Archived Student Email Logs 2020-2021

Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President

28 October 2020

Dear students,

Please be aware that on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 2 a.m., Oregon State University will shift from U.S. Daylight Saving Time to U.S. Standard Time. Those of you engaging in synchronous remote learning in locations that do not observe a change from Daylight to Standard time, or that shift to Standard Time on a different schedule than the U.S., will be most affected by this change.

If you are taking remote classes, please prepare in advance for OSU’s shift to U.S. Standard Time as it will change the times you attend classes beginning Monday.

I greatly appreciate all OSU students studying around the world for remaining part of the university community during the pandemic. Please know that OSU faculty and staff are committed to your success.

Sincerely,

Edward Feser

Provost and Executive Vice President

Oregon State University

Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President

624 Kerr Administration Building, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331

leadership.oregonstate.edu/provost

Dear OSU Community,

UIT will implement Duo authentication to access Microsoft Office 365 services from the web. This change will be consistent with the login experience for most other OSU IT services, and will improve security for the OSU Community. Email outside of a web browser, such as Outlook, Mac Mail, or your phones, will not be impacted by this change.

When: 3 November 2020 at 12:01 AM

What do I need to do? Be prepared to use Duo to access Microsoft Office 365 services when using a web browser.

Services affected: Web based Microsoft Office 365 applications. These services are primarily accessed at: https://is.oregonstate.edu/microsoft

If you have any questions, please contact the OSU Service Desk at 7-8787.

Respectfully,

David

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

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

Office of the Vice Provost for Student Affairs

October 26, 2020

Dear OSU students,

I write to ask for your immediate and ongoing attention to critical COVID-19 public health measures, including following university policies on wearing face coverings and physical distancing. Given the high rate of asymptomatic infection, particularly among young adults, it is critical that all students take every precaution to prevent the spread of this very serious disease. While you may not be fearful of contracting the virus yourself, the person who contracts the virus from you could face dire health consequences, including death. 

While most members of the OSU community have shown exceptional adherence in helping to support a healthier and safer community, unfortunately some students have not. Since the start of fall term, the university has had to take swift and significant action against a number of students and student organizations who put themselves and others at risk of being exposed to COVID-19 by hosting large get-togethers, not wearing face coverings, and not observing Oregon Health Authority guidelines. These cases have been investigated as violations of the Code of Student Conduct and have resulted in a number of students and student organization being suspended from OSU. It is my hope that with your commitment to observe required public health measures, we do not need to continue to suspend students to protect community wellbeing.

Please do all you can to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Remember:

1. Wear face coverings. Face coverings remain the most effective way to minimize the spread of COVID-19.
2. Limit social get-togethers. Students are required to restrict all indoor and outdoor social get-togethers to less than 10 people anywhere in the state of Oregon. 
3. Answer the call. You are required to follow directions from our local health department. If you receive a call from a contact tracer, please answer their call! Stopping the spread of COVID-19 requires rapid contact tracing to determine who may have been exposed. If you do not answer a contract tracer’s call and provide the information they need, their ability to help reduce the spread of the virus to others is significantly reduced.
4. If you test positive for COVID-19, you must isolate!  And if you have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you will need to quarantine for 14 days, even if you test negative for the virus.  Please contact Student Health Services for more information on isolation and quarantine. If you have any symptoms or are not feeling well, contact your primary care provider or call the Student Health Services Medical Advice Nurse Line at 541-737-2724, or call 541-737-9355 for an appointment (including telehealth). 
5. Report violations of OSU public health policies. Please notify Student Conduct and Community Standards if you observe  fellow students placing themselves or others in risk by not observing OSU Policy and Oregon Health Authority Guidelines. While it may feel difficult to report your peers, it is more important that we help keep each and our campus community safe, particularly for those who are most vulnerable to more serious disease. 

I know that you are weary of the pandemic. We all are. But it will take each one of us to remain vigilant in adhering to all public health measures to reduce the risk and spread of the virus among friends, families and community members. It’s on all of us to contribute to a safer and healthier community, while advances in science address the cause of the virus and ways to prevent disease through vaccinations and other means.

If you haven’t started to be an active part of the health care solution, it’s not too late. Please start today. If you are already observing OSU and the state’s public health measures, please don’t stop. This will require extra attention over Halloween, game-days, and other university or family social occasions.

Sincerely,

Dan Larson

Vice Provost for Student Affairs

OSU’s COVID-19 Response Coordinator

Oregon State University

Office of the Vice Provost for Student Affairs

studentaffairs.oregonstate.edu

OSU community members,

If you are registered to vote in the United States, please exercise your right to vote in the November 3 general election. In order to be counted, your ballot must be deposited in an official ballot drop site no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3.

All Oregon ballots now include pre-paid postage. This means that every mailbox is a ballot drop box, and it is not necessary to post a stamp on your ballot when delivering it by mail. If you are mailing your ballot, please note that postmark dates do not count toward the election deadline. In order to ensure that your ballot is received in time, it is recommended that you mail it no later than tomorrow, Tuesday, October 27. 

The Corvallis campus ballot drop box has been relocated from the Valley Library to ensure 24-hour drive up access. The ballot drop box is now located at the corner of Ralph Miller Lane and 26^th St., next to Gill Coliseum. There are several other ballot drop boxes throughout Benton County that are shared on the county’s election website.

The OSU-Cascades Campus is serviced by the ballot drop box at 1000 SW Bradbury Way, across from the Park & Rec Pavilion. For other ballot drop sites in Deschutes County, please see their county’s election website.

For other official ballot drop sites throughout Oregon visit the Secretary of State’s website.

Note: On election day, all official ballot drop sites will be open until 8 p.m.

If you are registered to vote and have not received your ballot, contact your county elections office to check on your voting status:

Benton County Elections Department

(541) 766-6756

Deschutes County Elections Department

(541) 388-6547

Lincoln County Elections Department

(541) 265-4131,

All other county elections offices in Oregon

You can also check the status of your ballot at My Vote.

If your ballot is from another county, you may drop it off at any official county ballot box, as long as you do so no later than 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3. The county receiving the ballot will route it to your home county for counting.

More information for student voters can be found here.

For additional voting and election information from the Secretary of State’s website.

Sincerely,                                           

F. King Alexander

President                                                           

Oregon State University

Associated Students of Oregon State University

Associated Students of Cascades Campus

OSU Faculty Senate                               

United Academics of OSU

SEIU Local 083                                                            

Coalition of Graduate Employees, AFT 6069

Dear OSU community members,

I write to share a few COVID-19-related updates and information items with you.

OSU’s face coverings policy has been updated: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), wearing masks reduces exposure to respiratory droplets carrying infectious virus. The CDC, and now the Oregon Health Authority, strongly recommend against the use of face shields as an alternative to wearing a face mask or cloth face covering. Accordingly, we have updated Oregon State University’s Face Covering policy to reflect that face shields are no longer a generally acceptable substitute for a face covering while within an OSU location. Additionally, the revised policy clarifies that face coverings with valves or vents also are not acceptable and that face coverings must cover both the nose and the mouth. Thank you for your continued adherence to this policy. A face covering—properly worn—is one of the most important steps we can take to help control the spread of the virus.

Prevalence of COVID-19 in our community:  We are grateful to the thousands of you who are participating in the TRACE OSU prevalence testing program. OSU is seeing an increase in faculty, staff and students testing positive for COVID-19. Each of these positive cases has involved an asymptomatic individual. It is important to remember that even if you test negative, you may still be carrying and spreading the virus.

As we transition to indoors due to the change in seasons, it is increasingly important to engage in behaviors that minimize potential spread. The CDC provides helpful personal and public health strategies to use when socializing. As Halloween and other reasons to gather approach, please use these measures and remember that OSU’s Physical Distancing policy prohibits all student social get-togethers of more than 10 people, on or off-campus, and that there are similar rules for many University gatherings or gatherings or get-togethers on University property.

Remember, you can still enroll in TRACE OSU. Also, please be sure to participate in TRACE OSU testing when you are invited. Your participation, which includes isolating when you receive a positive test, is vital to minimizing the spread of this virus.

Cooperation with contact tracing is critical: If we are to avoid major outbreaks and possible subsequent lock-downs in response, it is absolutely essential that systems of testing and contact tracing function as designed. We need all members of our community to answer any calls they receive from their local public health contact tracers. Failing to answer such calls will fail to control the spread of COVID-19. Working with contact tracers is how we can contribute to the health of family and friends. Please encourage those in your networks to do the same. We all have to be part of the solution!

Wishing you all much good health!

Dan Larson

Vice Provost for Student Affairs

Oregon State University

[email protected]

Office of the Vice Provost for Student Affairs

Dear OSU students,

As we settle into fall term, I write to share a few updates with you.

Physical Distancing Policy Update: We continue to make a low-density environment a priority within our campuses in Corvallis and Bend, and our centers and offices statewide. Adhering to a low-density presence contributes to the health and safety for those who are required to report to work onsite, as well as for faculty and students who are living, learning and conducting research in university environments.

As onsite operations and activity have increased with the start of fall term, questions have arisen that prompt an update to the university’s Physical Distancing Policy. Oregon Health Authority’s Statewide Reopening Guidance provides capacity levels based on what is defined as a gathering or social get-together. We have updated the university’s policy to further limit attendance at gatherings held within university environments. All university gatherings or social get-togethers, and non-university gatherings or social get-togethers, held on university-owned or OSU-controlled property, are required to restrict attendance to no more than 10 people and must adhere to applicable OHA industry-specific guidance. University gatherings for the purposes of in-person instruction, research, extension and outreach activities, university business, and university intercollegiate athletic events that conform to guidelines provided by the Governor’s Office, OHSA, an appropriate county health authority, and OSU policy are permitted and are limited to the number of people specified in applicable OHA or Higher Education Coordinating Commission’s guidelines.

Face Coverings Remain Important: Overall, adherence to the university’s Face Covering Policy remains high. OSU requires faculty, staff, students, contractors, volunteers and visitors at all OSU locations to use face coverings. Face coverings—masks, cloth face coverings or face shields—must be used in enclosed public and common areas in university environments and outdoor areas where physical distancing is not easily maintained. Please continue to remain vigilant and utilize the university’s general guidance as a resource.

TRACE OSU and Wastewater Testing Continue: We are very proud of the innovative work of TRACE OSU. Through voluntary COVID-19 testing of hundreds of faculty, staff and students in Corvallis and Bend and at the Hatfield Marine Science Center, as well as wastewater surveillance, we are able to understand the prevalence of COVID-19 in the university community and respond with public health measures and assistance. We appreciate all of those who have enrolled and participated in TRACE OSU thus far.  If you have not done so already, please sign up by using this link to enroll. We appreciate your participation and will be providing surprise incentives for those that do. Enrolling takes only a minute, testing takes less than five minutes and you need not be working on-campus to be invited to participate. Your personal information will be kept secure and your results will be provided to you by secure e-mail, typically within 48 hours. As required, results of positive tests will be provided to the local county health authority to aid in contact tracing (and for students, the information is also provided to OSU Administration for operational decisions).

In closing, I want to acknowledge the many challenges that the pandemic is causing. The pressures you are experiencing go beyond adjusting to a change in school environment and certainly we could all use some relief. As we move forward, I assure you that we will continue to be mindful of how OSU’s planning and response provides for clarity and confidence, while also seeking to ease some of the challenges you are experiencing. Please continue to reach out to one another and consider ways that you can connect and support each other safely. Remember to connect with resources available to you as students, (OSU Cascades) including mental health support, online resilience tools, and 24-hour hotline services to help with the emotional impacts of the pandemic as well as guidance on how to help  yourself and your friends stay healthy.

Be well,

Dan Larson

Coronavirus Response Coordinator

Vice Provost for Student Affairs

Oregon State University

Office of the Vice Provost for Student Affairs

studentaffairs.oregonstate.edu

OSU community members,

I greatly appreciate and recognize all that the Oregon State University community is accomplishing and addressing at this remarkable time. Without doubt, the times in which we live, teach, work and attend college are like none other.

During this time of a pandemic, economic recession, horrific wildfires, racial inequity and injustice, and months of continued budgetary uncertainty, each of you have risen to address these and other challenges with dedication, care for one another, resilience and the can-do attitude of this incredible university. Thank you. 

On Thursday, Oct. 8, I completed my 100^th day as your university president. Upon this occasion, I would like to share a few thoughts with you in this communication and a recorded video message.

Your commitment, intellect, community resolve and the mission of land grant institutions like Oregon State University have never been needed more than they are today – nationally or globally. Thanks to OSU’s teaching, research, outreach, student engagement and thirst for learning, as well as stakeholder and alumni support, we have the tools to address the immense challenges facing us.

We must address the pandemic with scientific research and discovery. Each of us must contribute to personal and community wellness with resolve by engaging in public health practices each and every day. We must eradicate systemic racism and advance the lives of Black, Indigenous and People of Color. We must help bridge the gaps between rural and urban communities in health, educational attainment, economic resilience and environmental sustainability. We must provide transformative Oregon State University educational opportunities for all Oregonians regardless of their zip code, family wealth or the color of their skin.

We can address these matters by working together within OSU and with partners in education, community, business, and state and local governments in Oregon and beyond.

We benefit from many advantages at OSU, including the diversity and excellent scholarship, service and research work that our faculty and staff pursue each day. Looking ahead, we will need even more interdisciplinary research, teaching, outreach and solutions. OSU’s Strategic Plan 4.0 will guide us to advance even greater preeminence in research, scholarship and innovation; provide a transformative and accessible education for all learners; contribute significant and visible impact in Oregon and beyond; and advance a culture of belonging, inclusivity, collaboration and innovation.

The many challenges facing our state and nation heighten OSU’s role and our students’ opportunity. As the land grant and people’s university of the State of Oregon, we are well-positioned to redefine what a 21^st century land grant university means to society today and in the decades to come.

Know that you can count on me as part of this special team of people to work collaboratively with you; listen and learn; find ways together to address the many issues we face; and help advance the success of our students, faculty and staff, and Oregon State University.

Sincerely,

F. King Alexander

President

Dear OSU Corvallis students,

We write to announce decisions regarding instruction for winter term for the Corvallis campus.

Based on continued careful monitoring of the status of the COVID-19 pandemic locally, throughout Oregon and nationally, we have decided that OSU’s Corvallis campus will continue providing instruction primarily through remote modalities for winter term 2021. Winter term plans for the OSU-Cascades campus will be announced by Oct. 15. 

We will continue to use remote delivery to contribute to student wellness and educational success, limit the density of activity on-campus and in the Corvallis community, and help minimize the possible spread of COVID-19. As with fall term, courses offered on-site will primarily be those that have a heavy experiential learning component, such as labs, field courses and some graduate courses.

By the time registration opens in mid-November, the OSU Schedule of Classes will list the instructional modality for each course, as determined in consultation with academic units. Our aim is to limit the need for students to change where they live based on how winter term courses are offered.

We plan to have the following building open on the Corvallis campus during winter term: those with classrooms and teaching laboratories used for in-person instruction and applied learning, UHDS residence halls and dining centers, the Memorial Union, Dixon Recreation Center, Valley Library, and other buildings that provide child care, Student Health Services, food services, emergency assistance and study spaces (such as LInC). OSU updates the open/closed buildings list regularly. Student advising will continue to be provided mostly remotely.

Residence halls will continue to be open for students who decide that living on campus is their best and safest option. Students who chose to remain in their home community during fall term but wish to live on campus for winter and spring terms are welcome to live on campus. Visit University Housing & Dining Services’ or email [email protected].

As we plan for spring term, we will closely monitor COVID-19 conditions and if possible, provide increased in-person instruction, extra-curricular and experiential learning opportunities for students. We will communicate more details on spring term as winter term is underway.

Winter term tuition and fees will be the same as fall term. Student fees for the academic year will be based upon recommendations from student leaders in Corvallis and at OSU-Cascades.

Thank you in advance for remaining flexible and adaptable as we continue to prioritize your health, safety and educational success. Thank you for being a resilient and responsible member of Beaver Nation.

Sincerely,

F. King Alexander                                                                           

President                            

Edward Feser

Provost and Executive Vice President

Dear OSU community members,

The university is launching a new Community Wellness, Education & Safety Network for the Corvallis campus to better coordinate and holistically provide existing and new crisis prevention, mental health, public safety services and response, and other support services.

Like communities across the nation, our community and university leaders are focusing collective attention and dialogue on the fact that wellness and public safety are often experienced differently by those who hold marginalized identities, including Black, Indigenous and other People of Color (BIPOC). This much-needed attention is occurring as OSU transitions Corvallis campus law enforcement from a contract with the Oregon State Police to a university-delivered program.

Development of the new public safety program has included valuable input from many community stakeholders, including students, faculty and staff members, who have clearly stated the university needs to rethink how it serves student wellness and safety. The Community Wellness, Education & Safety Network is in response to that feedback.

The network will consist of three program components: community health and crisis response; public safety and security services; and community relations, education and outreach. It will provide:

• Strong collaboration among university department such as the Office of the Dean of Students, Counseling and Psychological Services, Student Health Services, the Department of Public Safety, including the university’s police department, the Office of Institutional Diversity, and others.
• The addition of new personnel, who have appropriate training, credentials, and experience to develop and provide crisis response programs and services.
• An emphasis on educational and community engagement programming, while on-campus public safety and licensed law enforcement programs will work closely in coordination.
• Additional staff resources within the Division of Student Affairs to provide after hours on-call student mental health crisis response services and personnel.
• Close alignment with existing university teams, such as the student care team, threat assessment team and bias response team.
• Service to Corvallis university students on and off-campus. Student-centric and trauma-informed response services will take into account the unique nature of each student and each situation or crisis and respond with care and appropriate resources. For example, the network will be a critical resource in facilitating the university’s response to matters such as welfare checks, non-violent conflict resolution and substance abuse crises, and providing support for mental health crises.
• Inclusion of campus law enforcement, which will enable effective situational assessment and response to matters that have the potential to involve or develop into active violence or criminal activity.

The university also cares about the health and well-being of its employees. As part of OSU’s Culture of Care, we have introduced a new employee assistance program called Beyond Benefits. Here is link to that program. Areas of service include family needs, financial needs, mental and emotional support, and legal needs.

The university also is joining the city of Corvallis, Benton County and other community partners in on-going discussions regarding collaboration, community needs and areas of possible expansion of wellness and crisis response services that may provide new support to community members experiencing mental health crisis.

In the coming weeks, we will provide additional information on opportunities for students, faculty and staff to learn more about the network; contribute ideas to its development, as well as finalizing position descriptions for new student-serving crisis response personnel. In the meantime, please visit the new Community Wellness, Education & Safety Network website for more information.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Green                                                               Dan Larson
Vice President for Finance and Administration                 Vice Provost for Student Affairs

Chief Financial Officer                             

Office of the Vice President

Division of Finance and Administration

Oregon State University

640 Kerr Administration Building

Corvallis, OR 97331

Ph: 541-737-2447

Oregon State students,

We are officially retiring the MyOSU portal on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. This means you will no longer be able to access myosu.oregonstate.edu, and will instead be redirected to my.oregonstate.edu.

How does this affect me?

Just keep using the new MyOregonState dashboard and sending in your feedback! We would love to hear what you think about the dashboard and learn how we can make MyOregonState an even better experience for you.

For help with the MyOregonState dashboard or to submit feedback, visit https://beav.es/o5y.

Thank you,

Derek Whiteside, Director, Web and Mobile Services

Oregon State University | University Information and Technology

OSU community members,

The 2020 General Election is less than a month away. Oregon’s vote-by-mail system makes it easy for those registered to vote in this state to exercise your right to vote even during these unprecedented times. In order to vote in the Nov. 3, 2020, election, you must register to vote by Tuesday, Oct. 13.

If you are eligible to vote in the U.S., but have not yet registered to vote, we encourage you to do so through ASOSU’s TurboVote. This system makes it efficient for eligible OSU students, faculty and staff to register to vote, update registration information, and receive election reminders.

If you are already registered to vote in Oregon, please take a moment to review your voter registration information through the Secretary of State’s website.

It is especially important to ensure your mailing address is updated as to where you will be in residence on Nov. 3. In Oregon, it is legal to have ballots mailed to your current mailing address even if that location is different from your residential voting address. Additionally, if you have changed your signature, or party registration, you must update your voter registration information with the Secretary of State. All voter registration information must be updated by Tuesday, Oct. 13.

If you are registered to vote in a different state and are residing in Oregon at this time, you will need to apply for an absentee ballot through your home county or state’s elections office. It is not legal for anyone, including the post office, to forward your ballot.

More information for student voters can be found here.

If you are eligible to vote, please take the time to register to vote — and once registered, please participate in the election. If you have questions or need information about voter registration, please visit the appropriate elections office website:

Benton County Elections Department:

(541) 766-6756, https://www.co.benton.or.us/elections 

Deschutes County Elections Department:

(541) 388-6547, https://www.deschutes.org/clerk/page/elections-and-voting          

Lincoln County Elections Department:

(541) 265-4131, http://www.co.lincoln.or.us/clerk/election-history 

For all other county elections offices in Oregon: http://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Pages/countyofficials.aspx

Sincerely,                                                       

F. King Alexander

President
Oregon State University                                                             

Associated Students of Oregon State University

Associated Students of Cascades Campus                                     

OSU Faculty Senate                             

United Academics of OSU

SEIU Local 083                                                           
Coalition of Graduate Employees, AFT 6069

OSU students,

We write to remind you of important protections of your education records that are required by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 (Public Law 93-380), as amended; and University Standards 576-020 and 580-013. Your rights include:

1. The right to inspect and review a student’s education records within 45 days of the day the university receives a request for access. Students should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The university official will arrange for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the university official does not maintain the records to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
2. The right to request amendment of the student’s education record that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Students should write the university official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the university decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the university will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
3. The right to provide written consent before OSU discloses the personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education record, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception that permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the university in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including health staff and members of the Law Enforcement Unit); a person or company with whom the university has contracted; a person or company acting as consultant or volunteer for the university; a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing their tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill their professional responsibility.
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Oregon State University to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20202-5920
1-800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327)
Website: https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/index.html 

The information provided here is for informational purposes only.  The complete text of the Oregon State University Student Records Standards, which take precedence, are available here: https://policy.oregonstate.edu/policy/student-records and https://policy.oregonstate.edu/policy/student-records-576-020.

For more FERPA resources please see the Office of the Registrar FERPA page.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Mathern, Ph.D.

Associate Provost and University Registrar

Oregon State University

Office of the Registrar

registrar.oregonstate.edu

Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President

OSU community members,

As you know, TRACE OSU is conducting weekly random COVID-19 testing of up to 1,000 faculty, staff and students and wastewater analysis to monitor the presence of the virus at our campuses in Corvallis and Bend and at the Hatfield Marine Science Center.

I am writing to share that recent wastewater sampling in Corvallis indicates that the virus may be present in Sackett residential hall on campus and the university-affiliated GEM apartment building, 155 N.W. Kings Blvd. As of Sept. 27, the only other Corvallis campus residence hall that showed presence of the virus is a residence hall reserved exclusively for isolating students who have tested positive for COVID-19.

In response to these wastewater results, TRACE OSU will conduct immediate additional COVID-19 diagnostic testing today, Sept. 30, to determine if OSU students residing in these affected buildings currently bear the virus. Students living in these locations were notified this morning by personal e-mail from TRACE OSU. Students choosing to not be tested will be required to quarantine for 14 days at home, in the university’s quarantine/isolation spaces or a single room at The GEM.

Occurrences such as this are why we have TRACE OSU.

These wastewater results are an early indicator and prompt us to investigate further. We are prepared to respond with rapid targeted diagnostic testing of possibly affected OSU community members; support contact tracing with Benton County; provide on-campus isolation and quarantine, as advised; provide student support services; and continue weekly TRACE OSU sampling and wastewater analysis.

Today’s diagnostic testing is being done out of an abundance of caution. At this time, we are not able to estimate the number of possible individual cases from wastewater analysis of a specific building. By way of background, similar levels of the virus were seen in the larger Corvallis community’s wastewater the third week of July. They later subsided.

While students await the results of their tests, we will ask that they exercise extra personal and public health caution by practicing these public health measures:

• Avoid unnecessary interactions with others and refrain from engaging in errands away from their residence;
• Wear face coverings;
• Observe physical and social distancing;
• Wash their hands frequently;
• Self-screen daily for COVID-19 symptoms and remain isolated if not feeling well;
• For those with any symptoms or who are not feeling well, contact their primary care provider or call the Student Health Services Medical Advice Nurse Line at 541-737-2724, or call 541-737-9355 for an appointment (including telehealth).

These same public health measures should be part of each of our daily routines.

We will communicate further information regarding the results of these diagnostic tests and weekly TRACE OSU sampling and wastewater analysis on the TRACE website.

Thank you for continuing to do your part to contribute to a safer and healthier community.

We are all in this together.

Sincerely,

Dan Larson

Vice Provost

Student Affairs

OSU COVID-19 Response Coordinator

Oregon State University

Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President

624 Kerr Administration Building, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331

leadership.oregonstate.edu/provost

OSU students,

To help you navigate the university experience during COVID-19, we have expanded the OSU Mobile app to include important tools and resources that all OSU students can use while on the go, including:

• Health Check — All OSU employees, volunteers and students are required to conduct a daily self-screening for symptoms of COVID-19 prior to arriving at a university setting. Each of us has a responsibility to protect our community’s health, and to be safe, we must each do our part. Anyone who is experiencing symptoms or is feeling ill must stay home and consult with a medical care provider. Health Check for your own use; OSU does not access or store any of your personal information.
• COVID-19 Safety & Success — Stay up-to-date with OSU's current operation level and plans for continued safety and success.
• Face Covering and Distancing Policies — Learn more about OSU’s new policies and what you need to do to help keep our community safe. 

You can download OSU Mobile for iOS and Android today at beav.es/app. Once you have downloaded the app and set your campus audience, you will be able to easily access all university COVID-19 resources from the home screen. For help setting up the app, check out this video walk through: https://youtu.be/XpsUypnjj4E. If you don’t have a mobile device or can't download the app, you can still access many of these resources at beav.es/covid, or take the health check at beav.es/healthcheck.

For questions or concerns about OSU's COVID-19 response, use this form. For help with the app, contact the Service Desk: beav.es/help.

Thank you,

dw

Derek Whiteside, Director, Web and Mobile Services

Oregon State University | University Information and Technology | 541-737-0729

Office of the Vice Provost for Student Affairs

Dear OSU students,

The start of fall term is finally here! We hope your term is off to a great start, and that you are getting connected with your fellow students, wherever you have chosen to live, study and work. We recognize finding ways to connect socially can be difficult during this time, yet it is more important than ever to do so wisely and with good personal and public health in mind. 

If you gather together in-person, please remember to adhere to Gov. Kate Brown’s Executive Orders and OHA Guidelines and OSU’s Safety and Success Policies, including wearing face coverings, practicing physical distancing and not attending or holding indoor or outdoor social get-togethers of more than 10 people. We are each responsible and accountable for the health of our community. Behavior that places yourself or others in harm’s way will be taken very seriously by OSU. Should the university receive a report that a student or student organization has placed fellow students or your surrounding community at greater risk of exposure to COVID-19, disciplinary sanctions, including up to suspension or expulsion, may result.

We are in this together. Please always be mindful and conscientious regarding your safety, and the safety of others.

Sincerely,

Dan Larson, Vice Provost for Student Affairs

Kevin Dougherty, Associate Vice Provost & Dean of Students

Oregon State University

Office of the Vice Provost for Student Affairs

studentaffairs.oregonstate.edu

Office of Undergraduate Education

Dear students,

As you gear up for your classes this term, study spaces may be more limited. While open spaces may fluctuate throughout the term, we have a fall term study space page that will be updated as new information becomes available.

Please remember to adhere to physical distancing requirements and wear a face covering in all study spaces.

OSU-Cascades spaces:

• Tykeson Hall, TYKH 211.
• Graduate Research Center, GRC 134.

Student ID cards also serve as keycards for building access. Building hours and additional access information are available at osucascades.edu/covid/students.

Corvallis campus spaces:

• Valley Library: reserve seats.
• Memorial Union: limited reservations for rooms can be made at the Information Desk; first come, first served for lounge spaces.
• LINC 100, 128, & 228: 10am-5pm daily, beginning on September 28 (reserve through Valley Library reservation site).
• Tent spaces outside LINC and Johnson Hall: first come, first served; schedule posted outside tents.

For more information on fall term, please see the COVID-19 Safety & Success for Students website. For immediate assistance or answers to COVID-specific questions, call the COVID-19 hotline: 547-737-7211.

Best of luck with the start of the term,

Alix Gitelman

Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education

Oregon State University

Office of Undergraduate Education

undergraduate.oregonstate.edu