Office of the Registrar

Dear OSU-Cascades students,

As you are aware, the wildfires burning throughout Oregon and the region are unprecedented, putting lives and property at risk. While there are no active fires in our immediate region, this emergency is affecting many from our campus community and their families, whether from evacuations, property loss, poor air quality or travel disruption as we approach the start of fall term.

Below is a list of resources specific to Central Oregon:

Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President

11 September 2020

Dear OSU Students,

As we witness widespread wildfires throughout the western United States, the university is aware that many OSU students are employed as firefighters, work in roles supporting firefighting efforts, or have personally experienced loss due to fires in their home communities. As a result, these students may need to delay their arrival for fall term classes, depending on their specific situation.

Members of the OSU community,

Oregon State University is committed to leading change that will work to end systemic racism and support the long-term success of Black, Indigenous and other students, faculty and staff of color.

Since arriving at OSU on July 1, 2020, as president, I have had numerous opportunities to listen and learn from community members and to share my commitment to actions that advance diversity, equity and justice.

Hello OSU Corvallis students,

OSU campus and university operations in western Oregon will reopen Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020, as hazardous and unhealthy wildfire smoke and ash conditions begin to diminish.

We recognize that exposure to hazardous and unhealthy air quality may be problematic for some students. If you feel it is safer to remain in your home communities, please do so. We strongly encourage that any outdoor activity be rescheduled or moved indoors where possible.

OSU Students,

Welcome to the new academic year. As we mark the beginning of fall term classes, we want to share a reminder that Oregon State University is committed to providing support for students, faculty and staff in our community whose observance of their religious beliefs may have an impact on classes, work schedules and dietary needs.

Dear Students,

OSU scheduled both in-person and remote classes to reduce the number of people on our campuses. We need each of you to contribute to building a safer and healthier university community by wearing face coverings in accordance with university policy and maintaining physical distancing requirements in hallways and honoring seating restrictions in classrooms.

Corvallis Campus

OSU faculty, staff and students,

I am writing to share COVID-19 testing results from the third day of students moving into our residential halls on our Corvallis and OSU-Cascades campuses.

OSU community members,

I am writing to share that Thursday afternoon Pac-12 university presidents and chancellors unanimously approved conference football teams resuming contact practice and playing games without spectators beginning the weekend of Nov. 6 and Nov. 7, 2020.

Unfortunately, due to health and safety considerations, all Pac-12 football games, including at OSU, will not include participation by university bands, cheer squads or tailgating on university property.

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. 

Members of the OSU community,

I am writing regarding a recent U.S. Presidential Executive Order that prohibits recipients of federal contracts and grants from engaging in training of certain concepts related to implicit bias, structural racism and other social justice topics.

I understand that many of you are deeply concerned about this Executive Order or news of a federal investigation of statements made by Princeton University’s president regarding combatting institutional racism.