International Student Advising and Services (ISAS) is currently accepting nominations for the Clara L. Simmerville Award for International Education recognizing and outstanding undergraduate student at Oregon State University. The award will be given to an OSU undergraduate domestic or international student who has voluntarily contributed to international understanding through personal relationships, scholarship and research, and involvement in campus or community organizations supporting international understanding. Awardees will receive $100 and have their name engraved on a plaque in International Programs. Nomination forms can be found here. For more information: caroline.emery@oregonstate.edu
Commencement News for the Graduate Community
The Graduate School is happy to tell you that for the first time, graduate students completing their degrees during summer term may participate in the spring commencement ceremony. A special form must be completed by summer graduates and their major professors to arrange participation in the ceremony.
If you have students who expect to complete a degree spring or summer term, please share this information from the Graduate School’s commencement web site: http://gradschool.oregonstate.edu/success/commencement.
Please direct all questions to Julie.kurtz@oregonstate.edu.
Thank you.
FERPA Outside the Classroom
Good Afternoon: Several weeks ago the College of Agricultural Sciences hosted a workshop “FERPA Outside the Classroom”. The workshop PowerPoint, video, and some templates are now available at the website below. We will be adding some additional materials and important links for faculty and staff in the upcoming weeks. As we heard during the workshop there are many issues surrounding FERPA and letters of recommendation, reference calls, etc. I will be vetting an official process for the College in a few weeks. Until that time we recommend the following actions:
1. When asked to write a letter of recommendation, please get the student’s specific permission to address all or certain aspects of their academic performance (see Example 3). If done by email the email must come from their onid account. Remember that there is no such thing as implied consent, even with letters of recommendation.
2. Departments can consider collecting a general consent form from students. We suggest using a form which includes the College of Agricultural Sciences, rather than just the department. The upcoming process will consider whether to require College level consent , collected and archived at the department level. Remember that these must be renewed each year.
3. Have a conversation with students about the consent form and what it means. Again, we will consider a College wide effort to inform students and/or at the department level.
4. Recall, even after graduation a letter of recommendation requires a release for use of academic performance information.
http://agsci.oregonstate.edu/students/ferpa
Finally, any input on how the College should approach FERPA consent agreements is welcome. Please email me with your thoughts.
Penelope L. Diebel
Assistant Dean of Academic Programs
College of Agricultural Sciences
SEMI Professional Development Program with U of O
Karel JH Murphy Professional Faculty Leadership and Service Award
Nominations are being accepted for the Karel J. H. Murphy Professional Faculty Leadership and Service Award. This award recognizes a professional faculty member who has provided outstanding leadership and service throughout their career both within their Department and in programs and organizations across Oregon State University. Award criteria is available at http://oregonstate.edu/pfla/awards/karel-murphy
Nominations will be accepted through April 9. Please direct questions to Michelle Mahana at michelle.mahana@oregonstat.edu
Job Opening at Schrodinger
Who Am I? Wednesday – Sarah Burton
Name: Sarah Burton
Area of Study / Position Title: Graduate Coordinator
Why chemistry? (What about it initially interested you?): While chemistry is an interesting field, I lean toward the soft sciences. This is why I’m the Graduate Coordinator, and not a chemist. If you want a sympathetic ear or a fellowship researched, I’m your girl. If you hand me dangerous chemical compounds, I’ll likely mistake them for a tasty beverage or a delightful snack.
Research focus (in non-science terms) or basic job duties? I work behind the scenes for graduate students, processing their paperwork, collecting application information, setting up recruitment events. Beyond that, I sit at the front desk, granting requests and solving problems, like a benign mob boss who must operate within the bounds of the law. Completely within the bounds of the law.
One thing you truly love about your job? Operating within the bounds of the law.
One interesting/strange factoid about yourself. There are no strange factoids about me. I am completely normal. If you look beneath the surface, you will not find anything out of the ordinary.
Focus on ECampus
Students take OSU Chemistry online for a variety of reasons. This month, we focus on Angela Courchesne, an experienced high school teacher who needed additional credits in Chemistry to advance her career. Here is Angela’s story:
I have been a teacher in the state of Connecticut for 20 years and I am seeking an additional cross-endorsement in Chemistry. I am presently certified in grades 7-12 biology and 7-12 general science. I took the Praxis certification exam (which is used by a majority of states in the US) and passed it, then sent my credentials to the state education department to see what I would need to obtain my certification. They told me I needed 7 additional chemistry credits to satisfy the requirements necessary for certification, so I am taking them through OSU Ecampus.
These online courses are perfect for those working full time. I received my Master’s degree in Education online through another university. It was perfect: no running trying to get to class on time, and you can schedule your studies around your work schedule. During my work for my Master’s degree, I was married with no kids, but now with 2 children we are a busy family, and OSU’s online courses have worked out well. They are best for someone who can have the discipline to sit down and get their work done bit by bit; if you are a procrastinator, you can get overwhelmed quickly because there is a lot to cover. If I am in need of other classes, I will certainly look towards Oregon State University Ecampus Chemistry again. Also, I would highly recommend these classes for others in a similar situation as mine.
Funding Opportunity: Dreyfus Foundation – Postdoctoral Program in Environmental Chemistry
The Camille & Henry Dreyfus Foundation, Inc.
Postdoctoral Program in Environmental Chemistry
Dreyfus foundation Deadline: August 3, 2015
Funding: $120,000 over two years
Applications should describe innovative fundamental research in the chemical sciences or engineering related to the environment. Examples include but are not limited to the chemistry associated with: the climate, the atmosphere, aquatic or marine settings, toxicology, soil or groundwater. Also of interest are chemistry-related energy research (renewable sources, sequestration, etc.), and new or green approaches to chemical synthesis and processing both with a clearly stated relation to the environment.
Applications are accepted from principal investigators who have well-established research efforts in environmental science or engineering.
Complete program details: http://dreyfus.org/awards/postdoctoral_program.shtml
If you have any questions, please contact Debbie Delmore at debbie.delmore@oregonstate.edu.
Undergraduate Researcher of the Year
It is time, once again, for OSU to name the “Undergraduate Researcher of the Year.” This award, which seeks to recognize significant efforts of students engaged in scholarly work in their disciplines, will be presented to student participants in the Celebrating Undergraduate Excellence (CUE) event to be held on the MU Quad on May 14. Students in each undergraduate college will be recognized, as well as one awardee for the entire campus.
Nominations for the award are due no later than April 13 and must come from faculty mentors. The process is described in the attached file. Please direct questions to Kevin Ahern at ahernk@onid.orst.edu.