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 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 has invited all OSU students to be tested through TRACE-OSU the week after spring break. All students living in the residence halls are required to be tested within the first three days of spring term. Prevalence testing for university faculty and staff will be offered in Corvallis and at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport by TRACE-OSU, the week after spring break. Employees working on-site at OSU-Cascades in Bend can be tested on March 30 and 31. Please join the effort to build a safer and healthier Oregon State University community. To enroll and for more information: https://trace.oregonstate.edu/osu.

Timely Teaching Tips: Wondering what action to take in support of a student in distress? The OSU Care Folder, developed by the Office of Student Life in collaboration with Counseling and Psychological Services, provides a guide and resources for consultation and referral. Bookmark the folder for easy access. 

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.

 

Experts foresee logistical problems with Oregon's faster vaccine timeline (KEZI)

Courtney Campbell, who specializes in medical ethics and equity in distribution at OSU, questioned why the state would open up eligibility to everyone on May 1 when there are still constraints on supply. (see also KLCC, Portland Business JournalBend Bulletin)
 

Wastewater testing reveals coronavirus variant in 2 Oregon cities (OPB News)

“Our most recent wastewater surveillance identified B.1.1.7 in Grants Pass and McMinnville and faint, possible signals in Albany and Forest Grove, so certainly it’s out there,” said Brett Tyler, head of the OSU Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, in a briefing with reporters Tuesday.
 

Unresolved arguments could be shortening your lifetime (CBS Minnesota)

New research by Oregon State University shows you should wrap up arguments if you want to live a longer, healthier life.
 

What a new robot could tell us about culture and the economy (OPB News)

The Albany company Agility Robotics now has a bipedal robot called Digit available for companies to purchase. These machines can walk, carry objects and may be used in warehouse work, and even package delivery. We hear more about Digit from the company’s chief technology officer, Jonathan Hurst, and about the broader economic, social and ethical implications in the advancing field of robotics from Kagan Tumer, director of the Oregon State University robotics program. (to be broadcast at noon today on OPB)
 

Thinning trees without changing stream temperatures (Jefferson Public Radio)

Recent research at the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Oregon State University suggests that redwood forests could endure low-level thinning without affecting stream temperatures.
 

OSU's Irem Tumer will participate in 2021 Millennium Leadership Initiative (LIFE@OSU)

A new class of 32 senior-level higher education professionals, including Irem Tumer, vice president for research at Oregon State University, will participate in the 2021 Millennium Leadership Initiative (MLI), a leadership development program of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU).
 

Pay college athletes? Oregon's taking up the issue again (Portland Tribune)

Oregon State University gymnast Halli Briscoe, OSU's Student Athlete Advisory Committee president and chair of the PAC 12 Student-Athlete Leadership Team, told the committee action by states could lead to a "patch work" of rules for athletes.
 

With new edition, "Trees to Know in Oregon and Washington' turns 70 (Oregonian)

“Trees to Know in Oregon and Washington,” the most popular publication in the Oregon State University Extension Service catalog, celebrates 70 years with a new edition.
 

Today's photo

 
Lady McDuff, 1913: In 1913, the Oregon Agricultural College (OSU's former name) poultry department's laying hen named "Lady McDuff" set a world record by becoming the first chicken to lay over 300 eggs in a year.

Today

Fire Aware. Fire Prepared. Wildfire Wednesdays: Join this Wednesday, March 31 from noon to 1 p.m. for the webinar “From the home to the landscape.” This webinar reviews practical steps you and your neighbors can do on your own properties before fire season. Webinar information and registration: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/fire-program/online-webinar-guide. All webinars are free.

Events

Dinsmore retirement: Mark Dinsmore has worked in OSUIT for more than 20 years and is now retiring.  Dinsmore works in Academic Technology and has engaged with faculty, staff and students all across the university. April 1, 3-4 p.m. via Zoom: https://oregonstate.zoom.us/j/5419150260?pwd=QXhIWFFtYnhRdVZGQi9WVmNjMEMzUT09. For additional information contact Jon.Dorbolo@oregonstate.edu.

Board of Trustees: The OSU Board will meet Friday, April 2, from 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. to consider tuition rates, mandatory fees and student incidental fees for the 2021-22 academic year. The board will also discuss the timeline and a proposed process for the appointment of an interim president and discuss a scope of work for a review of due diligence efforts related to the 2019 presidential search. The board also will a hear an update on the 2021 Oregon legislative session and consider updates to the current list of major university research centers. As part of its agenda, the board also will hold an executive session pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(e) to conduct deliberations with persons designated by the governing body to negotiate real property transactions. Options for joining the meeting and instructions for providing comment during the board meeting are located under “Meeting Details” at this webpage. Committees of the board will also meet via remote conferencing services on April 1. Agendas and meeting materials will be posted as they are available at http://oregonstate.edu/leadership/trustees/meetings. For accommodations: 541-737-3449 or lauren.skousen@oregonstate.edu at least 48 hours in advance.

BEavers HERE NOW: Enjoy a different 15 minute guided meditation each week. Benefits of mediation include stress reduction, better sleep, sharper concentration, anxiety management and happier relationships. Sessions take place every Monday through Friday at 4 p.m. Register at: https://beav.es/JEF.

Quarterly Meeting of the President’s Commission on the Status of Black Faculty and Staff Affairs: This newly formed commission will meet on Thursday, April 15, 10-11:30 a.m., via Zoom. Participants will learn of the Commission’s charge, upcoming initiatives, and will have the opportunity to get involved with committee work. Register here to attend (required).

Lectures, Workshops, Webinars

NEW! OMSI-OSU Virtual WorkshopsThe College of Science and OMSI offer opportunities for members of the OSU community (OSU faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduate students engaged in research) to build and hone their science communication skills. We are offering a workshop on April 8, 3-4:30 p.m., “Controversial Subjects: Don't avoid tackling controversial issues anymore.” In this workshop we'll learn and practice strategies for writing and talking about controversial topics in a productive and hopeful way. Subjects include: framing, the power of metaphor, explanatory chains and solutions. Registration closes April 6. Register/learn more at: https://omsi.edu/science-communication-services.

NEW! OSU Science on Tap | Wine Off the Vine in Oregon and Italy: The OSU Alumni Association is pairing two popular programs for one splendid evening. Learn about the sensory science of wine from OSU Fermentation Science program’s Elizabeth Tomasino at Wine Off the Vine in Oregon and Italy Thursday, April 15, at 5:30 p.m. Be part of the live virtual tasting and discussion of wine from Oregon and Italy. Then hear how you can experience the region on Alumni Group Travel’s upcoming tour, Flavors of Northern Italy, departing September 2021. To receive a recommended wine list, register for free at osualum.com/SOTwine.

NEW! Faculty Staff Fitness: OSU Faculty Staff Fitness has fitness offerings to keep you moving Spring 2021 and registration is open. Check out our in-person, remote synchronous and remote asynchronous offerings at https://health.oregonstate.edu/fsf/schedule/spring. Our in-person offerings will be via Zoom or meet with the 6-person maximum until we can return to campus with the OHA Risk Designation changes. Zoom synchronous class options will be Tuesday/Thursday 7 a.m. and noon. Weight Training and a 100% Zoom Cardio Intervals 30-minute class Monday/Wednesday at noon for a midday boost. We also have our Online FSF program with more than 300 classes and 20 styles in a completely online, asynchronous format (https://health.oregonstate.edu/fsf/online) for $35 for 12 weeks.

NEW! STEM academy: Registration for STEM Academy's virtual AWSEM Club for 5th-7th graders is open. AWSEM=Advocates for Women in Science, Engineering, and Math. The club will meet on Wednesdays, 5-6 p.m., from April 21-May 19. Topics: Math & Art, Computer Science, Earthquake Engineering, DNA and Environmental Science. For more information or to register, go to: https://stemacademy.oregonstate.edu/awsem-club

HMSC Research Seminar: Ryan Mueller, Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, will be giving a seminar titled “Partitioning of Phytoplankton Organic Matter by the Marine Microbial Loop,” Thursday, April 1, at 3:30 p.m. Zoom link. Password: 972587 or call +1-971-247-1195 Meeting ID: 945 5573 115. Click here for more information.

Research in Environmental Health Sciences Seminar Series: Perry Hystad, associate professor, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, will give a seminar titled “New Technologies to Measure Environmental Exposures and Influences on Human Health,” April 2, 3-4 p.m., https://bit.ly/3vitsoC. Passcode: 218039.
 
DAM Good Growth: Explore self-care and personal growth through CAPS's mental health engagement series centered around practices from the field of positive psychology. Each week will feature an online self-paced challenge, fun activities, community Zoom session and other surprises. Contact tess.websterhenry@oregonstate.edu to coordinate extra credit for student attendance. Faculty and staff are welcome too, but not eligible for any incentives or prizes. Register at: beav.es/oxo.

WorldOregon Speaker Series: limited tickets available. The Office of Global affairs has announced the last of the lineup for the 21st Annual International Speaker Series, streaming live online. This year's theme: Changing Course. Tom Colicchio, acclaimed restauranteur and Top Chef lead judge, is featured April 7 with "Hunger, Food, & Human Rights." To attend one of these events, or for questions, email the Office of Global Affairs.

A New Faculty Learning Community for Instructors and TAs: The Community for the Advancement of Antiracist Instruction (CAAI) seeks instructors and TAs for a spring pilot, weeks 5 through 8. In this professional development opportunity, participants will explore antiracist teaching in a community of colleagues and create an antiracist teaching action plan. Apply here by March 31.

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. Monday, April 5 through Thursday, April 8, 8:15 a.m. to noon each day. Register by March 31.

This spring, it’s time to ACCELERATE your startup, technology, and/or business idea: The OSU Advantage Accelerator is offering a virtual Accelerate program starting this April. In just 10 weeks, streamline your value proposition, get to market faster, and validate your product-market fit. The Accelerate program is open to OSU researchers, students and staff, and members of the Corvallis community who intend to start or grow an entrepreneurial venture and can qualify teams to receive NSF i-Corps funds. The fun starts April 13. Learn more and apply here: https://advantage.oregonstate.edu/advantage-accelerator/programs/accelerate.

Crucial Conversations: Crucial Conversations is a 10-hour course that teaches skills for creating alignment and agreement — by fostering open dialogue around high-stakes, emotional or risky topics — at all levels of your organization. By learning how to speak and be heard (and encouraging others to do the same), you’ll surface the best ideas, make the highest-quality decisions and then act on your decisions with unity and commitment. This program consists of a series of five live, online sessions on Thursdays, 9-11 a.m. April 15 through May 13. There is a $100 fee to attend Crucial Conversations. Learn more and register here.

Save the date: Department of Integrative Biology GSA Seminar. Lauren Esposito, assistant curator, Schlinger Chair of Arachnology, California Academy of Sciences and co-founder of 500 Queer Scientists, will present a seminar, "'Scorpiomics' Leveraging New Data To Decipher the Ecology and Evolution of Arachnids," Friday, April 16 at 11 a.m. Registration is required: https://beav.es/Scorpiomics. The seminar is free and open to the public. Accommodations for disabilities may be made by contacting 541-737-2993 or bowlinst@oregonstate.edu.

Take Note

NEW! University Health & Safety Committee: The University Health & Safety Committee wants to promote health and safety by providing the following information regarding safe use of utility knives at https://www.oregon.gov/odot/Programs/T2/TailgateTalks/UtilityKnifeSafety.PDF. 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.

NEW! 2021 Advocacy Challenge: Join OSU alumni and friends and Beaver Caucus advocates in the first-ever OSU-UO Advocacy Challenge. Now through April 16, OSU and UO are challenging their alumni and friends to show Salem who has the loudest advocates, as we support a joint effort for funding for higher education. Learn more at https://thebeavercaucus.org/2021-advocacy-challenge

NEW! Recreational Sports Advisory Board: Recreational Sports Advisory Board is looking for graduate and undergraduate students for the 2021/2022 academic year. You need to be an on-campus, fee-paying student to apply. The time commitment is up to 2 hours a month. Apply now by clicking this link: https://recsports.oregonstate.edu/about/governance/recreational-sports-advisory-board. Applications close Wednesday, April 7. Have questions? Contact Jasmine Womack at jasmine.womack@oregonstate.edu for more information.

NEW! Public Health Insider | Navigating life one year into the pandemic: In April and May, the Public Health Insider webcast series returns to address public health concerns we face collectively as we begin to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Join College of Public Health and Human Sciences faculty to explore the impacts of resuming in-person schooling, alleviating everyday stress and creating an ergonomic space at home that supports your health and well-being.

Seeking participants age 30-55 years for a metabolic research study: The Insulin and Muscle Fat Metabolism study is being conducted by Sean Newsom, Ph.D., and Matt Robinson, Ph.D. Participants may receive up to $225 for time committed to the study and information about their health. To learn more about the study and how to get involved, please email us at tmr.lab@oregonstate.edu.

CFP — 2021-22 OSU Humanities Research Fellowships: The OSU Center for the Humanities is now accepting applications for 2021-2022 Faculty Research Fellowships. The deadline to submit proposals is Monday, April 26. Find application forms, instructions and information about awards online at https://humanities.oregonstate.edu/fellowship-program.

Send a supportive message to the Class of 2021: In spite of the unexpected obstacles of the past year, the newest Beaver grads are about to cross the graduation finish line. Voice your encouragement, advice and congratulations as they begin to build their future. It takes just a few minutes but creates a big impact for brand-new alumni. Use the BEaver KIND submission form to send your short note through May 31 at osualum.com/Congrats.

Class of 2021 webpage: Life after college doesn’t mean life without the support of Beaver Nation. The Class of 2021 webpage, curated by the OSU Alumni Association, offers OSU grads everything needed for life after college: messages of inspiration from alumni, personal and professional connections and webcasts to build life and career skills — all in one place. Visit and share osualum.com/ClassOf2021 to celebrate the triumphs of Beaver grads with the OSU community.

OSU Community Hub: Managed by the Family Resource Center, this free platform is where Beaver families can connect, learn and share. Introduce yourself and get to know other Oregon State employees through this new resource; ask questions to your colleagues about child care, caregiving and community resources; and join interest groups to connect with those who share similar experiences.

Key pick-up counter service relocated to ID Center: The service counter for picking up keys from the Access, Lock and Key Shop has been relocated to the university ID Center, located in the Memorial Union. The key pick-up process will not change and an OSU ID will be required to receive keys. Learn more about the change in key counter service at https://beav.es/J75. Send questions to keyshop@oregonstate.edu

Working with Students in Distress: Faculty and staff may be the first to notice a student is struggling and may be in the best position to reach out with care and concern. The Office of Student Life, in collaboration with Counseling and Psychological Services, developed a CARE folder, which is intended to provide you with resources and referral information that we hope you find valuable. Simply click on this link and you will be directed to login to Box to access these resources. We recommend you bookmark this link for easy access on your phone, laptop or tablet.

Visualize Your Bibliography Competition: The OSU Libraries and Press invite currently enrolled graduate students to enter this year’s Visualize Your Bibliography Competition. Submissions should creatively display 20+ sources used in a thesis, dissertation or other scholarly work. Displays might range from a series of erasure poems made for each source to a multimedia timeline of your sources. Prizes: 1st: $750, 2nd: $500, 3rd: $250. Deadline: April 1. For questions, contact colleen.johnson@oregonstate.edu.  
 
Nominations open: The President’s Commission on the Status of Women, Office of Institutional Diversity, Office of the Provost and OSU Athletics are accepting nominations for the Breaking Barriers awards. All OSU community members whose work advances gender equity in alignment with the award categories are eligible. Categories include Breaking Barriers in Education, Breaking Barriers in Research, Breaking Barriers in Athletics, the PCOSW Community Builder and the Harriet "Hattie" Redmond awards. Learn more and submit nominations at beav.es/Jby. Nominations close Tuesday, April 6. For questions, contact pcosw@oregonstate.edu.

Our Little Village (OLV) Child Care: Registration for spring term ’21 is open until Wednesday, March 31 at noon. For children ages 5 months to 12 years, OLV high quality short-term campus child care is offered for 3.5 hours/day and is available two, three or five weekday sessions for winter term. To learn more about the Our Little Village program and/or register for spring term, visit the OLV|Milne or OLV|Dixon page. Have questions? Email the Family Resource Center at familyresources@oregonstate.edu.

Traffic and Maintenance

Campus Way: As part of a construction project at the RAIL 244 facility, this is an informational campus-wide notification to inform pedestrian path users about the potential for increased vehicle traffic along Campus Way between SW 35th Street and SW 53rd Street (view map) from March 4 through June 15. Vehicles will be traveling to and from the RAIL facility and the Building 244 construction site. The general contractor for the project will post signs at key points for the duration of the project. For questions or comments on this closure, please contact Construction Manager Amy Keene at 541-214-1038.

Motor Pool Canopy Construction Project work: As part of the Motor Pool Canopy Construction Project, a new canopy is being built at the fuel island north of the Motor Pool Building. Fencing will go up around the area, and work will start on Tuesday, March 2 and continue through Friday, April 2 (view map). Staging will occur in the parking lot west of the Motor Pool Building. For questions or comments on this closure, contact OSU Infrastructure Project Manager Aaron Collett at 541-207-2780.

Jobs

This email only lists new or recently updated job postings. For a full list of current job postings for OSU Today, go to: http://today.oregonstate.edu/email/jobs To apply for the below positions, visit jobs.oregonstate.edu unless otherwise specified.

NEW! Oregon State University College of Agricultural Sciences invites applications for a Coordinator of Student Outreach and Recruitment, full-time 1.0 FTE position. This is a salary, fixed-term administrative professional faculty position. Posting #P04262UF. Closes April 19.

NEW! Outdoor School Finance, Budget, and Contracts Coordinator: OSU Extension Service invites applications for a Finance, Budget, and Contracts Coordinator position that will coordinate business operations of the Extension Outdoor School Program as well as develop and maintain relationships to help execute the Outdoor School funding requirements. Posting #P04263UF. Closes April 19.

Weather

“I am what I am. I would tell you what you want to know if I could, for you have been kind to me. But I am a cat, and no cat anywhere ever gave anyone a straight answer.” ~ Peter S. Beagle

Corvallis: Areas of frost and then sunny, high of 67, low of 39. Sunny tomorrow.

Central Oregon: Sunny today, high of 64, low of 38. Sunny tomorrow.

Newport: Mostly sunny today, high of 64, low of 41. Partly cloudy tomorrow.

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