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OSU Public Safety works hard to maintain a safe campus, but theft does happen both on-campus and in the Corvallis community.  There are several things you can do to protect your valuable possessions.

Bikes and various electronic devises (laptops, tablets, printers, etc.) can be register with the Department of Public Safety. Registering these items puts them in a law enforcement computer system and therefore recovered items can be identified and returned to their rightful owner. This means you’ll not only have a better change at recovering stolen items, but a thief will be less likely to target your items. You can fill out and turn in a Bike Registration form at Cascade Hall 200 free of charge. Stop tags for small electronics can be purchases through the Office of Public Safety for a fee of $12/tag. More information is available here. In addition to registering these items so simple tips can help decrease the change of theft even more. Consider buying a cheap bike that is less tempting for someone to steal; buy a U-lock and make sure to properly secure your front tire and frame to bike locks; and make an effort to check on your bike regularly (leaving it for weeks on end at the same location is often a recipe for disaster). If you are studying alone do not leave your electronics, or your text books at the table when you’re leaving for a couple of minutes. Please make sure someone is watching your valuables!

Another OSU program to assist you is Operation ID. The form provided on this page helps you document and protect valuable items such as computers, stereos, bicycles, calculators, and more. In order to protect your items fill out the form on the Operation ID homepage and save your serial numbers so if things do get stolen you have a better chance of recovering them. In addition to keeping the serial numbers you would want to have owner engraved identification on the equipment. By having an owner engraved identification on your equipment, if it does get stolen you can get your item entered in the state/national Law Enforcement computer system and can be identified anywhere in the US. This means you’ll have a larger chance of getting your item back. Engraving equipment can be checked out in residence halls and at the Public Safety office at Cascade Hall.

Tags: safety
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OSU is consistently ranked one of the safest campuses in the country with Corvallis also being highly ranked in terms safety among similarly sized cities. However, college students are often seen as easy targets for those looking to commit crimes. Being proactive and making smart, informed decisions like the 10 mentioned below can help you protect yourself from being a target.

1.) Don’t leave books, laptops, calculators, and other valuable items laying around the library, study lounges,open dorm rooms or classrooms. These things are easy for people to steal, can be sold quickly and are very hard to trace back to their rightful owners.

2.) Lock doors and windows to your residence hall, apartment, or house on a daily basis. Find a safe place or a friend to keep a spare key in case you lock yourself out.

3.) If you bring a car to campus, remove valuable items from it and leave nothing valuable in clear sight. Check your car every few days to make sure it is still in the condition you left it.

4.) Log off all public computers and consider logging off of your private computer in between uses as well. You don’t want to be paying for another person’s printing charges or having someone else sending messages from your account- so take the extra time to log on and off every time.

5.) If you have to walk alone around or near campus at night, consider using Safe Ride, a free service to all OSU students and staff

6.) Program OSU’s Public Safety number into your phone for easy and quick access: 541.737.3010

7.) Use the buddy system when going out to parties and other social events. Leave with the people you came with and never leave a friend behind.

8.) Know what you are consuming at parties and other social events. Never take a drink from someone you don’t know or leave your beverage unattended.

9.) Keep all documents with personal information (credit cards numbers, student identification numbers, social security numbers, immunization records) in a safe location. If you do decide to get rid of these things, shred them first.

10.) Sign up to receive text/email alerts for OSU’s Campus Alert System. These alerts include campus closures, electrical failures in buildings, suspicious activity and traffic accidents on campus.

Tags: advice, safety, transportation
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The first day of class has approached quickly and whether you are feeling over prepared, overwhelmed, or anywhere in between- that’s ok. Nerves are to be expected, this stuff is brand new and will take some time to get used to, but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with a few things you can do to better prepare yourself for the first week of classes and most likely make the rest of your term more successful.

• It sounds simple but GO TO ALL OF YOUR CLASSES! The first week is when each of your professors will give out your syllabus (these are very important documents, always keep a copy either paper or electronic close by). Utilizing each of your syllabi will let you know when your assignments are due, when tests are scheduled, and help you plan the rest of your daily schedule.
• Put your schedule in writing. Whether you use your phone, tablet, or hand written planner, having your schedule visible will allow you to find time slots that work best for studying in between classes, eating, working, and scheduling your time to socialize! If you create that schedule, you will be most time efficient and successful throughout the entirety of this term! Need help in efficiently planning your term, check out these Time Management steps or make an appointment with an academic coach to talk with a fellow, successful student about successful time management strategies: http://success.oregonstate.edu/academic-coaching
• If there are any changes you think are necessary to make in your schedule, do that this week! The sooner you change your schedule, the less class time you will lose and fall behind. To learn more about adding and dropping courses visit the Registrar’s Office website.
• Find your favorite study space. Once you find a study space that is not distracting, and you become comfortable being there, you will most likely enjoy studying there more often and it will become habitual, then you can add that location into your planner!
• Leave for class a little early, learn the easiest routes to your classrooms. Campus can be confusing at times, but soon enough you’ll know the fastest ways to each building, but giving yourself a little extra time in the beginning allows you to also see how beautiful campus can be in the fall!
• Attend the Beaver Community Fair on Friday afternoon in the MU Quad. Here you will find tons of different clubs and organizations to get involved with this year. Being involved in a few outside of class activities will provide you with friends, entertainment, new skills and help you manage your time effectively.

There are numerous things you can do to make the most of your first week of classes, these are only a few. Just remember to enjoy this week, meet new friends, try some new food out on campus, and get yourself comfortable with campus. Get to know people in your classes, residence halls, clubs, organizations, or just say hello to someone while eating lunch! Enjoy your first week! For more helpful hints for Week 1 and beyond check out: Zero To Success

Tags: academic success, advice, First year, New Students, studying
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Want to get off-campus and enjoy some time in the sunshine hiking, biking, bird watching, BBQing or picnicking, well lucky for you there are several options, many within walking or biking distance from campus. Here are just a few of the options available to you!

Within a 10 to 15 minute walk/5 minute bike ride you will find:

Bald Hill– This park offers a 1.5 mile paved path along the base of the hill and several dirt and gravel foot trails that circle and climb to the summit of the hill. Biking in permitted on designated trails. To get there head west on Campus Way, which will turn into Midge Cramer Path once you cross 53rd street. Midge Cramer runs by the fairgrounds and then dead-ends into Bald Hill park.

Avery Park– Located south of campus, this park features a 1 mile jogging path along the river, rose garden, softball fields, several playgrounds, horse shoe pits, and BBQ shelters that can be reserved for private parties. To reach Avery Park head south of SW 15th which will hit Avery Park Drive shortly after crossing Philomath Blvd.

Riverfront Park– Running between 1st Street and the Willamette River, this small park offers paved and grassy areas, resting benches, (perfect for picnics), several sculptures (perfect for picture taking), and a 3/4 mile long running and biking trail. The Riverfront Park can be reached by going east on Monroe Ave. until you hit the trail. The trail goes north for a short distance or can be taken south to connect with several longer running/biking trails if you want to extend your time outside. Riverfront Park is also home to the Corvallis Farmers Market which is held from mid April to mid November every Saturday 9AM-1PM.

A little further away you will find:

Oak Creek Trail, Chip Ross Park, McDonald forest, Willamette Park, and Lewisburg Saddle offer many hiking and biking trails and are approximately a 15 minute bike ride or 5-10 minute car ride from campus. As you explore Corvallis more, be sure to check them out!

Looking for something more remote?

Check in with the Dixon Recreation Center’s Adventure Program located on the North end (facing Goss Stadium) of Dixon. They can offer advise for longer trips, whether it be rafting, backpacking, skiing, climbing, etc. They also offer trips throughout the year with guides to ensure your safety and enjoyment. In addition the office rents various outdoor gear including tents, snowshoes, rafts, climbing equipment and more!

Tags: getting active, off campus
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CONNECT is not only about connecting in person, but also about getting connected online.  We encourage all new students to read through this Account and Technologies Guide for New Students early, so that you are prepared to start classes.  This guide takes about 20 minutes to read through and gives you a ton of great information about technology services on campus, including: how to hook your computer up to the OSU secure wireless network, how to sync your mobile device with OSU email, where you can print on campus and how to access free computer help.  This is a great way to get a quick overview and answers to some common questions.

Tags: safety, social media, technology
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As you prepare for your move and make last minute supply lists, don’t let advertising sway you into thinking that you have to buy a new printer to bring with you. There are many printing options around campus that make it possible to print out your class readings, worksheets, and assignments without buying one of your own.

• Valley Library: Located in the center of campus, the Library is one of the most accessible locations to print. Plan accordingly though—the computers and printers are in high demand during the day (10AM-4PM), but if you can get in early, you won’t have to worry about a long wait.  Cost: 7 cents per page (black and white) which is tracked and billed directly to your student account.

•  Milne Computer Lab: Located directly across the lawn from the Library, Milne is a much less trafficked spot where students can print.  Cost: 5 cents per page (black and white)

There are a number of other printing locations around campus that may be located in more opportune locations. You can find a complete list of printing locations around campus and pricing (each location varies) here.

• 3D printing: There are several 3D printers around OSU’s campus, but the most accessible is located in the Valley Library. Students can submit models to be printed and even watch it get printed using the live video feed. For information on modeling software and formatting, visit the Library’s 3D printing guide.  Cost: The cost is 10 cents per gram and, therefore, determined by the size of the model being printed and the amount of material required. Like all other printing, the bill is charged directly to the student’s account.

• Large-scale or conference-sized posters: Student Multimedia Services (SMS) located in the Valley Library offers affordable printing for students’ large scale posters or conference-style presentation materials. For more details on the specific measurements and services offered, consult the SMS guide.

Cost: Every term, OSU students receive one free (36” wide) poster printing per course. Make sure to double check the formatting and spelling, if you find a typo, you will have to pay for the second printing. If you decide to laminate the poster, it is a $10 charge to your student account.

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Did you know your name and some basic information (major, ONID username, etc.) about you is considering public “directory information” and is therefore searchable on the OSU website?  Type your name in the OSU Directory and see what others can know about you.  If you want to change, modify or what is listed in the directory you will need to log on to your MyOSU page, on the left side you will see an option for “OSU Directory Preferences.”  From there you will be able to modify what is viewed.   If you wish to seek complete Confidentiality you will need to stop by the Registrar’s Office (Kerr 102) and complete the appropriate form.  Also in that same space you will see the option to “Update Emergency Contacts” please take a moment in fill this in.  This is only used in cases of severe emergencies.

Tags: advice, safety
Posted in Campus Life, Campus Safety | Comments Off on Check Yourself

The Valley Library is full of more than just books.  It is home to Student Multimedia Services and the OSU Computer Helpdesk.

You can also rent lockers, check out laptops, kindles, and other tablets.

There are several computer stations and printing available.  Study rooms with whiteboards are reserve-able and lastly it is home to our Collaborative Learning Center.

We encourage you to stop in during CONNECT and find your way around, so you know where to head when it is time to study.

Full List of Services

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SafeRide is a service dedicated to assault prevention, to OSU students, Faculty and Staff. One of the most important services we offer is free transportation to and from campus for all OSU students.

Hours of Operation

• Fall Term: 7:00PM – 1:00AM
• Winter Term: 6:00PM – 1:00AM
• Spring Term: 7:00PM – 1:00AM

Policies:

• SafeRide does not drop off or pick up riders from bars, nor does SafeRide take students to parties; we do not service commercial locations.
• SafeRide provides rides to groups of “three” or less. We believe that groups in more than three are practicing great skills to prevent assault by traveling in groups of four or more.
• SafeRide will not wait more than five minutes past the given wait time.  Our drivers are on a tight schedule; extensive waits will cause problems with our schedule.

Read all the policies here.

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Looking for a job on campus? Luckily, employers across campus are flexible when it comes to working with students, they understand class schedules, demands of coursework, and clubs and organizations. Career Services at Oregon State offers numerous ways to find a job on-campus, as well as off-campus (depending on what you are looking for).

• On-campus job listings are available at Student Jobs @OSU.Be prepared to enter your ONID username and password in order to log-in. As part of this program you can create an online profile that can be viewed by potential employers. To get the most out of this service consult Career Services which is located in the basement of Kerr Administration Building.
• If you have been awarded Federal Work Study as part of your financial aid package, you are eligible for work study student jobs (as well as regular, non-work study student jobs). You can find a listing of these jobs by clicking on the OSU Federal Work Study On-Campus Jobs link on the right-hand side of the Student Jobs @OSU site.
• Off-campus job listings are available at Beaver Careers.You can create an employment profile using this site which allows potential employers to search for good fits for their available jobs.

Additional suggestions for your job search include:

• Make sure you are on your academic college and/or major’s listserves. If you aren’t receiving listserve emails, talk with your academic advisor about whether they are available.
• Ask your friends where they work and that you are interested in a job on campus. Oftentimes people hire by referrals from current employees.
• Continue to recheck the following websites because job opportunities are constantly being updated for different terms.

Be sure to check out Career Services website for more help on finding a job, internship, or career fair information at http://oregonstate.edu/career/

Tags: Career Services, employment
Posted in Jobs and Careers, Off-Campus Activities | 1 Comment »