Wednesday Wire: September 30, 2020

Submitted by Desiree Lutsch, lutsch.11@osu.edu

As we continue to navigate COVID19, a friendly reminder on personal protective items and cleaning / sanitizing products that are available via eStores. The University has procured supplies in bulk for units to order. Listed below are the items available through eStores that can be purchased by the Departments directly through eStores. The products will be delivered to the Wooster Campus Storeroom, delivery will be made to your building from the Storeroom. 

Departments can purchase from eStores:

• Face Masks Ear Loop                         81458            
• Gloves Nitrile, Small              28714-S
• Gloves Nitrile, Medium          28714-M
• Gloves Nitrile, Large              28714-LG
• Gloves Nitrile, X-Large          28714-XLG
• Infrared Thermometer             50400           
• Face Shield                             81491
• Disinfectant Spray Cleaner     43150 
• Sanitizing Wipes 35 or 73 ct. 54899

Please note that the ATI Business Office has the following in stock:

• Masks
• Gloves
• Hand sanitizer
• Face shields
• Sanitizing wipes
• Spray cleaner

Please email Cindy and Desiree with your requests.

Note: These can be purchased from the Storeroom until the supply is exhausted then purchase from eStores:

• Hand Sanitizer Gel. 8-12 oz Bottle    S0102 Wooster Stores, 10609 eStores
• Hand Sanitizer Gel. 32 oz Bottle       S0104 Wooster Stores, 10613 eStores          

Our Facilities Operations team will continue enhanced cleaning protocols and respond as needed for additional cleaning requests. We will also ensure hand sanitizer stations are available at entry ways and throughout buildings and provide wipe buckets for high traffic areas like classrooms, libraries, and dining areas. Let me know if you have any questions.

Submitted by Thom Janini, janini.4@osu.edu

We received information about the SEEDs program with very short notice relative to the application deadline (which is this Friday, Oct. 2). If you know students who would be a good fit for this program, please encourage them to apply!

Have you heard the saying “Two heads are better than one” or “It takes a village”? At the core of these statements is the belief that when we do things together, the results are just better.

You can help drive change, share your feedback and ideas as we create an extraordinary experience at Ohio State by applying for the Student Experience and Engagement Delegates (SEEDs) program. Lead by Melissa Shivers, Vice President for Student Life, the program will serve as a way for the university to gather feedback and ideas from as many students as possible.

SEEDs are students from any program, level, leadership experience or campus who are interested in contributing their ideas for the best Ohio State possible. You are not required to have a leadership position in a student organization, or even be in a student organization at all. Commuters and virtual learners are just as welcome as those who live on or near campus.

Regardless of your experience or affiliation, what is important is that those who apply will commit to:

• Attending monthly meetings with Melissa Shivers, Student Life leaders, student government leaders, university guests and other students
• Providing feedback about a variety of topics including, but not limited to, campus policies, climate, engagement, barriers and support that is crucial to student success
• Offering solution-oriented ideas that will advance the Ohio State student experience
• Engaging as an active participant in special events, initiatives, and potential recruitment of prospective students

Applications are being accepted for the 20 positions in the 2020/2021 cohort until 5 p.m. on Friday, October 2. Students who apply must:

• Have a genuine interest to serve the Office of Student Life and their fellow Buckeyes
• Commit to attending the monthly meetings and contributing approximately 2-4 hours/month in out-of-meeting engagement
• Maintain at least a 2.0 GPA

To apply, visit go.osu.edu/SEEDsapplication.

Submitted by Jill Gallion, gallion.9@osu.edu

On Thursday, September 17, the University Senate voted to expand the use of the pass/non-pass (PA/NP) grading choice to include General Education courses, and to extend the deadline for choosing this option for most classes until Friday, November 20 (there is an earlier deadline, October 2, for first-term (7-week) classes only). The College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) is focused on student success and the integrity of the student educational experience, and has carefully considered the use of PA/NP in the majors and minors of the college. The following decision is based on the current state of COVID-19 at the university; and the college will monitor carefully the situation to determine if additional action is needed.

• The CFAES will not extend the PA/NP option beyond GE courses and free electives to courses that are part of undergraduate majors, minors or other programs in the college.*
• The use of Pass/No Pass for General Education courses does include GE courses designated as requirements of undergraduate majors, minors or other programs within the college.
• Students may not use PA/NP for any major or minor course electives.
• Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher to take courses as PA/NP. Students with a cumulative GPA lower than a 2.0 cannot take courses as PA/NP and should work with their academic advisor to discuss their best options. This does not apply to new first term or transfer students without an OSU GPA; these students are permitted to elect PA/NP where appropriate.
• Courses taken Pass/Non-Pass during Autumn 2020 semester will count toward the limit of 20 credit hours that each student may take Pass/Non-Pass during their undergraduate career. Courses taken PA/NP in SP 2020 do not count towards the 20-hour limit. 
• Students are responsible for knowing the deadlines associated with PA/NP for first-session (7W1), second-session (7W2), and full-semester courses.
• Once selected, the PA/NP option will not be reversed. Students are encouraged to wait to make their decision until they have a good sense of their academic performance in the class, because PA/NP cannot be reversed due to better than expected class performance. 

Students must consult with their academic advisor before electing the PA/NP option because there may be unintended consequences that impact future applications to Graduate or Professional school, veterans and military tuition benefits, financial aid and scholarship eligibility, credit-hour requirements for the Dean's list/Latin honors, access to courses requiring a minimum grade in a prerequisite course, success in future coursework, applications to graduate, etc.

PA/NP grades do not factor into GPA calculations, so such a grade cannot lower or raise a student’s GPA.

The CFAES is focused on assisting students who are negatively affected by COVID-19. If you are in need of academic support or have questions about how to connect with university resources, please reach out to your academic advisor or to the ATI Academic Affairs Office at ATIAcademicAffairs@osu.edu.   

*This determination applies to CFAES majors and minors. If a student has a second major or a minor in another college, refer to that college’s decision on AU20 PA/NP for its programs here.

Undergraduate students must request a Pass/No Pass option for each applicable course using the online form.