OSU, OSU-Cascades to require booster shots; COVID tests required for students staying on campus

(Update: Adding video, Andrew Ketsdever comment)

Winter term begins Jan. 3 with in-person instruction as planned

CORVALLIS, Ore. (KTVZ) – Oregon State University said Tuesday it plans to resume in-person instruction and other activities and operations on Jan. 3 as planned at all campuses and locations -- with requirements of COVID-19 booster vaccinations, when students and staff are eligible, as well as testing for students who will be staying on campus.

“Our decision is informed by federal, state and local health authority guidance and is buoyed by positive signs that Omicron, while highly transmissible, may be resulting in milder symptoms and fewer cases of severe illness, hospitalization and death,” said Becky Johnson, OSU’s interim president.

“The university’s decision is intentional. We are mindful that classrooms, where students and faculty are vaccinated and wear face coverings, have not been a significant source of virus spread. We seek to minimize disruption of student learning and experience and provide predictability for our faculty and university operations.

“We believe we can guard against a surge in COVID-19 cases due to a vaccination rate of more than 93% among OSU students and employees; requiring booster shots when a person is eligible as part of OSU’s vaccination program; the continuation of OSU’s emphasis on targeted COVID-19 testing; and our community’s adherence to numerous other public health measures.

OSU’s decision aligns with plans collaboratively announced Tuesday by all of Oregon’s public universities to maintain on-site teaching as winter term begins.

OSU will undertake the following actions to support continuity in in-person teaching, activities and operations:

• Strongly recommending that eligible students and employees get a booster shot take and receive the results of a COVID-19 test before Jan 3.
• Requiring booster shots by students and employees when eligible in winter term as part of OSU’s vaccination program.
• Requiring students returning to university-managed residence halls for winter term be tested for COVID-19 upon their return to the Corvallis campus and OSU-Cascades in Bend.
• Offering voluntary on-campus COVID-19 testing for OSU students and employees in Corvallis and Bend as winter term begins.
• Assisting local health authorities and health care agencies in promoting booster clinics and testing opportunities.
• Reviewing and updating as necessary COVID-19 practices and procedures for in-person university events planned during winter term.

Andrew Ketsdever, interim vice president of OSU-Cascades, told NewsChannel 21, "In our classrooms, we have high vaccination rates amongst our students, fully masked. And our small class sizes allow students to be able to spread out in our classes as well. So all of these measures really lead to our belief that we have very safe classroom environments."