Office of the Registrar

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.

I have asked all OSU faculty to accommodate to the fullest extent possible OSU students who are fighting or have been affected by the ongoing wildfires.

Many faculty may extend in-course deadlines by a minimum of two weeks for students who are delayed because of wildfires, allowing them to begin classes as late as Oct. 12. Because some students may be at an academic disadvantage if they miss two or more weeks of class, I have asked advisors to explain to students their options in light of late arrival. Students who arrive late should work directly with their course instructors. If you need assistance in reaching your instructors, please contact the Office of the Registrar.

Students affected by the wildfires who choose to delay their enrollment until winter term will receive a refund for fall term registration already paid or they may drop without penalty through Oct. 9. If you are in this situation, please contact the Office of the Registrar so that the appropriate assistance can be provided by emailing [email protected].

If you have need of assistance for essential accommodations, services and support, or have general concerns or questions, please be aware of the following resources:

Corvallis campus students:

Office of the Dean of Students for general resource support and referrals.

CAPS for mental health and counseling support.

OSU-Cascades campus students:

Student Care Team for general support and referrals.

Student Wellness for mental health and counseling support.

You may also call 211 or use this link for assistance in finding emergency resources in the community in which you live.

You also may want to help those affected by the wildfires. Anyone wishing to volunteer or contribute food or other supplies to evacuees located at the Benton County Fairgrounds should call 541-224-1339 or visit this website for more information. Those living outside of Corvallis should visit their local county emergency operations website to provide assistance to others impacted by the fires. Meanwhile, the Red Cross is recommending that wildfire relief be made by making a financial donation or by signing up to volunteer.

We are grateful for all those working hard to save lives and property, and our hearts go out to all families and individuals who have been affected by the fires.

Please stay safe.

Sincerely,

Edward Feser

Provost and Executive Vice President