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 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 providing random COVID-19 TRACE OSU testing by invitation for students, faculty and staff Monday-Thursday weekly on the Corvallis campus and Monday-Thursday every other week on the 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. For additional information: https://trace.oregonstate.edu/osu
NEW! Timely Teaching Tips: Planning your Winter term courses? Check out the self-paced Canvas workshop, Designing and Teaching an Effective Remote Course. Use the Remote Teaching Canvas template to build well-structured courses much more easily.
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.
Last April, OSU researchers began randomly testing communities for COVID-19. Their goal was to find out how prevalent the virus was. The researchers teamed up with health care workers and went to door to door at random offering up free COVID-19 tests. Their goal was to test even those carriers with no symptoms and to estimate how many people in the community were infected. The project was named TRACE COVID-19.
Small shifts in ocean temperature can have significant effects on the eating habits of blackfin tuna during the larval stage of development, when finding food and growing quickly are critical to long-term survival, a new study from Oregon State University researchers has found.
For Central Oregon's Love Your Neighbor project, this post-election season is centered on that latter goal of fostering healing and unity, following a period of intense vitriol and divisiveness on the streets and on social media. The Love Your Neighbor project was founded in February by Erika McCalpine, business program lead at Oregon State University-Cascades, along with me and the Source Weekly.
Chal Landgren, a Christmas tree specialist with the Oregon State University Extension Service, said the experience of Polk County’s Christmas tree growers this year is typical.
Oregon State University will host the first-ever National Hemp Symposium on Feb. 9 and 10, 2021.
After multiple failed attempts to obtain state funding for a fifth campus building, Oregon State University-Cascades is close to achieving that goal thanks to Gov. Kate Brown’s proposed state budget. Brown’s $25.6 billion proposed plan, unveiled Tuesday, includes allocating $13.8 million to OSU-Cascades to build a Student Success Center building. But before construction crews start, the Legislature must approve that funding in its 2021 session.
Oregon State University wraps up their 2020 Small Farm School Series Thursday with “Record Keeping for Farm Business Decision Making.”
Two Oregon State University Extension Service programs are available online this fall to give farming information and skills to veterans who may be looking for a career after their stint in the military.
Today's photo: Sarah Finger McDonald, academic advisor with the Department of Horticulture, says, “Sometimes coping with the stress of remote working and school requires an afternoon trip to the coast. Walking on the beach and exploring tide pools feels like a mini-vacation and recharges us. We’re so lucky to live an hour from the coast so we can get away.” Now it's time to show us what you're doing to help cope with daily life and work in 2020. Take a photo and send it to osutoday@oregonstate.edu. Follow OSU Today on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/osutoday1/ and catch up on any photos you might have missed so far.
NEW! International Disability Day 2020: International Day of Persons with Disabilities is an international observance promoted by the United Nations since 1992.The observance of the Day, held on Dec. 3 each year, aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness and support for persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. https://ds.oregonstate.edu/
One of the Charitable Fund Drive-supported organizations, the Senior Meals/Meals on Wheels program, served more than 2,119 seniors and people with disabilities last year in our tri-county region of Benton, Lincoln and Linn Counties. In total, more than 232,000 meals were served. Your donations to this organization, as well as all the other CFD organizations, are making a difference. Please pledge now: https://www.ipledgeonline.org/_cfduniversities/.
University Budget Conversation: The Office of Budget and Resource Planning will hold another University Budget Conversation via Zoom on Dec. 3 from noon to 1 p.m. This week’s topic is Budget Planning in Uncertain Times. The Budget Conversation sessions are limited to 60 minutes with the initial 15-20 minutes spent on presentation of the topic, leaving time for discussion and Q&A. To register for this webinar click here. More information about University Budget Conversations is located on the Office of Budget and Resource Planning website. If you have questions, please contact Sherm Bloomer for more information.
Regional Connections: Relationships That Count: Meet up with Beavers from around the country in a virtual gathering where you can find support, make new friends or simply socialize. No matter what stage you’re at in your education or career, there’s a network of 200,000+ alumni available to help you succeed in school and post-college life. Thursday, Dec. 3, noon to 1 p.m. Registration: osualum.com/regionalconnections Contact: Yuliya Dennis, Yuliya.dennis@osualum.com, 541-737-8294.
UPDATED! TRIAD: The OSU TRIAD Club’s programs are online and free this term, with all welcome. The next program of the term will be Thursday, Dec. 3 at noon: Jeffrey Bethel, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, “Tracking a pandemic: the OSU Trace project.” Zoom link: https://oregonstate.zoom.us/j/97430290363?pwd=ZVFYYXpZYzJuM09Zek1TTm9tNk53Zz09 Password: 248221.
End of Life Options: Managing Life's Closure with David Grube on Thursday, Dec. 3 at 3 p.m. via Zoom - Register today. We all die, but in the U.S., even before the pandemic, dying has become medicalized and complicated. Few of us realize that we not only have options at the end of life, but that it is important to consider our wishes and values and to discuss them with our family and loved ones. Advance directives outline these decisions. For more info or for accommodations for disabilities, contact osura@oregonstate.edu.
Wildfires Rising: Environment, Public Health and Economics in the State of Oregon. League of Women Voters of Corvallis hosts panelists Daniel López-Cevallos; Rep. Dan Rayfield, Oregon State House District 16; and Meg Krawchuk for a discussion on fire in Oregon. Thursday, Dec. 3, 7-8:30 p.m. via Zoom. Open to all. See: https://lwv.corvallis.or.us/event/%ef%bb%bfwildfires-rising-environment-public-health-and-economics-in-the-state-of-oregon/.
NEW! PFLA: Please join us for this month’s event hosted by the Professional Faculty Leadership Association. Professional Faculty Ad Hoc Committee Overview, Monday, Dec. 14, 10-11 a.m. via Zoom. Learn more about how this committee, appointed by the Faculty Senate, is supporting OSU’s professional faculty (presented by Jeff Sherman, Extension Office). For more information about the event and how to register CLICK HERE.
University Budget Committee: The University Budget Committee (UBC) will meet this Friday, Dec. 4 from 2-3:30 p.m. via Zoom. The UBC is OSU’s advisory body to the Provost for recommendations on tuition rates, budget priorities, and budget policies. The committee will discuss projections and planning relevant to developing budget and tuition recommendations for 2021-22. Members of the university community are welcome to join the meetings as observers. If you are interested in joining as an observer you may register for the webinar here. Future meeting times and locations can be found at https://fa.oregonstate.edu/budget/university-budget-committee/ubc-meeting-schedule.
Holiday concert webcast: Corvallis-OSU Symphony presents "A Holiday Encore" webcast featuring highlights from past holiday concert performances. Works include W.A. Mozart's "Coronation" Mass in C, KV. 317, Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite" Op. 71a, and an assortment of polkas by Johann Strauss II. Free and open to all. The webcast publishes on Friday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. To view, visit: beav.es/oys.
2020 Oregon Stater Awards: Please join Oregon State University's College of Engineering for the 22nd anniversary of the Oregon Stater Awards to celebrate achievement at the frontiers of engineering and its profound impact on the profession and our world: Wednesday, Dec. 9, 5:30-6:30 p.m. The 2020 Oregon Stater Awards program will honor the Engineering Hall of Fame Award recipient: Anton Thomas Skoro, ’81 B.S. Construction Engineering Management. Skoro is receiving the Engineering Hall of Fame Award posthumously. Joan Skoro will be accepting the award on behalf of her late husband. Remarks provided by Scott A. Ashford, Kearney Dean of Engineering. Free and open to the public. Register here.
Retirement celebration: A virtual retirement celebration will be held for Lisa Bogosian (Gillis), ECTU Buyer for OSU Extension, on Dec. 18, 4 p.m. Meeting link: https://oregonstate.zoom.us/j/92168040856?pwd=UmgwV2EyM3hiVDVQemY3VWFGQ3VwUT09 Password: 546920.
NEW! Ph.D. defense: Josée Rousseau will defend her dissertation, titled: “Are bird habitat associations consistent across space and time?” Dec. 7, 1 p.m. via Zoom. Rousseau is earning her Ph.D. in Forest Ecosystems and Society with Matt Betts. Please contact the FES Grad Coordinator with questions or for accommodations for disabilities.
NEW! The Center for Teaching & Learning’s Sparkshop: Assessing Collaborative Group Work/Projects: Have your students ever expressed concerns about free-riding by some group members in a group project? We will discuss effective strategies for using confidential peer evaluations to grade group work fairly and equitably. Facilitator: Funmi Amobi, CTL Instructional Consultant. Dec. 11, noon to 12:45 p.m. Zoom access: https://oregonstate.zoom.us/my/sparkshop Password: CTL.
Department of Integrative Biology Ph.D. Defense Seminar: Will Fennie will present “Grow fast or die young: Influence of ocean conditions and larval growth on patterns of selective mortality and settlement variability of rockfishes” on Friday, Dec. 4 at 10 a.m. via Zoom. Fennie is completing his Ph.D. in Integrative Biology under the guidance of Su Sponaugle. https://oregonstate.zoom.us/j/94004435551. Passcode: 666883.
Overview of the Corvallis Campus Vision: Join us to learn about the Corvallis Campus Vision this Friday. The Corvallis Campus Vision will guide the development of Oregon State University’s physical campus in Corvallis over the next decade and beyond. The Vision for campus, which is based on shared values and guiding principles, is a place that would be safe, welcoming and inclusive while effectively supporting the university’s mission as expressed in Strategic Plan 4.0. We will share strategies that offer a cohesive and comprehensive view of future campus development that can be applied both to campus-wide perspectives and specific projects and locations. It provides a framework to align various long range planning efforts. Part of the Fall 2020 FYI Friday series. Dec. 4, 9-10 a.m. via Zoom. Registration required
Oregon Sea Grant Fellowships Webinar: Oregon Sea Grant is pleased to announce several upcoming paid fellowship opportunities in marine science and policy for graduate students. Please see our website for details and how to apply. Register here for a brief informational webinar on Friday, Dec. 4, 10-10:30 a.m. The Oregon Sea Grant Scholars program is committed to training and supporting a diverse ocean workforce that understands technical and social challenges facing coastal communities and the natural environment.
Anthropology lecture series: "Conflicts and Cooperation: Race, Place and Memory of New Orleans Afro-American Festivals" with Jiaju Li from the Chinese Academy of Social Science. Presented by the School of Language, Culture and Society. Free and open to all. Friday, Dec. 4 at noon. To join the virtual talk via Zoom, using meeting ID 918 8649 8232 with password 8c574f.
Department of Integrative Biology Ph.D. Defense Seminar: Paul Snyder will present “Effects of Diversity on Emerging Infectious Diseases of Amphibians” on Friday, Dec. 4 at noon via Zoom. Snyder is completing his Ph.D. in Integrative Biology under the guidance of Andrew Blaustein. https://oregonstate.zoom.us/j/92839695002 Passcode: 378589.
Environmental epigenetics seminar: Andrea Baccarelli, Leon Hess Professor and director of the Laboratory of Precision Environmental Biosciences in the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, will present “Environmental epigenetics – integrating public health into precision medicine.” Friday, Dec. 4, 1-2 p.m. The seminar will be presented via Zoom; find details at https://health.oregonstate.edu/seminars.
Get to know Zoom with Media Services: Meeting vs. webinar? What to use? Dec. 4, 2-3 p.m. To register, go to https://beav.es/oFT. For more Zoom information from Media Services, including upcoming Zoom webinars, go to https://uit-at.oregonstate.edu/media-services-zoom/.
Retirement Readiness for PERS Tier 1 & Tier 2 Members Webinar: Saturday, Dec. 5, from 8:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. PERS online webinar geared toward faculty and staff who are PERS Tier 1 and Tier 2 members retiring within three years. Topics covered: Individual Account Program, retirement eligibility, calculating the retirement benefit, review of benefit estimate, retirement option choices, variable account after retirement, work after retirement limitations, health insurance, cost-of-living adjustments, taxes and review of retirement application forms. To register, visit the PERS website here. Questions? Contact Retirement@oregonstate.edu.
Department of Horticulture Seminar Series: Join the Fall 2020 Seminar Series Monday at noon via Zoom. Cody Copp, OSU Department of Horticulture, will present, “Grapevine Red Blotch Virus Alters Leaf Carbon Metabolism and Export in Vitis vinifera.” Dec. 7, noon.The event is free and open to the public. Please 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.
Floor Monitor Training: Training for Floor Monitors and Building Managers on roles and responsibilities when evacuating their building. Training is the 2nd Wednesday of every month via Zoom. Sign up for Zoom Floor Monitor Training at: https://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1ZhCgowN8AukjPf
Preventing Burnout During This Challenging Time – Hosted by Care.com: Executive Coach Lisa Abramson will teach you how to develop a more resilient mindset through five key strategies. She’ll share actionable strategies you can start using immediately to avoid burnout, “reset” and better cope with the stress of the holidays in the time of COVID-19. During this session, we’ll also actively practice some proven stress management techniques to help you re-center, refocus, and be more productive. Dec. 16, 9-10 a.m. Register here today. A recording and a PDF of the presentation will be shared with registrants following the webinar. If you are unable to attend at the scheduled time you can register and receive the PDF presentation and a recording to watch later. Questions? Please contact employee.benefits@oregonstate.edu.
NEW! Next Great Startup 2021 Competition Application is open now: NGSU is a campus-wide, virtual competition beginning in January where student-led teams compete to win cash prizes, in-kind services and the chance to turn a startup idea into a real company. Open to all teams lead by a currently enrolled OSU student. More information and application available here: http://nextgreatstartup.oregonstate.edu/
NEW! Repair Fair Virtual Edition - Archive: Did you miss our virtual Repair Fair demos? Find our collection of videos here and learn some new skills. The Waste Watchers Club hosted its second virtual Repair Fair demo series, and now you can watch all of the videos on our website, Instagram @osusustainable, or our Facebook page (Sustainability at OSU).
NEW! Naval ROTC Toys for Tots Drive: Final week to donate, ending Dec. 11. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation leads communities in collecting and distributing toys for children in need. Unfortunately, NROTC will NOT be collecting donations this year due to current restrictions, but you can still help bring joy and hope to less fortunate children this Christmas season by donating through this link. Thank you.
NEW! Beavers Read: OSU Libraries is here to help you find your next good read as you gear up for winter break -- 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://beav.es/4m9
Faculty-Senate Student Reps: Applications for Faculty Senate Student Representatives are now open. This is an initiative that enables students to participate in leadership roles by serving on faculty senate committees, while receiving training along the way. The position also provides one with the opportunity to develop skills in research, collaboration and critical thinking. The best part: Students will be paid for their time. Apply at https://asosu.oregonstate.edu/advocacy/join-up or contact Molly Chambers at molly.chambers@oregonstate.edu for questions.
Monthly Emergency Preparedness Topic — Flooding: Flooding occurs in Oregon due to our seasonal rainfall, summer fires, melting snow, new development and levee/dams. All influence how water is absorbed or directed downstream. Areas that have not flooded in the past may flood now due to changes that occurred somewhere else and caused a change in how the ground interacts with the water. This month’s poster can be downloaded at https://emergency.oregonstate.edu/emergency-preparedness/preparedness-topics/flood
Call for Proposals: Join a faculty learning community. The Center for Teaching & Learning and Academic Technology invite proposals to participate in the Winter ’21 Blended Faculty Learning Community. Group members will focus on enhancing their teaching by applying effective practices in blended learning and the use of educational technology. See Call for Proposals (https://beav.es/oju). Apply by Dec. 4.
Faculty Staff Fitness: OSU’s Faculty Staff Fitness is offering a variety of options for you over winter break and winter term. Winter break options are open for registration. Winter term registrations open Dec. 1. Remote, asynchronous Online FSF classes will be available Nov. 30-Jan. 4 for $20 and Jan. 4-March 29 for $35, https://health.oregonstate.edu/fsf/online. Classes in person, on campus will be back in action with distancing and safety measures starting Jan. 4 and can be accessed at https://health.oregonstate.edu/fsf/schedule/winter. You will also find on our winter schedule some synchronous Zoom options this winter. Do you need additional guidance to stay on track for the new year? Join our 6-week RECHARGE wellness challenge. Details can be found at https://health.oregonstate.edu/fsf/recharge.
UPDATED! Affordable learning grant RFP now open: Faculty can now submit proposals for funding to adopt, adapt or author an open textbook through OSU’s Open Educational Resources Unit. This grant supports faculty who make learning more affordable for students by implementing no-cost, high-quality OER in their courses. More information on the grant application and related workshops will be shared soon. The proposal submission deadline is Dec. 16. Questions? Send an email to Stefanie Buck, OER director.
Dialogue Facilitation Lab Winter 2021 Applications: Applications for the winter 2021 session of the Dialogue Facilitation Lab (DFL) are open. DFL is a professional learning seminar for teaching and professional faculty, staff and graduate assistants looking to integrate critical dialogue facilitation skills into their daily practice. For winter term 2021, the Office of Institutional Diversity continues DFL in an online format. Each cohort consists of 12-16 participants that include perspectives from diverse roles and disciplines. Click HERE to apply. The deadline to complete an application is Dec. 2, 5 p.m. Winter DFL 2021 sessions will take place on Wednesdays from 3-4:30 p.m. starting on Jan. 6, 2021.
$15K of Funding Available: The OSU Advantage Accelerator is currently seeking proposals that describe technology-based projects in any discipline that will move OSU-owned technologies closer to commercialization. Proposals should describe a project that requires $15,000 or less of funding to achieve an important milestone(s) connected to commercialization. Proposals can include expenses for activities related to customer discovery, prototyping, student time, research, commercialization plan development and more. Each project may be awarded up to $15,000 and should span 9 months or less, beginning in October 2020. Proposals are due no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 16. Read the full RFP here: https://advantage.oregonstate.edu/advantage-accelerator/funding-opportunities/aid-fund
Gift Drive for OSU Kid’s Gift Closet: The Family Resource Center Kid’s Gift Closet helps provide gifts for children of OSU students during holidays and celebrations. Thanks to our generous sponsors, each year’s gift closet is a huge success and we have many grateful families. To minimize traffic to campus/our office, donations this year will take place via an Amazon registry that ships directly to FRC, or you can shop at the Toy Factory in downtown Corvallis and leave the gift in our donation box. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about this program, please contact erika.woosley@oregonstate.edu.
PCOSW scholarships: The President's Commission on the Status of Women (PCOSW) is offering scholarships to cover registration costs for the 2021 Oregon Women in Higher Education (OWHE) virtual conference. OSU faculty, professional faculty, staff, students and OSU community members are eligible to apply. The scholarship application deadline is Dec. 15. NOTE: Please DO NOT register for the OWHE conference if you are applying for a scholarship until you are approved. Once approved, you will be sent a promo code and special registration link to use to register with OWHE. PCOSW cannot reimburse people for registrations that have already been paid. For questions, contact pcosw@oregonstate.edu.
NEW! Orchard Avenue: As part of the Cordley Hall Renovation project, NW Orchard Avenue will change to one-way traffic eastbound, between NW 30th Street and NW 27th Street, beginning on Thursday, Dec. 3 (view map). This change will be in place for the duration of the Cordley Hall Renovation through 2024. For questions or comments on this closure, contact Construction Manager Jason Lundy at 541-270-0193.
"I heard a bird sing in the dark of December. A magical thing. And sweet to remember. We are nearer to Spring than we were in September. I heard a bird sing in the dark of December.” ~ Oliver Herford
Corvallis: Mostly cloudy today, high of 45, low of 32. Sunny tomorrow.
Central Oregon: Mostly sunny today, high of 41, low of 28. Sunny tomorrow.
Newport: Mostly cloudy, high of 51, low of 37. Sunny tomorrow.
Statewide: For OSU employees around the state, find your local forecast here: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/
