OSU colleagues,

In collaboration with the university’s COVID-19 Continuity Management Team, the Task Force for Research Continuity and Resilience and your unit leaders, we have been actively monitoring research operations across campus. As you recall, research activities carried out on campus or other on-site facilities require the articulation and approval of research activity resumption plans, according to OSU’s research resumption guidance.

Over the last year, we have learned much about how research activities can be carried out in accordance with new public health information and requirements.  We are issuing updates to the research resumption guidance by advancing to a “Research Stage 3” state. The primary modifications include:

  • Changes in language regarding physical distancing to allow for possible future changes to the 6-foot requirements.
  • Changes in language to allow for more individuals, with approval, to come back to work in offices.
  • Additional guidance for training activities.
  • Continued requirement to articulate a curtailment plan as part of research resumption planning. However, no specific timeline is imposed for the curtailment of resumed on-site and field-based research activities.

On a related note, researchers whose work fits within the frontline worker definition of the Oregon Health Authority are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine (visit OHA’s COVID vaccine page for more information). Note that OSU’s public health measures (including the mandatory use of face coverings and distancing requirements) continue to be in place regardless of vaccination status.

Thank you for your diligence and creativity during the past year and for keeping our researchers safer. Please be on the lookout for more detailed information about fall 2021 university operations soon.

Sincerely,

Irem Y. Tumer, Ph.D., ASME Fellow
Vice President for Research