period when some of the University buildings were closed. Eligible hourly classified employees should see essential pay for Sept. 9 to Sept. 15 reflected on their September paychecks. Any essential time worked on Sept. 16 will be paid with the October paycheck (for pay period of Sept. 16 to Oct. 15). Eligible salaried employees will receive essential pay in the October paycheck due to the nature of salaried pay, where additional pay (overtime, etc.) and/or leave used is reflected the following month due to the lag in timesheet submissions. For those classified employees who utilized “closure leave,” this time is included in regular earnings and thus does not show as a separate line item for hourly and salaried employees. For questions, please contact Employee.Relations@oregonstate.edu or Payroll.
Health & Safety: The University Health & Safety Committee wants to promote health and safety by providing the following information related to pandemic stress https://www.saif.com/employer-guide/your-workers-may-need-help-with-pandemic-stress.html. 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.
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.
Sign Up for TurboVote: OSU has partnered with TurboVote, which provides you with the information you need to vote with confidence. Sign up for election reminders, get help with voter registration, learn about voting by mail — all in one place. Sign up before the Oct. 13 voter registration deadline by visiting http://oregonstate.turbovote.org/?r=TODAY.
Announcing FYI Friday Workshops for Faculty and Staff: The annual Training Days event coordinated by University Human Resources will be modified this year due to the limitations on physical gatherings during COVID-19. In place of the in-person two-day conference normally scheduled in November, this fall UHR will be piloting a new program called FYI Friday. The FYI Friday program is similar to Training Days, in that it is a platform for various university groups to share information with the OSU community. And, for greater accessibility, FYI Friday sessions will be presented remotely, on Fridays throughout the year. Stay tuned for upcoming session announcements in OSUToday. See the Fall line-up and register here: https://hr.oregonstate.edu/training/training-days
Health Check and COVID-19 Resources on OSU Mobile: The new Health Check tool and additional COVID-19 resources are now available on OSU Mobile. Don't have the app? Download it today at beav.es/app or access the health check directly at beav.es/healthcheck. For help setting up the app, check out this video walk-through: https://youtu.be/XpsUypnjj4E.
The Nature of Isolation: Geinene Carson Presents "Shelter in Place" Painting: Drawing inspiration from building a forest shelter, artist Geinene Carson painted a lean-to neural structure that invites questions about our thought life in isolation. Her painting, "Shelter in Place," is part of the month-long series The Nature of Isolation presented by the Spring Creek Project, which features writing, art and music from contributors throughout the U.S. and around the world. Watch today's video.
"How beautifully leaves grow old! How full of light and color are their last days!" ~ John Burroughs.
Corvallis: Sunny today, high of 75, low of 53. Sunny tomorrow.
Central Oregon: Haze today, high of 77, low of 47. Sunny tomorrow.
Newport: Sunny today, high of 69, low of 52. Sunny tomorrow.
Statewide: For OSU employees around the state, find your local forecast here: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/