To: OSU faculty and staff
From: Edward Feser, Provost and Executive Vice President
March 30, 2020
Dear Colleagues,
I write this morning to extend my sincere thanks for all that each of you have done to prepare for this unprecedented spring term, and for what you will do in the coming months to advance OSU’s mission, even under uncertain and challenging circumstances. By remote means or otherwise, it is more important than ever that the research, education, and Extension and engagement work of this great land grant research university serves Oregon, the nation and the world.
On March 6, we began preparing for remote teaching. This week, just three weeks later, 1,300 faculty and hundreds of graduate teaching assistants will launch more than 4,700 remotely-delivered courses and sections. The vast majority of our employees are now working from home, including nearly all of our 630 Extension Service employees. Our labs and research facilities are maintaining minimal operations and our housing and dining operations have been adjusted to accommodate social distancing for a much reduced number of students remaining on campus in Corvallis and Bend. In response, we have expanded our technology infrastructure and developed extensive guidance on remote working, teaching and learning.
All of this has required a tremendous amount of high-intensity work by faculty, staff and graduate assistants. I am well aware of the toll the effort has taken on many faculty members’ and graduate students’ progress in their research and creative work, with implications that are especially significant for faculty members early in their careers. We will have guidance out shortly about adjustments to our promotion and tenure policy to recognize the effect of these disruptions. I also recognize that this is a time of high uncertainty and anxiety, as we learn to work with one another remotely, strive to protect the health of our families and friends, and support those in greatest need in our communities.
There are undoubtedly other adjustments to make and more challenges ahead. However, thanks to your dedication, patience, creativity and resilience, we will meet them together and continue our work as one of the nation’s most impactful public research universities.
Thank you, good luck this week, and Go Beavs!
Edward Feser
Provost and Executive Vice President