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.
NEW! Today’s Timely Teaching Tip: Did you know the OSU Academic Success Center provides great resources to help instructors support their students? Customize and send one of ASC's sample email and Canvas messages to students who may be experiencing difficulties. Share guidance with students on using remote office hours effectively. Visit Keep Teaching for all the Mid-Summer Timely Teaching Tips.
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’s new president picked a heck of a time to start work. F. King Alexander assumed his new duties on July 1, the day after Ed Ray ended his 17-year tenure in the post.
KEZI 9 News talked to Steve Clark, Oregon State University's vice president for marketing and relations."We're very excited and surprised, that the federal government and the plaintiffs back east agreed to a resolution so immediately is just wonderful news. I think our students, our entire university is celebrating this and I think international students across the United States," Clark said.
The University of Oregon and Oregon State University are among the 20 colleges in the western United States that filed a lawsuit Monday "that seeks to keep the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from enacting proposed restrictions on international students taking online college courses while in the United States." (see also Oregonian)
Last year, the agency awarded $1 million to researchers at Oregon State University to develop a reactor that uses microbes to produce hydrogen from biomass like food scraps and wood chips.
One particular challenge with all earthquake forecasts is that researchers don’t know how much additional stress is required to cause a fault to break, says Chris Goldfinger, an earthquake geologist at Oregon State University who was not part of the new study.
This article features Kathleen Bogart, director of the Disability and Social Interaction Lab at Oregon State University. (Paywall)
A recent study from Oregon State University finds that while more formal clothing may deflect certain racially biased assumptions, many people still hold negative stereotypes about Black men based on what they’re wearing. In the study, college students at a Midwestern university were asked to look at photos of Black male student-athletes in different styles of clothing: championship T-shirts from their recent soccer victory; sweatpants and sweatshirts; and more formal button-down shirts and slacks.
Stout, an associate professor in the Oregon State University School of Public Policy, talked Monday evening during a virtual OSU Science Pub event about how the Black Lives Matter Movement has not just influenced attitudes and behaviors but also led to policy changes.
“Clearly, some level of remote learning is going to be important,” said Regan A. R. Gurung, Ph. D. for the Center for Teaching & Learning at Oregon State University.
The coronavirus pandemic hit just as Oregon State University Extension Service tree fruit expert Ashley Thompson was preparing for the upcoming cherry harvest. A big concern was the prevalence of X disease in cherries, which had prompted many Oregon and Washington growers to remove hundreds of valuable trees.
Corvallis's Oregon State University plans to gradually resume on-site instruction and in-person activity, in phases, following health guidelines. They're moving to modified operations Tuesday, with a low density of people on campus, and a mix of in-person and online courses.
As many people are discussing racial equality, Oregon State University athletes say it is time to “make a Dam Change”
Four companies, including Oscilla Power, exceeded the DOE’s threshold that indicated commercially viable wave energy systems. The Department of Energy also awarded $40 million to Oregon State University to build the first wave energy test site off the coast of Oregon.
Oregon’s berry industry is worth well over $100 million. For OSU’s Javier Fernadez-Salvador, the industry’s connection to the university has been critical as has its connection to the state’s farmers through the OSU Extension.
"Maybe you have a lawn full of difficult-to-control weeds like annual bluegrass or rough bluegrass and you want to start over," said Alec Kowalewski, turfgrass specialist with the Oregon State University Extension Service. "Or you want to switch from grass to lawn alternatives like groundcovers."
Today’s workspaces: Victor Villegas, Technology & Media Support Coordinator with OSU Extension Service, says his home music studio is his home office happy space.
Lynn Gonzalez, senior auditor with the Office of Audit, Risk & Compliance, had to get a new desk when both she and her husband ended up working from home. Here, her office assistant Shiloh approves the new digs. Follow OSU Today on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/osutoday1/ and catch up on any workspace photos you might have missed so far.
Situational Leadership: The Situational Leadership model illustrates how to adapt your supervisory or lead work style to support a range of employees, from new to experienced, as a way of bringing out the best in their performance. Scenarios will help you to gain practical knowledge and readily use the ideas to encourage employee development and success. Recommended for managers and leaders. July 15 via Zoom, 10-11:30 a.m. Registration required.
University Budget Conversation: On Wednesday, July 15 from noon to 1 p.m., the Office of Budget and Resource Planning will hold a Zoom webinar to discuss Budget Planning in Uncertain Times with a very brief update and Q&A about budget planning for 2020-2021. 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. 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.
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. Wednesday, July 15, noon: Economic Outlook - Opportunities in an Uncertain World (PIMCO); Wednesday, July 15, 3 p.m.: PERS and Retirement Planning (OPSRP); Thursday, July 16, noon: ABC + D of Medicare; Thursday, July 16, 5:30 p.m.: Social Security - Seven Keys to Enhancing Benefits. This is one way to educate yourself without leaving the comfort and safety of your own home. (These are not OSU events but are tailored to OSU clients and during normal circumstances are held on campus. There is no charge.)
Make your course materials more affordable: Students are facing tough times financially. Consider moving from a commercial textbook to using open educational resources (free and openly licensed course materials). You can make learning more affordable and may also improve your DFWU rates. In this virtual workshop on affordable learning materials from the OSU Open Educational Resources Unit, you’ll learn why going open is important and how it gives you more flexibility to create custom course materials. Register to attend on July 16.
Community Building & Social Distance Webinar: Join the Adventure Leadership Institute as we host a webinar on community building during the age of social distancing. Learn some activities and talk about why maintaining community is crucial during this time. Click the link to register: Community Building & Social Distance, Thursday, July 16, 2-3 p.m. Check out more of our webinars offered summer term here. Questions? Contact Emily Abrams.
NEW! Department of Integrative Biology Ph.D. Defense Seminar: Holland Elder will present “Genomic resource development and studies of thermal tolerance in symbiotic Cnidarians” on Tuesday, July 21 at 1 p.m. via Zoom. Elder is completing her Ph.D. in Integrative Biology under the guidance of Virginia Weis. Free and open to the public. https://oregonstate.zoom.us/j/99226208845
NEW! OMN Webinar: Earth’s Wild Music: Celebrations and Laments with Kathleen Dean Moore, July 27, 7-8:30 p.m. We all love the music of the natural world – howling wolves, singing songbirds, chirping frogs, moaning whales. But our joy in their songs is muted by our growing understanding of the existential threats against them. Where can we find hope in a time of extinction? Register Online.
Review an open textbook workshop: Interested in open educational resources but not quite ready to adopt an open textbook for your course? Unsure about the quality and content of OER? One way to get started is by reviewing an open textbook. Join OSU’s Open Educational Resources Unit on July 17 for an OER workshop and learn where to find free and openly licensed course materials. Sign up to review an open textbook and receive $200.
Faculty Staff Fitness: OSU’s Faculty Staff Fitness Program is starting in-person fitness programming on campus July 20-Sept. 18. Registration opens July 1. Please see https://health.oregonstate.edu/fsf/schedule/summer for the full list of classes. Not going to campus? FSF is offering over 200 pre-recorded, accessible any time, online fitness classes for summer term June 15-Sept. 18. Classes range from 10, 20, 30 to 60 minutes and involves formats including Weight Training, Cardio Kickboxing, Cardio Dance (similar to Zumba), Barre Fusion, Pilates, various Yoga styles, and more. Registration is $35 and is now open via: https://health.oregonstate.edu/fsf/online.
Accountability - Commitment and Responsibility: There is a subtle distinction between accountability and responsibility that when understood changes the conversation when accountability issues arise. This short program will illustrate this distinction and allow you to consider the distinction by examining accountability issues. The end goal is greater commitment that results in increased productivity and personal effectiveness. July 22 via Zoom, 8:30-9 a.m. Registration required.
Developing High Performance Teams: Why do some teams consistently produce outstanding results and other teams perform moderately at best? We will examine distinguishing characteristics of high performing teams and provide tools and principles you can use to develop high level teams. Recommended for managers and leaders. July 22 via Zoom, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Registration required.
Time Awareness: Too much to do and not enough time? We can't add more hours to the day, but we can be more aware of how we spend our time and make better choices about how we use it. As part of this session, you will learn how to increase your awareness of time-task relationship, empowering you with a useful tool when considering how to best use your time. July 28 via Zoom, 8-9 a.m. Registration required.
Work-life Balance & Integration: The essence of work-life balance is to integrate effectively work responsibilities with the domains (or buckets) in our personal lives. We will share counterbalancing techniques, and you will have an opportunity to get started by mapping out your responsibilities and other “buckets” unique to your situation. July 28 via Zoom, 9:30-11 a.m. Registration required.
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. Aug. 10-13 via Zoom, 8:15 a.m. to noon each day. Registration required; closes Aug. 7.
Marine Science Virtual/Hybrid Summer Camps: Looking for fun, interactive, marine science-themed activities for your child this summer? Oregon Sea Grant’s virtual/hybrid camps will provide students ages 8-18 the opportunity to connect virtually with marine researchers and educators and engage in "Camp in a Box" activities from their own home. Click here for information on camp dates, cost, additional details, and registration.
Free, self-paced, online training: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Remote Work Environments: The recent pandemic has caused a massive, sudden shift to remote work for many companies. This shift impacts efforts to advance diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace, both in positive and potentially challenging ways. The OSU Center for the Advancement of Women in Leadership created this short (15 minute), self-paced training directed at managers, employee resource group members, HR professionals, and anyone invested in DEI work in their organization. It provides an overview of remote work and DEI, ways in which remote work can promote and challenge DEI efforts, and a series of practical strategies designed especially for promoting inclusion in remote workplaces. Register for the training. Then, join our Slack community to keep the conversation going.
Tier Two workshops, New Tier One dates, Remote delivery of Social Justice Education workshops is happening now: See the schedule and register for Zoom workshops through fall 2020 here. See three brand new Tier Two collaborations created for our community today. The SJEI is an excellent foundational professional development program for all faculty, staff and graduate students. Join your colleagues to begin, or expand, your equity and inclusion journey. Interested in this work for your unit? Contact SJEI director Jane Waite for further information: jane.waite@oregonstate.edu
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.
Managers as Leaders: Applications for Managers as Leaders 2020 are now being accepted. Managers as Leaders is a skill-building course for managers and supervisors. It integrates 6 day-long class sessions with online learning and on-the-job practice. It features team learning, mentors, and practical tools. All managers/supervisors are encouraged to apply. Contact Kristen Magis for more information. Submit online applications on the Managers as Leaders webpage between July 3 and Aug. 6.
NEW! How to deal with working from home with kids: Working from home with the kids? We feel you. Take 10 minutes while assistant professor and family/life expert Kelly Chandler, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, breaks down why the struggle is real, the myth of "having it all," why it's important to lighten up, and what we can do to hold it all together. Watch on the college's COVID-19 resource page.
Build community in the Beaver Lodge this summer: Beavers all over the world are staying connected through the Beaver Lodge digital engagement hub — host to OSU live webcasts, activities for kids, career resources and much more to enrich life at home and support the Oregon State community. Check in for frequently updated content, sign up for the newsletter and share at osualum.com/BeaverLodge.
Beaver Champion Award: Every year on University Day the president awards the Beaver Champion award to an individual (or individuals) for outstanding effort, the achievement of excellence, extra effort beyond that requested, and performance of the highest quality that has yielded university-wide impact. The President’s Office is seeking nominations for this award. Send nomination letters to F. King Alexander, President, Office of the President, 600 Kerr Admin. Bldg. or to pres.office@oregonstate.edu. The nomination deadline is Friday, Aug. 14.
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.
NEW! Power shutdown: Facilities Services has announced that the electricity will be turned off in several buildings this Thursday, July 16 to Saturday, July 18 for power grid maintenance. Gladys Valley Gymnastics Center and the Pharmacy Building will be without power from 5 a.m. on Thursday through 7 a.m. on Saturday; Heckart Lodge, Kerr Administration Building, Langton Hall, McAlexander Fieldhouse, Snell Hall and Waldo Hall will experience outages from 5-7 a.m. on Thursday and 5-7 a.m. on Saturday. Kidder Hall and Milne Computer Center will experience an outage from 5 a.m. until roughly 1 p.m. on Saturday. Please be sure to turn off all electronic devices before you leave the affected buildings on Wednesday and Friday evenings.
Irish Bend Covered Bridge Rehabilitation: Construction is scheduled to begin on the Irish Bend Covered Bridge along SW Campus Way on July 6, lasting until September. The bridge rehabilitation includes installing a fire suppression system, repainting and repairs to the wood structure. The covered bridge and Campus Way Path will be closed; SW Campus Way will remain open.
Planned Power Outage (limited impacts): July 16-18. There will be a planned power outage beginning Thursday, July 16, starting at 5 a.m. and lasting until Saturday, July 18, at 7 a.m. so that Pacific Power can replace switches and cables that feed various buildings along SW Jefferson Way. Fairbanks and Moreland Halls will be without power the duration of the outage; a number of buildings will be affected at the beginning and at the end of the outage. Visit powergrid.oregonstate.edu to learn more.
Postponed: Annual Steam Shutdown-Campus Wide: Each year Facilities Services performs necessary maintenance on the university’s steam system, which requires shutting off the steam throughout campus, to complete maintenance services at the plant, throughout the steam tunnels and in each building. This process affects hot water supply, heating, and all equipment that uses steam, campus wide. The decision has been made to postpone the annual steam shut down until August in order to stay within the guidelines from the Governor, university, State and CDC’s orders. The steam shutdown for 2020 will occur from Aug. 24 at 11 p.m. to Aug. 27 at 8 a.m. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you all for your understanding. For questions or comments on this closure, contact Facilities Services at 541-737-2969.
“Whatever it is that people find that they want to work on they also have to remember that they are human beings and they need to save some time for themselves for personal growth, for mental health, for their families, their loved ones so that they will have the strength to continue doing that work.” ~ Ana Castillo.
Corvallis: Sunny today, high of 87, low of 57. Mostly sunny tomorrow.
Central Oregon: Sunny today, high of 89, low of 58. Sunny tomorrow.
Newport: Sunny today, high of 70, low of 54. Mostly sunny tomorrow.
Statewide: For OSU employees around the state, find your local forecast here: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/
