• A central component of OSU’s comprehensive public health strategy will be ongoing surveillance of the prevalence of the virus that causes COVID-19 in the university community.  OSU will work with OSU’s TRACE-COVID-19 team to conduct voluntary sampling of OSU community members to measure the prevalence of the virus.
  • OSU will conduct environmental surveillance sampling from campus wastewater lines to measure the presence of the virus. Wastewater surveillance will be an extra level of monitoring for on-campus congregate living locations. This work will enable OSU to monitor and evaluate local public health conditions as we resume onsite activity, and respond if conditions require.
  • Custodial cleaning protocols will maintain alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance for facilities and public spaces. These guidelines address application based on surface, frequency, appropriate cleaning products, and cooling off periods post identified infection.

OSU has updated it’s physical distancing policy, which requires OSU employees, students and other members of the OSU community to maintain a distance of six (6) feet between individuals to the greatest extent possible. In complying with this policy, all members of the university community at all OSU locations are to configure spaces as needed, including classrooms, workplaces, university-managed living spaces and dining halls to provide for maximum physical distancing.

Effective Jun 14, 2020, OSU requires faculty, staff, students, and visitors across all OSU locations to use face coverings, which include masks, cloth face coverings, or face shields, when in enclosed public and common areas on campus and outdoor areas where physical distancing is not easily maintained, unless an exception is met. Please be familiar with this policy, as well as supplementary guidance. When using face coverings provided by OSU, please familiarize yourself with the Care and Limited Use instructions.

OSU’s Comprehensive Public Health Strategy includes effective and clear messaging that provides guidance on proper hygiene, physical distancing, policy requirement (face coverings) and how to monitor and respond to symptoms.  OSU will utilize multiple platforms to provide public health messaging, and align our guidance with the Center for Disease Control, Oregon Health Authority and county health authorities.

Classrooms and workspaces will be designed to provide for physical distancing.   

At the Corvallis campus, course sections with enrollment of 50 or more students will be remote. Classes under 100, labs and workspaces will use a combination of space modifications, seating options and use of hybrid delivery/work to reduce capacity within settings. 

At the OSU-Cascades campus, about half of all classes will be offered with in-person or blended instruction, with furniture set to reduce capacity. The largest classroom will hold 28 students. All classes will be available for remote learning. 

University Housing & Dining Services and OSU-Cascades Housing & Dining will provide for a minimum of 64 square feet per resident in rooms, as well as reconfigure spaces in lounges and common areas to maximize physical distancing and increased cleaning and sanitation.  In Corvallis, large-scale programming will be offered using hybrid delivery, providing for in-person engagement and interaction that is critical for an on-campus experience.  At OSU-Cascades, small cohort programming and online experiences will add to residential life.

In Corvallis, guidance will be provided to off-campus higher-density residential communities to enhance safeguards.

OSU’s food service venues will utilize Oregon Health Authority issued guidance for restaurants and retail where appropriate for university settings, which includes adjustments to seating, use of pick-up and to-go options, and enhanced cleaning and sanitation protocols.

OSU will utilize Oregon Health Authority issued guidance for fitness and outdoor recreation where appropriate for university settings, which include physical distancing between equipment and users, enhanced cleaning, and reduced occupancy.

Oregon State University is in alignment with Gov. Brown’s Executive Order 20-28 (Operation of Higher Education Institutions During Coronavirus Pandemic) and Oregon Health Authority (OHA) guidance which includes:

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