Office of the Registrar

From: Office of the Dean of Students

Dear OSU Students,

Welcome back for an exciting and busy academic year at Oregon State University. We are writing to share a reminder regarding religious holidays that university community members may observe, and to confirm that the university is committed to providing support for students, faculty and staff whose observance of their religious beliefs may have an impact on classes, schedules and dietary needs. 

We have requested that faculty and supervisors work with all undergraduate and graduate students, regardless of learning modality, as outlined in OSU’s Religious Accommodation of Students Policy. It is incumbent on the student making the request to notify their faculty member or supervisor as soon as possible prior to the need for accommodation. Students should work directly with their faculty member or supervisor on these requests according to the religious accommodation policy. Meanwhile, faculty and staff are able to approve requests for religious accommodations without consultation, but must first contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access when denying a request.

Because some holidays align closely with the start of the academic year, we recognize it may not always be possible for students to contact faculty and staff for accommodations. For this reason, we have requested that faculty work with students who miss required assignments and activities due to these religious holidays, and provide accommodations to make up any missed work deliverables or course materials within a reasonable amount of time.

Below we provide information regarding dining and food options available on the Corvallis campus and at OSU-Cascades.

If you have any questions, concerns or recommendations, please do not hesitate to directly contact the Office of the Dean of Students or the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access.

We wish you all a great start to fall term.

Kevin A. Dougherty, Ed.D., Associate Vice Provost for Student Affairs, Dean of Students, [email protected]

Corvallis Campus Resources

Quiet Spaces:

Quiet spaces are offered on the third floor of the Student Experience Center (hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and in the International Living Learning Center (ILLC) Multi-Faith Room, located on the fourth floor. Foot-washing stations are located in the restrooms on the fourth floor of the ILLC. Residence Hall lounges are available to serve as quiet spaces for on-campus residents, as well. No reservations are required and these spaces are available on a first-come, first serve basis.

Dining and Food Options:

Any residential student in Corvallis practicing a faith-based diet, and who needs to develop a plan that will meet dietary needs for upcoming holidays and beyond; who has suggestions about specific foods that could be added to our convenience stores and dining centers; or who needs to discuss access to space for meal preparations, etc., should visit the housing portal and fill out a dietary needs request for assistance.

Food in all UHDS dining centers is labeled for dietary preferences and allergen needs. UHDS carries many Halal-Friendly and Kosher-certified packaged goods, as well as a variety of whole foods (fruits, vegetables, dairy and grains) at Cascadia Market in the International Living Learning Center building. For more information about all available food options, restaurants and menus, please visit the University Housing & Dining Services website: https://uhds.oregonstate.edu/menus/nutrition-info-and-special-dietary-needs

OSU-Cascades Resources

Any residential student at OSU-Cascades practicing a faith-based diet, and who needs to develop a plan that will meet dietary needs for upcoming holidays and beyond, should contact Lori Waters, director of auxiliary services, for assistance with special food needs.

Sara Holtzman, wellness coordinator, can help students living in residence who need access to meal preparation space.

To request this information in an alternative format please contact [email protected]. Thank you.

From: Leadership - Office of the President

INVITATION

You are invited to an ice cream float social with new president, Jayathi Y. Murthy.

September 21

3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

MU Quad

Stop by for a treat on your first day of classes and meet the 16th president of OSU.

Questions about the event may be directed to Shari Brumbach by email or calling 541-760-6188.

From: Public Safety

OSU Community Members,

Welcome to the new academic year. We are excited to see so much activity and energy on Oregon State University’s Corvallis campus.

The safety of the OSU community is a top priority of the university and the Department of Public Safety. At OSU, public safety is a shared responsibility, and we ask for your collaboration.

Students, faculty and staff can contribute to their own and others’ safety by being aware of their surroundings and reporting suspicious behavior or the presence of unusual or suspicious items. If you see something, say something.

The Department of Public Safety is always available to help and respond to your needs. For non-emergency help, please call 541-737-3010. If it’s an emergency, call 541-737-7000 or 911. You may also visit the Department of Public Safety web page to learn more about the Department of Public Safety, and to find information about safety-related topics.

If you do report a matter of concern, please focus on describing the behavior when identifying and describing suspicious activity. Be prepared to describe “Who, what, when, where and why.” For example: Share who you saw. (And also share who else saw the incident you are reporting.)  What did you see? When did you see it? Where did you see it? Why did it appear suspicious or unusual to you?

To help in reporting an item considered suspicious, evaluate if the item is hidden, obviously suspicious and something not typically seen or used within a location. If you see or discover a suspicious item, do not touch it, tamper with it or move it. Call 911 and report the item immediately.

Here are some additional resources to help you this year:

·       OSU Assist provides mobile crisis response for mental health matters and other forms of distress. It can be reached via Public Safety at 541-737-3010.

·       Counseling and Psychological Services offers students mental health support.

·       ASOSU SafeRide is a free service providing OSU students alternative transportation services around campus and within Corvallis and the surrounding area.

·       Guardian App, new this year, is a free service that provides one-button emergency calling and the ability to create a Virtual Escort from your contacts.

·       Beyond Benefits Employee Assistance Program provides resources for OSU employees, including mental health support.

To contribute to your safety and awareness, please sign up for OSU Alert, the university’s text and email alert service that provides time-sensitive information. We encourage you to add a mobile phone number that receives text messages so you can get an urgent message if an incident is under way. If asked for an institution after logging in with your ONID account, please type in “Oregon State University.”

Thank you for your help in contributing to safety within the OSU community.

Shanon Anderson, Associate Vice President for Public Safety and OSU Chief of Police

Kevin Dougherty, Associate Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students

From: Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President

Dear OSU Community Members,

Welcome to fall and to the start of the new academic year. I write to provide you with updated community health and resource information, including guidance on COVID-19 and Monkeypox (MPV), as well as other ways we all can support our own wellness and community health.

We have launched a new website, Beaver Healthy, that includes information on COVID-19, MPV and influenza, as well as more general health and wellness guidance. All university-level COVID-19 information provided by University Human Resources (for employees) and Student Health Services (for students) is provided on this site. Guidance and information that is campus or location specific is noted and linked.

As you prepare for fall, please familiarize yourself with the Beaver Healthy website and the guidance provided. The following are highlights on our current measures associated with COVID-19 and MVP.

 General COVID-19 information:

The incidence of COVID-19 in Oregon is trending down as of Sept. 12, 2022. Most Oregon counties are within the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) designation of “Low Community Level.” While the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is predicting an increase in COVID-19 cases at the end of September due to waning immunity and people increasingly congregating indoors, there are currently no new variants of concern on the horizon. An updated bivalent booster that targets the current Omicron variant will be available in the days ahead at OSU’s vaccine and booster clinics. Information on vaccine clinics is available on the Beaver Healthy website.

OSU’s COVID-19 response plan is informed by the ACHA’s COVID-19 Considerations for Institutions of Higher Education, Fall 2022. Because the CDC and OHA are no longer providing COVID-19 guidance for higher education institutions, individual universities have greater flexibility to organize their response based on their unique circumstances and locations.

There are four COVID-19 strategies currently operative at OSU, subject to change:

 1.    Isolation:

·       General guidance: Individuals who test positive must isolate for five days. If they have no symptoms or their symptoms are resolving, they may end isolation on day six, provided they wear a well-fitting face covering or mask for five additional days when around others.

·       Classroom setting: As they would if impacted by other illnesses, students testing positive for COVID-19 should contact their teaching instructors to communicate that they will not be able to attend class while symptomatic or in isolation, and to work out arrangements to keep up with coursework. Instructors should not transition their full courses to remote learning if multiple students are in isolation and instead should consult with their unit head before making changes to course delivery.

·       On-Campus housing: Students who test positive will primarily isolate in place, which is in alignment with the ACHA guidance.

2.    Positive case notification:

·       Positive case notification requirements for employees remain in place with modifications. Employees who test positive must inform their supervisor, who must then inform those who were directly exposed to a person with COVID-19 (close contacts) and those present in the affected areas, without identifying the infected employee. Positive COVID-19 notification forms are no longer required. Guidance for employees and supervisors will be included on the HR website.

3.    Testing:

·       While supplies last, OSU will continue to provide free at-home antigen test kits at multiple locations on the Corvallis and Bend campuses. Information on test kit distribution locations is included on the Beaver Healthy site.

4.    Vaccine:

·       There remains strong public health rationale to require vaccinations, and at minimum, the primary series of COVID-19 vaccine. As a result, OSU’s policy requiring proof of primary vaccination series remains in place. Staying up to date on vaccines is the best way to support your immune response and protect against more serious illness. Being up-to-date on your vaccines is widely recommended by CDC, the OHA, and local public health authorities throughout Oregon. 

·       Monthly COVID-19 vaccination clinics are scheduled at the Memorial Union on the Corvallis campus and are promoted on the Beaver Healthy website, as well as on OSU Today. These clinics will provide the new bivalent booster that targets the current Omicron variant. OSU-Cascades will hold a vaccination clinic in October that will dispense flu shots as well.

General MPV Status Update:

 OSU’s MPV (hMPVX/Monkeypox) plan is informed by ACHA’s Emerging Considerations for Addressing MPV in Higher Education Settings guidance as well as guidance from our local public health authority. All MPV information provided by OSU is located on OSU’s Student Health Services (SHS) website.

Per the CDC, MPV is not considered a significant risk on college campuses, but there are community groups that may be impacted and should be aware of current information about MPV. We are sensitive to the need to provide this critical education without stigmatizing members of the community.

Plans are underway to provide education on MPV to the broader community, with Student Health Services (SHS), Samaritan Health Services, the College of Public Health and Human Sciences, OSU Extension, OHA and county health authorities all contributing. Guidelines on how to manage infection and exposure in university residential settings are based on the recent ACHA considerations and CDC guidance for congregate living settings.

We have learned a great deal as a university community over the past few years. As we enter the new academic year in a much stronger place, we are pleased to offer new tools and information to contribute to personal and community wellness. As always, please reach out if you have any questions. Let’s continue working together to support individual and community health.

Thank you,

Dan Larson, Vice Provost for Student Affairs, OSU Coronavirus Response Coordinator

From: Office of the President

Dear OSU Community Members,

I am thrilled to join the university community, begin my service as Oregon State University’s 16th president and engage as a new Oregonian.

I greatly appreciate the warm welcome I have received from so many faculty, staff, students, donors and alums, and from all corners of the OSU community.

I thank Becky Johnson for her leadership as interim president this past year and President Emeritus Ed Ray for his many contributions and visionary guidance during his 17 years as president. I also thank members of the OSU Board of Trustees for their thoughtful leadership and service.

I look forward to joining you at University Day activities Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at the LaSells Stewart Center as we begin the new academic year with an awards celebration, keynote speech, panel discussion, a prize drawing, and an OSU community lunch served by me, other university leaders, and University Housing and Dining Services staff.

In the weeks ahead, I also will be pleased to meet you, learn from you and engage with you to help advance the university’s mission of service to the state, Oregonians, the nation and the world.

A top priority of my service as president will be personal engagement – my engagement throughout OSU campuses in Bend and Corvallis, at university locations statewide, and with community, business and education partners across Oregon and beyond.

While I begin my role as a president, please know that I am first and foremost a teacher. I am inspired by students, and I am committed to advance success for all students, most importantly their graduation. Without question, students taking classes on our Corvallis and Bend campuses and through Ecampus distance learning are the heart of this great university. In the years ahead, lifelong learning delivered by the university for all ages across Oregon will grow in importance.

I recognize that commitment and action are needed to advance inclusive excellence, which must define OSU and the university’s teaching, student services, research and community service.

As Oregon’s statewide land grant university, OSU is ideally qualified to advance the ideal that higher education is a public good. As your president, I will increase access to public higher education throughout the state by working with the governor, legislators and state leaders, as well as leaders at other Oregon universities and community colleges.

As I look around this phenomenal university, I see evidence everywhere of great momentum and excellence.

Working with OSU faculty and staff, administrators, donors, alumni and stakeholders, I pledge to build on this excellence and momentum by helping advance the incredible teaching, research discovery, innovation, scholarship and engagement occurring throughout OSU.

We will do this by investing in and continuing the impressive work of Strategic Plan 4.0. In the months ahead, we will work together to fashion an updated university roadmap: Strategic Plan 5.0. We also will advance the excellence, work and impact of the university and student success by engaging with the OSU Foundation in launching the university’s next comprehensive fundraising campaign on Oct. 14.

All of this important work cannot be done alone.

Although I have only been part of this community a short while, I clearly see that in true Beaver spirit, we are better together. And it is through collaboration that we accomplish great things.

I hope to see you soon throughout Oregon State University and across this great state.

Sincerely, Jayathi Y. Murthy, President

From: Office of the President

Dear OSU Community Members,

As I conclude my service today as Oregon State University’s interim president, I write to share my heartfelt appreciation for the opportunity to serve OSU and the university community as president this past year. I am retiring from a career that began in 1984 as an assistant professor in the OSU College of Forestry and led to my work in university administration and service as OSU-Cascades’ leader beginning in 2009.

It has been a true honor to serve in each of these roles and help advance OSU’s mission throughout Oregon and beyond. My life at OSU – and any achievements that have occurred during my time in Corvallis and at OSU-Cascades – have been supported by the collaboration and encouragement of many colleagues, community members, friends and diehard Beavers. You all mean so much to me. Thank you.

Oregon State University is an exceptional institution thanks to the hard work of many. Each day as interim president, I have been inspired by everyone engaged in this great university. I have been impressed by the outstanding contributions that the university provides to this state and the world. These are impacts that I am fully confident will grow with the leadership of incoming President Jayathi Murthy and the OSU Board of Trustees; with the support of the OSU Foundation and OSU Alumni Association; and with your continued engagement.

OSU’s future will continue to be guided by an unwavering commitment to inclusive excellence and success for all.

The past few years have been challenging for all of us. There are many complex and important issues that must be addressed for all people and our world to prosper. I am confident and proud in knowing that this great university and each of you will help to address these matters.

Remember, while we have more work to do, we are stronger and better working together as a community.

While I am retiring to spend more time with family and friends, I assure you that I always will remain a proud and supportive member of Beaver Nation. Lori and I look forward to seeing you at future OSU activities and athletics events in Bend, Corvallis and throughout Oregon.

Sincerely,

Becky Johnson, Interim President

From: Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President

OSU Community Members,

The country of Pakistan is currently experiencing unprecedented flooding because of heavy monsoon rains and accelerated snow melt.

By some estimates, one-third of the country, an area the size of Oregon, is flooded. Thirty-three million people have been impacted and casualties are rising. The flooding also has created significant secondary impacts including lack of access to clean water, food, shelter and medicine.

The impact of the flooding in Pakistan is felt directly at OSU given the number of OSU students, faculty, staff, exchange visitors, alumni and volunteers who call Pakistan home or have family members who live in the country and region. I ask faculty and supervisors of OSU community members with ties to Pakistan to please extend appropriate care and flexibility to employees and students affected by this tragedy.

Impacted OSU students needing assistance may contact the Office of International Services by emailing [email protected]. Additionally, the university is reaching out directly to students from Pakistan to extend offers of care and support. I encourage employees needing support to reach out to the Beyond Benefits Employee Assistance Program.

Sincerely, Edward Feser, Provost and Executive Vice President