TO: OSU Community
From: Edward Feser, Provost and Executive Vice President
March 18, 2020
UPDATE SUMMARY:
- OSU will move to remote instruction for all of spring term.
- We have introduced the Oregon State University Pledge: OSU students will stay on track to graduate. If a student was on an approved pathway to graduate this spring, but cannot because of changes to instructional delivery, a scholarship will cover the additional tuition needed to complete remaining credits in a subsequent term.
- OSU residence halls, student housing, and dining halls will remain open.
- Students who leave OSU residence halls to return to their home community to complete spring term will not be charged cancellation fees.
- OSU will offer expanded employee leave.
ALL REMOTE INSTRUCTIONAL DELIVERY FOR SPRING 2020
Effective Monday, March 30, and throughout spring term, all OSU campus instruction will be conducted remotely. This includes academic labs, testing during the term, and final examinations. Ecampus instruction remains unchanged.
Oregon State University will remain open.
At least through spring term, the university will continue critical activities of research, OSU Extension and engagement, student services, and general operations by adhering to social distancing and use of communications technology for meetings and conferencing. OSU is taking these steps informed by the public health guidance of our local county health departments, the Oregon Health Authority and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as state and federal officials.
OSU PLEDGE
Oregon State University is committed to ensuring every student reaches their academic goal.
OSU will assure that all undergraduate and graduate OSU students who are on an approved pathway to complete their requirements to graduate at the end of spring term 2020 – and whose graduation is impeded by OSU’s COVID-19 instructional delivery changes – will receive a scholarship to cover the additional tuition needed to complete their remaining credits in a subsequent term. Scholarships will be available for up to 8 credit hours and may be expanded as resources allow.
NO PENALTY FOR RESIDENCE HALL CANCELLATIONS
University residence halls and student housing on the Corvallis and OSU-Cascades campuses – and at HMSC – will remain open during spring term. Student residents who choose to engage in their remote academic learning from their home community will be able to cancel their OSU residence hall contract without penalty. If a student chooses to return to their home community during spring term, their housing fees will be refunded on a prorated basis.
We anticipate that on our Corvallis campus many students will remain in residence halls during spring term. Students who choose to return to their home community are asked to fully vacate their residence hall room in coordination with University Housing and Dining Services and staff at OSU-Cascades and HMSC. Until further notice, all OSU dining centers that remain open will be operated in compliance with the state of Oregon’s rules of take-out operation for restaurants that serve the public.
STUDENT SERVICES
Student services at all OSU campuses and centers will continue to be offered during spring term, although some will be offered at a reduced level. Fees may be revised accordingly.
In coordination with ASOSU and the Associated Students of Cascades Campus, OSU may propose to the university’s Board of Trustees at its April 3 meeting revised incidental fees for spring term. These revised student fees will recognize the variable service levels being provided to students while maintaining support for essential student health services and other programs.
Until further notice, Dixon Recreation Center on the Corvallis campus will not operate during spring term.
UNIVERSITY FACILITY AND BUILDING OPERATIONS
Most OSU buildings will remain open at some level to support ongoing teaching, research and engagement activities.
In the next 48 hours, the university will provide further clarification on what constitutes critical university staffing and services. In order to provide the OSU community and Oregonians we serve with clear information on the continuity of university, college, division, unit and program operations, we ask that building managers and appropriate leaders await further OSU guidance to be provided shortly.
EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE RELATED TO COVID-19 RESPONSE
Oregon State University appreciates the remarkable ongoing contributions of its employees. The university recognizes that during the nation’s – and the university’s – response to the COVID-19 outbreak, OSU employees will be impacted due to remote working measures, job assignment changes, hours worked, and family considerations, such as the closure of schools and childcare centers.
During spring term, the university will seek to retain the employment of its employees (which includes graduate assistants) and student workers. Employment will be determined by the university’s continued and required level of operations and OSU’s financial capabilities.
Employees, who are not able to work due to the university’s COVID-19 response or their own personal or wellness circumstances, may utilize the following university employee benefits (if eligible):
- all accrued personal sick leave;
- all hours of personal leave and accrued vacation.
Additionally, as part of its COVID-19 response, OSU will provide 80 additional hours of paid leave to employees. This additional leave is based upon an employee’s full-time equivalent employment, so it will be prorated based upon an employee’s actual level of employment. This leave is not compensable, is only available for use during the university’s COVID-19 response, and cannot be reserved for use or paid out at some future time.
The university fully recognizes that the impact on OSU employees from COVID-19 may last for many weeks and months. To retain current employment at present levels beyond the leave benefits provided above, the university will require additional financial assistance from the Oregon Legislature and the federal government.
YOUR EFFORTS ARE IMPORTANT AND APPRECIATED
These steps will prompt many questions and cause disruption for all. I ask everyone to do their best to accommodate them.
Also, please continue to take appropriate personal and public health measures, and support other OSU community members, including the families of OSU employees affected by these measures and other measures required by the state of Oregon. And, check regularly the university’s COVID-19 website daily for updated information.
Thank you for all you do for OSU.
Edward Feser
Provost and Executive Vice President