Office of the Registrar

Dear OSU Students,

The university is raffling off $50 gift cards to the OSU Beaver Store for students who upload their COVID-19 vaccine documentation to their Student Health Services patient portal, by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021.

The deadline for students to confirm their vaccine status through the patient portal is Sept. 15, 2021. By confirming early, you become eligible for the raffle and Beaver Store gift cards.  

To check your COVID-19 vaccine requirement status, please visit your Student Dashboard.

Sincerely,

Brittney Holcomb

Immunization Compliance Manager

From the Office of the President

Dear OSU Students,

Steady, principled, informed, unified. These values have underpinned the university’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic over the past 18 months, and they remain our values as we prepare for the start of the new academic year, excited as ever to welcome new and returning students to pursue their goals.

When we concluded the last academic year in June, we were optimistic that the end of the pandemic was imminent. It is now clear that the Delta variant represents a new phase in the pandemic. In response, public health measures like supporting vaccinations by all, wearing face coverings, testing, and careful management of gatherings must continue. With these measures, we continue to plan to responsibly return to on-site university activities.

We are not in the same place today as we were last fall, and we are not in the same place as other educational institutions, which are responding to their own specific circumstances.

As of Monday, 94% of the more than 19,500 students who have complied with OSU’s vaccination program to date have provided proof of having been vaccinated. Meanwhile, OSU employees are responding quickly and affirmatively to the university’s vaccination attestation website that was launched Monday. We know nationally that the vaccines are proving extremely successful in preventing serious illness among the vaccinated and that the use of face coverings substantially reduces transmission.

These last 18 months have shown us that OSU students and employees take our culture of mutual care seriously and comply with guidelines like masking and testing. We also know that while remote teaching, learning and work are possible on a large scale, they are not measures required at this time, nor what most members of our community wish to become the “new normal” for OSU.

It is within these evolved circumstances that we affirm the return to on-site teaching and other activities within OSU’s Pathway to Fall plan. This approach is based on regular consultations with local health authorities and guidance from state and national health authorities.

Steady, principled, informed, unified. These values have served OSU’s response well, and they continue to guide us during this challenging time. We do not know how this pandemic will evolve, but we do know that as a community of students, teachers, scholars and professionals, we will navigate it. And we will remain engaged with care for one another and our neighbors; and with patience and courage, face all uncertainty.

We look forward to seeing you for the start of fall term.

Becky Johnson

Interim President

Edward Feser

Provost and Executive Vice President

Oregon State University

Office of the President

600 Kerr Administration Building, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331

leadership.oregonstate.edu/president

Dear OSU Students,

The university is raffling off $50 gift cards to the OSU Beaver Store for students who upload their COVID-19 vaccine documentation to their Student Health Services patient portal, by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021.

The deadline for students to confirm their vaccine status through the patient portal is Sept. 15, 2021. By confirming early, you become eligible for the raffle and Beaver Store gift cards.  

To check your COVID-19 vaccine requirement status, please visit your Student Dashboard.

Sincerely,

Brittney Holcomb

Immunization Compliance Manager

Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President

COVID-19 Updates:

1. Benton County ordinance requires face coverings outdoors
2. Employees can now begin the vaccination requirement process
3. OSU to require proof of vaccination for designated events and spaces

Dear OSU Community Members,

The significant transmission rate of the Delta variant and increase in COVID-19 cases, primarily among the unvaccinated, is concerning and stressful. At the same time, we face very different conditions today than at the start of the pandemic in early spring 2020, when we shifted primarily to remote operations.

With our vaccination requirement, very high rates of vaccination among our students and employees, the use of face coverings, and the use of other public health measures related to cleaning and ventilation, our plan to return to in-person instruction and more on-site activities in the fall remains.

Our latest updates, based on public health guidance and our ongoing consultation with local and state public health authorities, follow.

Face Coverings:

Please use a face covering in all OSU indoor settings and follow any other local public health requirements that apply in your location. Face coverings remain a highly effective community and individual measure in reducing transmission of the virus.

New Benton County Outdoor Face Covering Requirement:

Per Benton County’s order, individuals five years of age and older must wear masks or face coverings in outdoor public settings where physical distancing of six feet is not feasible. This policy is in addition to Oregon’s face-covering requirement for indoor settings.

Deschutes County Public Health is urging the use of face coverings outside where physical distancing is not possible. Other jurisdictions may have their own face covering requirements. Be sure to check for local face covering requirements.

Events and Activities May Continue:

With the use of face coverings as a primary public health measure, and with thoughtful event design and consideration of timing and location, in-person events and activities may continue at this time. In fact, in-person events and activities are an important component of the vitality of our university and community, even as we work to reduce the spread of COVID-19. If you are planning an event or activity and would like to consult with someone on how to apply public health measures within your activity, please contact Shelly Signs with University Events or Kelly Sparks for OSU Cascades. Additional guidance can be found on the In-person Events Planning website. We encourage all community members to feel comfortable in making their own personal decisions regarding attending events as we continue to live with COVID-19.

Proof of Vaccination Required for Designated Events and Spaces:

As an added measure to reduce the risk and spread of COVID-19, proof of vaccination, or proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test, will be required to gain access to designated university spaces and activities. Designated spaces will be defined by the Coronavirus Response Coordinator and in consultation with program leaders and the local public health authority. Examples may include athletic events, concerts, and conferences, recreation centers, field trips and other experiential learning activities that present higher risk.

We expect to allow use of CDC-issued vaccination record cards and other records, as well as possible technological solutions, in providing provide proof of vaccination or a recent negative test. Details on how this requirement will be implemented will be shared in the days ahead.

Vaccination Program:

OSU students are proving highly committed to their personal wellness and public health. Even before OSU’s Sept. 15 deadline for compliance, approximately 19,800 students of the roughly 20,270 students whose status requires compliance, have already completed the compliance process. Of those who have completed the process, approximately 18,700 students or 94% of those in compliance with the policy are fully vaccinated.  Students who have not yet completed the compliance process are encouraged to do so as soon as possible. 

As a community we can contribute to personal and public wellness and resume on-site learning, teaching, research, outreach programs and other activities by following the guidelines above and supporting one another, just as we have done since the start of the pandemic.

Sincerely,

Dan Larson

Vice Provost for Student Affairs

OSU Coronavirus Response Coordinator

Oregon State University

Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President

624 Kerr Administration Building, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331

leadership.oregonstate.edu/provost

Dear OSU Students,

The university is raffling off $50 gift cards to the OSU Beaver Store for students who upload their COVID-19 vaccine documentation to their Student Health Services patient portal, by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021.

The deadline for students to confirm their vaccine status through the patient portal is Sept. 15, 2021. By confirming early, you become eligible for the raffle and Beaver Store gift cards.  

To check your COVID-19 vaccine requirement status, please visit your Student Dashboard.

Sincerely,

Brittney Holcomb

Immunization Compliance Manager

Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President

Dear OSU Community Members,

I write to provide you with information on Oregon State University’s updated policy regarding face coverings, which aims to slow the rapid increase in COVID-19 due to the Delta variant.

Our policy requires faculty, staff, students, volunteers, visitors and contractors in all university locations and programs to wear a face covering in all OSU indoor spaces. Indoor spaces is defined by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) as anywhere indoors, including but not limited to public and private workplaces, businesses, indoor areas open to the public, building lobbies, common or shared spaces, classrooms, elevators, bathrooms, transportation services and other indoor space where people may gather for any purpose.

OSU’s policy is in keeping with Gov. Kate Brown’s statewide requirement for the use of masks in public indoor spaces. This statewide mandate is in response to nearly every county in the state of Oregon being classified as “high” for levels of transmission of COVID-19 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Meanwhile, transmission is forecasted to increase dramatically in the coming weeks without public health interventions, such as increased face covering use.

In response to Gov. Brown’s action, OSU’s COVID-19 Safety & Success Policy has been revised. For additional guidance, see relevant FAQ’s.

The upward trend in COVID-19 cases underscores how critical it is that as many people as possible in Oregon, the nation and the world get vaccinated. Thus far at OSU, data from the university’s vaccination program indicate that 95% of students are choosing to be vaccinated rather than submit an exemption. We are proud of the commitment OSU students have toward contributing to the health of the university community and the communities in which we operate. We will continue to update you on vaccination rates among students and employees as we near the Sept. 15 deadline for employees and students to comply with OSU’s vaccination program.

With our vaccine requirement in place and the policy regarding the use of face coverings as conditions warrant, the university remains on its Pathway to Fall and offering a primarily in-person campus experience for students.

Sincerely,

Dan Larson

OSU Coronavirus Response Coordinator

Vice Provost for Student Affairs

Oregon State University

Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President

624 Kerr Administration Building, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331

leadership.oregonstate.edu/provost

Dear OSU Students,

The university is raffling off $50 gift cards to the OSU Beaver Store for students who upload their COVID-19 vaccine documentation to their Student Health Services patient portal, by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021.

The deadline for students to confirm their vaccine status through the patient portal is Sept. 15, 2021. By confirming early, you become eligible for the raffle and Beaver Store gift cards.  

To check your COVID-19 vaccine requirement status, please visit your Student Dashboard.

Sincerely,

Brittney Holcomb

Immunization Compliance Manager

Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President

Dear OSU Community Members,

Effective immediately, face coverings are now required in all public indoor settings at OSU.

This policy will be reviewed weekly, adjusted as appropriate, and communicated on the COVID-19 Safety & Success website.

Last week, we communicated that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) had updated their guidance to recommend the use of face coverings in public indoor spaces. In that context, we endorsed these recommendations under OSU’s Framework on Face Coverings, emphasizing that we would update our policy as public health conditions changed.

Since last week’s message, the Delta variant of COVID-19 has significantly spread throughout Oregon, and most counties have reached a “high” level of transmission as determined by the CDC. 

For purposes of this face covering requirement, “public indoor settings” at OSU include indoor environments in university-owned or controlled property or in which OSU activities are held, and which are open to the public. Examples include classrooms, dining centers (except while seated to consume food/drink), recreation centers, indoor sports venues, conference and event centers and spaces, service centers, front desks, and offices with frequent engagement with OSU community members or the public.

Generally, public indoor settings do not include university workspaces (e.g., offices or cubicles) and spaces within residence halls that do not have high frequency or recurring visitations by the public, and where individuals are not exposed to others who are not assigned to work in that space. Please review these FAQ’s for additional guidance. OSU Athletics will continue to follow Pac-12 Conference medical guidance.

Our policy on the use of face coverings complements the university’s vaccine program requirement for all faculty, staff and students.

We understand this face covering requirement may be unsettling to those who are weary of public health measures and constantly worry about their health and that of others within their families and community. The university’s primary goal remains the health and safety of our university community and the communities in which we operate. Continued vigilance is critical as we plan for a return in the fall to a more typical on-site experience, and a potential relaxation of the face covering requirement, if conditions allow.

Sincerely,

Dan Larson

OSU Coronavirus Response Coordinator

Vice Provost for Student Affairs

Oregon State University

Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President

624 Kerr Administration Building, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331

leadership.oregonstate.edu/provost

Dear Student,

Last spring, the OSU Faculty Senate voted to make changes to two important academic regulations that may impact you directly. Beginning this summer term, Academic Regulation 12 – Withdrawal from Individual Classes and Academic Regulation 13 – Withdrawal from the Term are changing. This email contains a short explanation of the academic regulations changes and what you need to know about these changes.

What’s changed?

Academic Regulation 13 – Effective summer 2021, Academic Regulation 13 – Withdrawal from the Term. Students are no longer limited to four withdrawals from the term. Any student is entitled to withdraw from the term without prejudice prior to the beginning of finals week unless they have exceeded the withdrawal from individual classes maximum (Academic Regulation 12). 

Academic Regulation 12 – Effective summer 2021, Academic Regulation 12 – Withdrawal from Individual Classes. The maximum number of individual class withdrawals is increasing from 12 to 18 individual OSU credit-bearing classes throughout a student’s academic career at OSU. This includes the classes that were withdrawn from during a withdrawal from the term.

Why did these changes take place? 

These changes were implemented to contribute to a more equitable approach to withdrawals for all students, regardless of their status (part-time, full-time, etc.). The total class withdrawal covers those who need to withdraw from one class, multiple classes or a complete term withdrawal in an equitable way. We accomplish this by having a total class withdrawal amount at a reasonable number regardless of how many classes a student is taking during a term.

A link to FAQs related to these changes is also provided. For more information about withdrawing from individual classes or withdrawing from the term, visit the Office of the Registrar website.

If you have questions about your student record, please contact your academic advisor or the Office of the Registrar.

Sincerely,

Office of the Registrar

Dear OSU Community Members,

I write to update you on the process underway to inform my selection of an interim university vice president and chief diversity officer. As I shared in my July 7 message, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Charlene Alexander has announced her plans to return to Ball State University to help guide that university as its chief strategy officer. Her last day with OSU will be Sept 17.

Oregon State University continues to engage in work to end systemic racism and support the long-term success of all students, faculty and staff of color. My intention is to appoint an interim vice president and chief diversity officer by Sept 17 to help maintain the momentum occurring around this important work. In the fall, I will launch a national search for a permanent vice president and chief diversity officer, which will include opportunities for engagement and input by students, faculty and staff.

Over the past several weeks, I have been gathering input from faculty, staff, students and stakeholders. I write to invite you and all members of the OSU community to join me for an open discussion so I can hear your thoughts on the scope of the interim position of vice president and chief diversity officer, the qualifications needed in the interim leader, and other suggestions, guidance or concerns you wish to share.

Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021

2:00 to 2:45 p.m.

Zoom link

Input also can be provided via this online survey through Aug 20.

Sincerely,

Becky Johnson

Interim President

Oregon State University

Office of the President

600 Kerr Administration Building, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331

leadership.oregonstate.edu/president

Fellow students,

The Associated Students of Oregon State University (ASOSU) is your recognized student government and is hiring for the 2021-22 academic year! We welcome and strongly encourage eligible students from all backgrounds and perspectives to apply.

These paid positions allow students to gain professional skills and experiences while working to make OSU a better and more inclusive institution. There are positions available in the ASOSU Executive Branch, ASOSU Congress, and ASOSU SafeRide program.

The ASOSU President and Vice President are hiring executive staff for the following positions. Applications are due Monday, August 2, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. More information is available here.

• Programming Director
• Marketing Coordinator
• Public Relations Coordinator
• Policy Director
• Local and Legislative Policy Coordinator
• Sustainability Advocacy Coordinator
• Diversity and Inclusion Director
• International and Cultural Advocacy Coordinator
• LGBTQ+ Advocacy Coordinator
• Women and Gender Advocacy Coordinator
• Veterans and Nontraditional Students Advocacy Coordinator
• Accessibility and Wellness Advocacy Coordinator

In addition, ASOSU also has the following openings available. Deadlines vary; please see the links below.

• ASOSU Student Government:
  • Records Clerk

• ASOSU Student Government (ONID login required to view):
  • ASOSU Representative (vacancies; 2021-22)
  • ASOSU Senator (vacancies; 2021-22 and 2021-23)
  • ASOSU Student Fee Committee Member (vacancy; 2021-22)
  • ASOSU Judicial Council (volunteer/unpaid)

• ASOSU SafeRide:
  • ASOSU SafeRide Driver 2021-22

Questions? Please feel free to contact us at [email protected].

All the best,

Dhru Patel, ASOSU President

Dylan Perfect, ASOSU Vice President

Associated Students of Oregon State University

Student Body President & Vice President, 2021-22

250 Student Experience Center, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331

asosu.oregonstate.edu/executive

Dear OSU Undergraduate and Graduate Students,

I am writing to share important news that the university has received additional federal assistance funding for students through the American Rescue Plan (ARP), which authorized funds for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III. These funds may be used for any component of your cost of attendance or emergency costs that arise due to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as tuition, food, housing, and health care, including mental health care or childcare. OSU will prioritize providing federal assistance to students with exceptional need.

To learn more about this program and apply for federal assistance, please visit OSU’s Emergency Funding webpage and apply using the emergency funding request. Note that there are very few eligibility requirements associated with ARP assistance.

We also share good news that eligibility for ARP funding has been broadened. In this round of emergency aid, all degree and certificate seeking OSU students, including Ecampus students, Cascades students, international students, DACA students and undocumented students are eligible to receive funding.

Please know that during this time of uncertainty, we are here for you, remain committed to your well-being, and are doing all we can to assist you. As we recover from the pandemic, contributing to your continued wellness and progress toward attainment of your educational goals are our top priorities.

I hope you and your friends and families are well.

Sincerely,

Edward Feser

Provost and Executive Vice President

oregonstate.edu/provost

541.737.2111

From the Office of the President

Dear OSU Community Members,

I am writing to share that Dr. Charlene Alexander, Oregon State University vice president and chief diversity officer, has announced her plans to return to Ball State University for the exciting opportunity to help guide that institution as its chief strategy officer.

Charlene joined OSU in the summer of 2017 after serving as a Ball State professor for 16 years and as Ball State’s associate provost for diversity and interim associate vice president for community engagement for four years.

While at OSU, Charlene has contributed remarkably to the university by leading the creation and development of the Office of Institutional Diversity. Students, faculty and staff of color and all members of the university community have benefitted from Charlene’s contributions, leadership, care and compassion.

Collaborating with OSU campuses, colleges, divisions and departments, she has helped to advance the recruitment and retention of students from historically underrepresented communities; recruit and retain diverse faculty; foster an inclusive, safe and welcoming university community; and work with community leaders to promote equity, diversity and inclusion statewide. Charlene also co-chaired a public safety advisory committee made up of faculty, staff and students and worked with the OSU Foundation and OSU Alumni Association to advance philanthropic support for DEI efforts, student success programs and alumni engagement initiatives among underrepresented community members.

As she told me of her decision to return to Ball State, I was heartened to hear Charlene also share that she was “very pleased to see the many ways OSU’s leadership and community members have embraced DEI efforts.” She also offered that she is “confident the university is on a path to build on the work already underway.”

I share here a few examples of that progress and momentum occurring within OSU that have taken place over the past four years:

• Oregon State has been recognized for three consecutive years as a national recipient of a Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. Last year, only 91 universities nationally were granted this award.
• Colleagues from the President and Provost’s Leadership Council on Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice are working with the President’s Office to advance more than 40 DEI initiatives within the university-wide effort called “Moving Forward Together.”
• The university’s Strategic Plan 4.0 and OSU’s first comprehensive diversity strategic plan launched in 2018 make diversity and inclusion an essential foundation of the university’s land grant mission and provide for strategies and tactics already underway.
• Along with the Office of Institutional Diversity, deans, academic leaders and faculty have created the Leading Change for Diversity Equity and Inclusion program to advance inclusion within colleges, schools and departments.
• The Black Student Access & Success Initiative is providing university-wide student services and programs to contribute to the success of Black and African American students. In response, application rates among Black and African American students have increased and the number of students attending OSU has increased by 6.4% since 2017.

These and other university programs committed to diversity and inclusion will continue as we affirm that we have more work to do.

In the weeks ahead, I will gather nominations and input from faculty, staff, students and stakeholders, as well as self-nominations to inform my selection of an interim vice president and chief diversity officer. If you would like to nominate someone for the interim vice president role, please email [email protected]. My intention is to appoint an interim vice president by Sept. 17 and launch a national search for a permanent vice president and chief diversity officer in the months ahead.

Please join me in thanking Charlene for her many contributions while at OSU and in wishing her well at Ball State University. I am pleased that she will remain part of the OSU community and our efforts until Sept 17.

Sincerely,

Becky Johnson

Interim President

Oregon State University

Office of the President

600 Kerr Administration Building, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331

leadership.oregonstate.edu/president

Oregon State Students,

We acknowledge the impact felt within our community as a result of a statement sent to OSU students on May 28, 2021, by the former ASOSU Executive Branch before leaving office on June 1, 2021. We are writing to you today as the current leaders of the recognized student government to affirm our commitment to supporting all OSU students.

It is often said, but bears repeating, that diversity is our strength, as it enables us to better understand the world around us from perspectives beyond our own. We want Palestinian and Jewish students to know that we support you, and are here to provide resources and hear your concerns.

As part of that effort, ASOSU is committed to inviting campus partners, including the Office of Institutional Diversity (OID), the Office of Diversity and Cultural Engagement (DCE), the Ettihad Cultural Center (ECC), Oregon State Hillel, the Faculty Senate, and others, to discuss and create space to allow constructive dialogue in this area. This will be a priority for our ASOSU administration in the upcoming year and we look forward to sharing updates with the community.

We also want to affirm that ASOSU is committed to condemning violence, harassment, or discrimination that targets individuals or groups of people based on their social identity.

If you’d like to engage further with ASOSU regarding this topic or other areas of advocacy for you as a student, please reach out to us at [email protected].

Oregon State University Resources:

Equal Opportunity and Access

Bias Incident Response

Human Services Resource Center

Counseling and Psychological Services

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Education Consult

Diversity and Cultural Engagement

Wellness Coaching

Respectfully,

Dhru Patel                                           Dylan Perfect
ASOSU President                               ASOSU Vice President

Dear OSU Community Members,

Gov. Kate Brown announced today that she will lift all COVID-19 health and safety restrictions by June 30, 2021. This announcement is in keeping with the state’s goal of 70% of adult Oregonians having received at least one COVID-19 vaccination dose. The Governor’s decision includes lifting Executive Order 20-28, which has provided guidance for Oregon higher education, as well as other OHA guidelines that informed various university policies and operation during the pandemic. Some state requirements, such as those from Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA), are expected to remain in effect for some workplaces, such as health care settings and transportation.

Thank you to everyone for your contributions in helping Oregon reach a public health status in which the restrictions can be lessened. This news marks a long-awaited turn in the fight against COVID-19. While the virus may continue to be a risk to some members of our community, primarily those who are unvaccinated, we support the lifting of community-wide restrictions and the transition to relying primarily on the precautions we can personally take to protect our families, friends, community members and ourselves. 

As of June 30, 2021, OSU’s Face Covering Policy and Physical Distancing Policy are terminated and will be replaced with a general COVID-19 Safety and Success Policy. This general policy provides guidance on COVID-19 risk reduction requirements and recommendations, including the use of face coverings for those who are unvaccinated. The policy also includes provisions regarding positive COVID-19 case notification, isolation and quarantine procedures, and expectations for ongoing participation in contact tracing. This new COVID-19 Safety and Success policy will apply to all OSU settings and activities, including education, research, OSU Extension and outreach. Additionally, please recall that OSU sponsored travel is no longer restricted and research resumption plans are no longer required. Further, the lifting of building capacity and physical distancing requirements means that building and space utilization can return to full occupancy. 

OSU will continue to promote health and safety by:

1. Continuing to apply remaining federal, state and local health authority guidelines and recommendations (e.g., requirements for youth-serving programs). 
2. Promoting and enforcing OSU’s vaccination program.
3. Tracking the incidence of COVID-19 in university locations in Corvallis, Bend and Newport, and working with university community members to help reduce the spread of the virus.
4. Respecting individual decisions to wear face coverings as a personal choice for COVID-19 risk reduction and other reasons.
5. Providing ongoing public health updates and guidance as we implement OSU’s Pathway to Fall plan.

What you can do to support your personal health and safety:

1. Continue to engage in COVID-19-related personal hygiene practices, including performing daily health checks and staying home when you are not feeling well.
2. If unvaccinated, wear a face covering to protect yourself and others, particularly in indoor and higher-density locations.
3. Respect others’ decision on whether they choose to wear a face covering.
4. Update your vaccination if boosters are determined necessary.
5. Rely on and stay informed by trusted and science-based information sources.

This has been a long journey, and we have learned much about the importance of coming together as a community to contribute to wellness and safety, and the need to remain resilient and flexible to change.

The lifting of most public health restrictions is a welcome milestone in our Pathway to Fall planning. The Governor’s announcement does not accelerate or otherwise change university approach or timelines for return to on-site operations. We understand that not having these restrictions may feel awkward at first. OSU is moving forward based on the improved public health conditions made possible by the more than 2.3 million Oregonians who have become vaccinated, as well as by remaining in alignment with guidance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Guidance for Higher Education.

Looking ahead, we will proceed with cautious optimism, while being ready to respond should COVID-19 conditions require a return to additional public health measures. 

I wish you good health.

Sincerely,

Dan Larson

Vice Provost for Student Affairs

OSU’s Coronavirus Response Coordinator

Oregon State University

Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President

624 Kerr Administration Building, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331

leadership.oregonstate.edu/provost

Dear OSU Employees and Students,

I am sure you are aware of the record-breaking heat wave forecasted this weekend for the Willamette Valley. Temperatures could go as high as 110+ degrees, which will tax our ability to cool Corvallis campus buildings.

To further complicate matters, university building HVAC systems have been adjusted to bring in full outside air per COVID-19 requirements, meaning cooled air is not recirculated in building cooling systems, as it normally would be.

These conditions will place a huge load to our systems both mechanically and in terms of electrical consumption. At the same time, the record-breaking heat is regional in nature and the local power supply system will be heavily taxed by other users, which could lead to power outages or brown outs.

OSU Facilities Services crews are already busy working to address various cooling issues across the Corvallis campus. Crews will work this weekend to monitor, adjust and make repairs to our most critical systems with a focus on those campus operations most vulnerable to the heat - primarily protecting research, animal health and data centers. In order to maintain this focus. as well as protect our power supply, we need to temporarily reduce other cooling loads and electrical consumption.

In response, we plan to curtail air conditioning throughout the upcoming weekend in buildings we believe to be largely unoccupied through this period. These systems will not be completely shut down. However, their set points for cooling will be raised to an uncomfortable level for prolonged occupancy. The buildings affected are:

• Kerr Administration Building (Cooling for the data center and 911 call center will remain in effect)
• Valley Library
• Austin Hall
• The LInC Classroom Building
• Kidder Hall
• Rodgers Hall
• Beth Ray Center for Academic Support
• Owens Hall (Large chiller only. The smaller chiller will run for the research lab on the 4Th floor)

We will restore cooling in these buildings late on Sunday or early Monday morning. The impact to occupants is expected to be limited to a slight delay in restoring temperatures to normal on Monday morning. If there are operations or events in these buildings that this adjusted cooling plan will affect, please contact Facilities Services at 541-737-2969.

Meanwhile, we ask that employees turn off all power-consuming devices not deemed essential before leaving for the weekend.  

We are sorry for any inconvenience this weather-related response may cause and thank you for your understanding and assistance.

Sincerely,

Paul

Paul J. Odenthal, PE, CEM

Senior Associate Vice President for Administration

Oregon State University

B204 Kerr Administration Building

Corvallis, Oregon 97331

Office 541-737-7367

Mobile 503-949-6209

Dear OSU Community Members,

Please join me tomorrow in recognizing and celebrating Juneteenth, which has traditionally been called Freedom Day by many African Americans. On June 19, 1865, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, the city of Galveston, Texas finally told African American slaves they were free.

Commemorating this day in our history is important as we collectively work to end anti-Black racism and racism in all forms.

Today, President Biden signed a bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday, and Governor Brown recently signed the holiday into Oregon state law. This year, we will observe tomorrow, June 18th, as the university’s Juneteenth holiday.

As the late Coretta Scott King said, “Struggle is a never-ending process.  Freedom is never really won, you earn it and win it in every generation.”

Please take time tomorrow to think and learn about the legacy of slavery and racism within our society and what each of us can do to build a university and community truly free of racial hierarchy and inequity.

Sincerely,

Becky Johnson

Interim President

Oregon State University

Office of the President

600 Kerr Administration Building, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331

leadership.oregonstate.edu/president

Dear OSU students,

OSU Safety and Success policies continue to adhere to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) guidelines, as we work together to achieve Governor Brown’s goal of 70% of Oregonians 18 and older having received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The following message is about an allowable exception to the current face covering policy. The exception only applies to employees, including student employees.

Exceptions to the face covering policy.

We have identified a number of university employment settings where we are able to allow for an exception to OSU’s face covering policy in alignment with OHA’s Interim Guidance for fully vaccinated employees. This exception is available to OSU employees, including student employees, while working in allowable environments.

What does this mean for student employees?

Fully vaccinated OSU employees who provide proof of being fully vaccinated will be allowed to refrain from wearing a face covering while working in their assigned work environment – where allowable. Employees, including student employees, will be required to use their face covering – regardless of vaccination status - when others not assigned to the work environment enter the work environment. For example, if you work in a space and a guest (or employee from another department) enters your workspace to do business, you must wear a face covering. Additionally, if you work in a space where there are regular guests (employees, students, customers) you will continue to be required to wear face coverings and be physically distant in shared indoor spaces. Examples of these include the library, Memorial Union, Dining Centers and Dixon Recreation Center. 

This exception does not extend to individuals who are accessing or utilizing university space, as OSU is unable to effectively administer a similar verification process that meets OHA’s requirements, beyond those who hold employment status. 

When will the face covering policy change?

We expect the face covering policy will be modified or terminated when the Governor terminates the statewide mask requirement. You can help us get there by increasing our vaccination numbers. If you have not already, make sure to visit the Student Health Services website to upload verification of your compliance with OSU’s vaccine program. Thank you for your continued adherence to OHA’s and OSU’s public health measures and supporting the Governor’s vaccination goals.

Sincerely,

Dan Larson

Vice Provost for Student Affairs

OSU Coronavirus Response Coordinator

Dear OSU Community members,

Cyber fraudsters and criminals are targeting OSU students with increasing sophistication. No longer is it a scammer representing themselves as royalty or a successful person from a distant country reaching out to seek your help in move a fortune (and willing to give you a payment for your troubles!).  We are seeing spoofed e-mails from individuals fraudulently representing themselves to be OSU faculty providing students with job opportunities. We are seeing e-mails and phone calls to students claiming that people are delinquent in payments to OSU.  We are seeing students being targeted by “immigration officials” that demand payment to avoid legal action.

Cyber criminals are interested in causing people to feel they are in a time crunch and that immediate action must be taken to solve a problem, and most times, it also includes an ask for money. 

Please note that OSU will only use official university e-mail to notify a student of a problem with their student account, and will never ask for credit card or banking information to be provided.  OSU faculty will never ask a student to perform a task such as buying gift cards or for banking information in the course of offering a job. 

It pays to look at e-mail addresses carefully; we often see addresses like: [email protected] that at first glance appear to be an OSU e-mail when they are not.

Any communication that seems suspicious should be validated.  If you need assistance in determining whether an e-mail, phone call, text or direct message is valid or is fraudulent, please contact the university’s Office of Information Security at [email protected]. 

Have a safe and enjoyable summer!

Respectfully,

David

David McMorries, Chief Information Security Officer, Office of Information Security

Oregon State University | University Information and Technology | 541-737-9561

Dear Students -

After a year of mostly remote learning, we are so excited at the prospect of seeing you in-person beginning fall!

We want to remind you that to contribute to your wellness and the OSU community’s public health, we are implementing a vaccine requirement for fall term. Students who learn, work or engage with others in-person during classes or university activities will need to be compliant with this vaccine requirement prior to the start of fall term.

President Biden just put forth a challenge to have at least 70% of adult Americans having received at least one shot, and to get 160 million Americans fully vaccinated by July 4. OSU is proud to join this challenge and know that Beaver Nation is committed to helping fight this pandemic. If you have already been vaccinated, upload your vaccination card by July 4, and OSU will enter you into a drawing to win one of ten $50 gift cards to the OSU Beaver Store!

If you have not yet received your vaccination, there are vaccination clinics at Reser Stadium June 3 from 1 to 5 p.m. and on Thursday, June 10, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Drop-in for first dose vaccinations or appointments for either first or second doses are available. As well, you can visit the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention website for information about other clinics and vaccine providers in your area.

You can upload your vaccination documentation on the Student Health Services website now, and information will be available by mid-July as to how to submit an exemption request, if needed.

If you have questions or concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine, you can email Student Health Services or talk personally with a SHS nurse. This free consultation is available 9a.m.to noon and from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday by calling 541-737-7211, option 7.

Have a great summer and see you soon!

Dan Larson

Vice Provost for Student Affairs

Oregon State University

Office of the Vice Provost for Student Affairs

studentaffairs.oregonstate.edu