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 Enroll now in TRACE OSU COVID-19 testing

Beaver Nation’s path
for safety and success

Learn more about how our fall term plans meet students where they live, provide for high-quality courses and programs, and put safety and the success of the community as our top priority.

View a recording that details OSU's testing strategy and procedures.

Safety and success priorities for fall term

As we prepare to launch the 2020-21 school year, Oregon State has developed a comprehensive plan (PDF) to limit on-site teaching on its campuses in Corvallis and Bend in fall term and enable research and service activities to take place while seeking to reduce the spread of COVID-19. We are committed to providing courses and programs that meet you where you are and support you in making progress toward your academic and personal goals. If you feel safest taking courses online at home, we are there for you. If you choose to live and pursue your studies on campus, you are welcome at OSU. Our operations will look and feel different, but together we can build a safer educational experience for everyone in Beaver Nation.

OSU Operations Level

The university works with local communities and public health systems to respond to the risk and spread of COVID-19 at all of its locations throughout Oregon. See the response levels below and a guide to operation details and risk levels (PDF). Watch an overview of the condition levels tool.

Corvallis and OSU-Cascades campuses
are currently at level 2

OSU’s onsite operations at a given location vary depending on condition level

Level 1

  • Reliable treatment and/or vaccine.

Level 2

  • COVID-19 in area.
  • Protective measures effective.
  • Available response capacity.

Level 3

  • Prevalence increasing in area.
  • Protective measures stressed.
  • Response systems at capacity.

Level 4

  • Uncontrolled outbreak in area.
  • Response systems overwhelmed.
  • Governor at-home order in place.

Operational Conditions

  • New-normal environments.

Operational Conditions

  • Mix of in-person, remote and online instruction.
  • Low-density environments.
  • Public health measures in place.

Operational Conditions

  • Limited in-person instruction.
  • Small groups only with approval.
  • Further reduced density.

Operational Conditions

  • No on-site non-essential activity.
  • Remote instruction only.
  • OSU buildings closed.

View a full list of extension locations for localized operating levels.

Top things to know for fall term

  • The Valley Library is open with a new reservation system. Many library services are also being offered digitally.
  • Face coverings are required in common indoor spaces and areas outside where social distancing isn’t possible, unless an exception is met.
  • All in-person instruction will end at Thanksgiving break for Corvallis students, and finals will be conducted remotely.
  • Building Open/Closed Status Dashboard for all buildings on Corvallis campus.
  • OSU has taken preventative measures to limit spreading of COVID-19 through the air by addressing campus building ventilation.
  • Diagnostic testing and guidance is available to students suspected to have COVID-19.
  • Plans are in place for quarantine and academic and personal support for students if they become ill with COVID-19. Rooms have been set aside in residence halls for isolation.
  • Dixon Recreation Center is open with modifications to comply with current public health guidelines; face coverings are required.

What we plan for classes to look like this fall

Oregon State will offer four types of courses this fall: in-person, remote learning, blended and online through Ecampus. Remote learning features scheduled class times and video conferencing with our world-class faculty using Zoom. Blended learning is a combination of in-person and remote learning. Ecampus online classes are more flexible, self-guided and do not have set class times or direct face-to-face engagement with faculty. Our faculty’s experience using all of these forms of learning will provide you with a high-quality Oregon State experience even as we contend with COVID-19. 

To advance safety among students and faculty, only a few in-person classes will be offered for fall term, and we anticipate a majority of Corvallis students will choose remote learning. In-person classes will have no more than 50 students and most will have far fewer than 50. All in-person classes will be taught in large rooms or broken into smaller sections to ensure students and instructors have space for physical distancing. All in-person instruction will end at Thanksgiving break for Corvallis students, and finals will be conducted remotely.

keep physical distancing in the classroom

Safety measures are key to our personal and community success

We all play a role in contributing to a safer Beaver Nation. Face coverings are now required in common indoor spaces and areas outside where social distancing isn’t possible. Physical spaces are being reconfigured to give students, faculty and staff more room to branch out and maintain social distancing. Cleaning stations will be available in classroom buildings so students can wipe down their spaces upon entry. Classrooms will be deep cleaned each evening.

Smaller class sizes, reduced room capacities, new signage and directional arrows will help minimize close contact in classrooms, lecture halls, labs, residence halls, dining centers, coffee shops, the Memorial Union, the Valley Library, Dixon Recreation Center and other common areas. Please, take care of yourself and help all of us by doing your part to maintain the health of our community.

Keeping our community healthy

Oregon State University is taking a comprehensive approach informed by science, public health guidance and community needs to reduce the risk and spread of COVID-19. This plan includes testing, contact tracing, isolation and quarantine protocols as well as personal and community care.

  

Prevent

Prevalence testing, increased cleaning and public health measures such as frequent hand-washing, physical distancing and face coverings. More Prevention Information.

  

Test

OSU TRACE prevalence testing each week for 1,000 students, faculty and staff in Corvallis, at OSU-Cascades and at the Hatfield Marine Science Center. Diagnostic testing also available for students in Corvallis and Bend. More Testing Information.

  

Trace

Virus transmission identification within a community through contact tracing. More Tracing Information.

  

Isolate

Self-isolation for employees and students with symptoms. More Isolation Information.

  

Contain

Self-quarantine for employees and students in close contact with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases for 14 days. More Containment Information.

  

Care

Medical services, access to food, support in academic progress and other care for affected students. More Care Information.