To: OSU Faculty and Staff
From: Edward Feser, Provost and Executive Vice President
May 12, 2020
Dear Colleagues,
My message to the university community on Monday noted that we are planning for on-site research lab and fieldwork to resume in late summer with staggered schedules, physical distancing other measures. It is clear to me based on the feedback I have received that this statement confused more than it clarified. I apologize for that.
So let me be clearer. Although we do not expect that instruction-related research lab activity and fieldwork will be back underway until late summer (summer sessions 4 and 5), we do anticipate—and are actively planning for—the gradual and staged return of our on-site and field-based research enterprise beginning in phase 1 of our plan, with initial stages possibly commencing early this summer. Again, what we are actually able to do depends on COVID-19 conditions and state health authority guidance pertaining to higher education that is still being finalized. Protecting the health of our faculty, research personnel, staff and students is our top priority.
You will learn more details about our research resumption planning from Interim Vice President for Research Irem Tumer very soon.
Sincerely,
Edward Feser
Provost and Executive Vice President