Winter term reminders and updates

To: OSU Community Members

From: Dan Larson, Vice Provost for Student Affairs, OSU Coronavirus Response Coordinator

January 3, 2021

Dear OSU Community Members,

Welcome to winter term. I hope each of you had a restful, healthy and peaceful holiday season. I write to provide brief reminders and updates related to the university’s public health measures.

Winter Term Testing: Beginning Monday, Jan. 4 and through Thursday, Jan. 8, COVID-19 testing is available to all faculty, staff and students who are enrolled in TRACE OSU, and all students living in residence hall (enrolled or not). All students living in the residence halls will be required to be tested within three days of the start of winter term. Time and location of testing are as follows, and more information on testing can be found here:

  • Corvallis campus: Testing provided in the Memorial Union Ballroom and at the Reser Stadium ticket booths, Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport: Testing provided in HMSC Student Housing apartments Li 1 and Winton 12, Monday through Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • OSU-Cascades in Bend: Testing provided in 205 Tykeson Hall, Monday through Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m and Thursday 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Return from Travel: For those who traveled to other states or countries over the holidays, you are strongly encouraged to follow the Oregon Health Authority’s Statewide Guidance (Recommendations) for Travel, which include a recommendation to quarantine for 14 days after returning from out-of-state travel.

University Operations:  We plan to have the following buildings open on the Corvallis campus during winter term: those with classrooms and teaching laboratories used for in-person instruction and applied learning, University Housing and Dining Services residence halls and dining centers, the Memorial Union, Dixon Recreation Center and Valley Library, as well as other buildings that provide childcare, Student Health Services, food services, emergency assistance and study spaces (such as the LInC). Please check the Corvallis campus open/closed buildings list regularly, as all on-campus operations are subject to change. We plan for all OSU-Cascades campus buildings to remain open during winter term. Given the updated State of Oregon COVID-19 framework, some OSU operations may be reduced and facilities closed during periods of both “high” and “extreme” county risk levels. Research activities are planned to continue following approved resumption plans.

In closing, OSU’s ongoing planning continues to prioritize the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff. Given recent approval and initial distribution of vaccines for the virus that causes COVID-19, we remain optimistic that along with continued commitment to public health measures such as wearing face coverings, maintaining physical distance, and washing hands, we will be able to begin to come back together in-person as a community later in 2021. For information about the state of Oregon’s vaccine distribution plans and updates, please visit the State of Oregon’s Coronavirus website. In the weeks ahead, we will continue to provide information on vaccine distribution to the OSU community as it becomes available and relevant to university operations.

Thank you, and welcome back!

Dan Larson
Vice Provost for Student Affairs
OSU Coronavirus Response Coordinator