The latest news and information for Ohio State faculty and staff.
Thursday, September 24, 2020

Restoration of in-person gatherings for student organizations

As of Sept. 22, the university is allowing student organizations to resume holding gatherings of 10 or fewer people. Student organizations are still required to follow all the safe and healthy guidelines, and Student Conduct will fully investigate and take appropriate action if violations occur on or off campus. The university will continue to evaluate the prevalence of the virus on and off campus to make decisions about in-person gatherings moving forward or take any other pre-emptive actions.

Headline news

Faculty diversity rises in College of Education and Human Ecology

Nine new faculty have joined the College of Education and Human Ecology for the 2020-21 academic year, continuing with its priority to attract faculty and students who mirror our country’s population. Eight of the nine new faculty are people of color. This raises the college's total diverse faculty to 30.3%, or 49 of our 162 current faculty who are tenured or on the tenure track. Since Don Pope-Davis became dean in summer 2018, faculty diversity has steadily risen.

Digital Dialogues on Human Rights

The Global Arts + Humanities Digital Dialogues series brings together artists, scholars and activists working in a range of disciplines aligning with our current Society of Fellows theme of Human Rights: Pasts and Futures. Autumn event topics include Human Rights Pasts and Futures: Pandemics, Racism and Colonialism; Disability, Sexuality and Human Rights; and Migrant Rights Within Empire, Art Activism and Democracy. RSVP to receive Zoom link and participation instructions.

Open Enrollment for 2021 benefits

Open Enrollment for 2021 benefits will be available Nov. 1-15. All elections made during Open Enrollment are effective Jan.1. More details about 2021 benefits will be available in mid-October.

How you can apply your strengths at work. According to Gallup, employees who utilize their strengths at work at six times as likely to be engaged at work. You’ve taken the StrengthsFinder awareness workshop and learned your five strengths. This workshop helps put your strengths to work to increase your productivity and effectiveness. Join Beth Flynn of the OSU Leadership Center for this Oct. 14 online workshop. For more information, or to register, click here.

HR Connection launched September 21

HR Connection, Ohio State’s shared services operation for HR and payroll services, is available. You can now contact HR Connection for support on HR and payroll requests. HR Connection can be accessed using the HR Connection Portal, email, and phone (614-247-myHR). The HR Connection Portal will be available 24/7 and hours of operation for phone and email response will be 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please visit the HR Transformation website for a list of services available through HR Connection.

Awards and recognition

Bradford named president of National Academy

Carol R. Bradford, MD, MS, incoming dean for the College of Medicine, became the new president of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) and its foundation on Sept. 16. Elected by AAO-HNS members, Bradford will serve a one-year term leading the Academy’s nearly 12,000 members who specialize in the treatment of the ears, nose, throat and related structures of the head and neck.

Interested in scheduling your biometric health screening? The COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges to obtaining on-campus biometric screenings over the past few months. Although not required for 2020, there are limited-capacity on-campus screening appointments now available at select locations for those who are interested. Individuals can also visit their primary care provider to obtain their biometric health values. To view availabilities and schedule your screening, click here. For updates about the Your Plan For Health (YP4H) incentive program and events, click here.

Cast your vote for Dr. Hal Paz

Dr. Hal Paz, CEO of Wexner Medical Center and chancellor for Health Affairs at Ohio State, has been named a finalist for the annual Modern Health Care 100 Most Influential People in Health Care award. Leaders selected for this award represent exceptional organizations and agencies at the forefront of shaping the future of health care. Making this list is an important opportunity to have our influence and expertise recognized on a national level. Cast your vote by Sept. 29. You can vote once per device, including computer, phone and tablet.

Grants and funding

'Rebuild, Renew, Reshape' to study COVID-19 recovery

How can communities and society recover from the COVID-19 global pandemic and evolve to a new normal that is not only more resilient to future shocks but also sustainable and just? The new Rebuild, Renew, Reshape initiative at Ohio State will support interdisciplinary research on the sustainability, resilience and justice dimensions of the COVID-19 recovery. The initiative kicks off with a series of virtual mini workshops 9:30-11 a.m. on Oct. 23, Oct. 30 and Nov. 6, to brainstorm ideas. Interdisciplinary teams that emerge from these workshops will receive help in developing, growing and sustaining their efforts.

Upcoming events