Empty Nest Newsletter - Spring 2021

The daffodils are blooming, the plum tree outside of the Residence Hall is showing its beautiful spring flowers! We made this very statement a year ago, we were just finishing our work to move out most of the residential students on campus due to COVID-19 and going to all remote class delivery. This spring term is so much different! Even though we are still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Housing and Residence Life is open and serving over 500 students currently. We have amazing students in our residential community! They are working hard to be academically successful as they manage their schedules and how they are receiving class instruction. They are also working hard to uphold all COVID-19 safety precautions in place within Housing, Dining, and across campus. Throughout this year, they continue to show their positive attitudes as we see lots of smiling eyes. They are joining the Housing and Residence Life staff team for various online programs and outdoor activities, and continue to connect with their friends and neighbors in new and safe ways to help them build on their connections to Oregon Tech and their on-campus community.

Housing and Residence Life Staff hosted a virtual "Bob Ross Paint Along Night." Residents tuned in through Zoom and the RA shared a video of Bob Ross painting a scene and encouraged the residents to paint along as well using Microsoft Paint or a similar program. At the end of the program, residents shared their creations. 

Spring Term traditionally is the term the Residence Hall Association (RHA) with Housing and Residence Life host the annual Easter Egg Scramble. While we were cautiously optimistic we could bring this event back after a one-year hiatus, we determined it was not a safe program to invite the community to join us. Instead the eggs were used for smaller scale programming for just residential students. The student staff hid eggs throughout the common areas within housing facilities to offer the residents a chance to walk around (with face-coverings firmly in place) and find eggs. Students enjoyed this adventure and the chance to have a fun reason to go outside and explore around the housing facilities a bit more!

We were excited though to bring back Spring Fling! The week of May 3-7, 2021 students joined RHA and the Housing and Residence Life staff for a week of activities outside to welcome spring to the Klamath Basin. This week of events included a cornhole tournament, whipped cream whiffle ball, flower giveaways, chalk art projects and more. RHA and the Residence Life staff team worked hard to plan COVID safe activities for students to join in and get outside. 

 

 

 

All current residents who have completed their housing and meal plan applications for the 2021-2022 academic year are getting the chance to Choose My Room! As expected, the Village apartments are filling fast. Choose My Room will run until May 21, 2021 to allow any current student who contracts to live in the on-campus community for the upcoming year a chance to choose where they would like to live. For many students, they enjoy picking a room and then changing their mind and picking different rooms-something they can do up until 4:00 pm on Friday, May 21, 2021. 

For our incoming students, their turn to choose a room will be opening  in June! On-campus housing is a popular option for many Oregon Tech students at the Klamath Falls campus. The grit and resiliency our current and incoming students are displaying is amazing! For so many they are choosing to live on campus without being able to tour our facilities. There is a tour on the webpage, but we are not hosting in-person tours until the COVID-19 pandemic is not an issue. We are working hard to keep our on-campus residents safe, so we are not bringing in outside guests. Even with this, we have a vibrant number of incoming students choosing to join our community and we are busy working on plans to ensure a safe and easy move in for all our students this fall! 

Throughout the ups and downs this world is tossing our way, the entire full time Housing and Residence Life team has been on campus every working day. Their efforts to keep the Housing Office open, all common areas clean and sanitized and taking on the added trash from all to go meals this year is very appreciated! We opened this year with a record number of students, in a pandemic and quickly went to all to-go dining due to COVID-19 restrictions in our county. Throughout each twist and turn, this team pulled together to make sure we offered a good space for our residential students to call home, and we are so thankful for them, and our students. They have made this year memorable in the best ways!

Spring term also marks the end of our academic year in June, and the time when we say “Aloha” to our residents who are graduating or heading to other places for the summer. Mark your calendars now for June 12, 2021 as this is the final day of the 2020-2021 housing contract. Only students who have a summer contract can stay in on-campus housing after 4:00 pm on June 12, 2021. Summer housing is an option on campus. Students can apply now to live on campus for summer 2021. If your student has a housing contract with us now, they don’t need to pay the deposit again, it is taken care of. It is never too early to make plans with your student for move out and summer term! If you have any questions about closing or any other activities going on in Housing Spring term, please call our office at 541-885-1094 or email us at housing@oit.edu.

Graduating Seniors may not have a live Commencement Ceremony this year, but there are some fun happenings on campus. See the below schedule of events:

SPRING 2021

Spring Term 2021

5/17/21	Late Fees assessed on accounts with balances greater than $99*
5/17/21	Interest assessed on balances over 30 days @ 1%/month
5/17/21	Statements generated (available on CASHNet May. 18)
6/11/21	Final Payment Plan payment due (ANY remaining balance)
6/11/21	Last day of Spring Term
6/14/21	Late fees assessed on accounts with past due balances greater than $99*
6/14/21	Interest assessed on balances over 30 days @ 1%/month
6/14/21	Final Spring Statements generated (available on CASHNet June 15)
	*Only one late fee per student per term will be charged.

 

Spring Term 2021

Date	Event
May 10-20	Registration for Fall Term
May 14	Last day to withdraw from an individual course*
May 31	Memorial Day holiday
Jun 4	Last day to completely withdraw
Jun 7-10	Final Exams week
Jun 11	Spring Term ends
Jun 13	Virtual Commencement

The Student Success Center is excited to be able to offer students professional writing coaching through our partnership with Heartful Editor. Students can access the online support for personalized academic editing support and writing coaching.

Peer Consulting Services (PCS) offers FREE remote and in-person academic support to ALL students of Oregon Tech. PCS aims to improve student success by providing a welcoming environment where students can work toward their academic goals with peer support. Peer tutors help your student develop effective learning strategies and provide guidance in understanding concepts and solving problems. The consultants who work at Peer Consulting are your student’s peers, have taken the same classes your student has, and have earned a 3.0 or greater.

PCS strives to support students both in-person and remotely. Students can meet remotely with a Peer Consultant via Zoom and can access our online scheduler through their TECHweb account.

NEW in PCS!

• In-person tutoring has moved to the 1st floor of the library. Look for the Peer Consulting signs and banner leading to the back of the library. Peer Consultants are standing by ready to help! Students can schedule appointment or check our drop-in hours by visiting our scheduler via TECHweb.
• Writing support from Heartful Editor: Heartful Editor's team of caring, supportive, and encouraging academic coaches and editors helps students of all skill and experience levels thrive as academic writers and create positive change in the community through their scholarship. Students can submit up to 3 course papers a term. To submit, please click here.

Peer Consulting Services is proud to support students’ remote, in-person, and hybrid courses and be a part of their learning experience. If you have any questions, please email peerconsulting@oit.edu or call us direct at 541-851-5226.

Career Services expanded its reach this spring by offering their first ever Graduate School Virtual Fair, Wednesday May 12. Students interested in exploring options for graduate education were encouraged to register through Handshake and create a schedule to meet 1:1 with graduate school recruiters or attend group informational sessions. From programs Oregon Tech offers to opportunities from around the region, inspired students to consider next steps after their bachelor’s degree. No matter where students are in their time at Oregon Tech (first year to almost graduated), the fair provided concrete information and steps about what’s possible! 

To help students prepare internship applications, summer job searches, or post-graduation employment, Career Services offered a Resume Review Marathon on Thursday April 15. The Career Services team was available ALL DAY on Zoom to provide advice on translating Oregon Tech coursework, projects, and previous work experience into a professional and effective resume. Throughout the day, staff met with 15 students!  Another Resume Review Marathon will happen Thursday May 27, 8:00 am-5:00 pm via Zoom. As always, students can also book an appointment with Career Services for individualized support anytime – book through Handshake or email career@oit.edu.

Finally, Sarah Moore, Associate Director of Career Services will host a Job Search Boot Camp – 90 minute sessions each day for 3 days – and there’s homework!  This intensive experience will equip alumni, recent graduates, and current students with tools for a successful job search. Topics include: LinkedIn networking, effective resume and cover letter, ways to reach current alumni, and more! The homework allows participants to take immediate action steps (with professional support and feedback) that will benefit their job search. Students applying for internships, part-time employment while in school, or post-graduation full-time employment will benefit from Sarah’s coaching. Registration will open June 1 via Handshake or email career@oit.edu for more information.

Career Services continues to support students throughout their Oregon Tech journey. As supporters of an Owl, here’s a handy checklist about career development from the 1st year through graduation. Our mission is to lead a university-wide culture of career advising and professional mentorship to empower students and alumni to reach their unique career goals. As a team, we Embrace differences, Empower growth, Inspire confidence, Foster connections, and Celebrate wins. We love our jobs and work hard to help students find their professional sweet spot, too! 

University Wide Awards
 

 

Hiram M. Hunt Award Lauren Frost		Most Dedicated Student Award Walker M. York
Oregon Tech Pride Award 2021 ASCE Steel Bridge Team Grant Banister Michael Hoie Kayla deHoop Ian Pargeter Evan Worthington		Student Achievement Award Christian Gomez
Graduate Student Award Hanna Wolf		Outstanding Community Service Award Hasan Alramadan
Outstanding Non-Traditional Student Award Sally Sutton		Outstanding Student Veteran Award Isaac Gilmer Olex Goloshchapov
Owens Citizenship Award Apoorva Singh
The President’s Senior Cup is chosen from the list of Outstanding Scholars nominated by their academic department, who have demonstrated superior academic excellence as evidenced by very high cumulative grade-point averages, impressive senior projects, published work or acceptance into graduate school; and other criteria such as dependability, willingness to help others, or involvement in activities and organizations. The 2020-21 academic year consisted of 12 Portland-Metro and 28 Klamath Falls Outstanding Scholars, 6 Online Learning Outstanding Scholars, 1 Chemeketa Outstanding Scholar and 1 Seattle Outstanding Scholar of which 6 students were nominated for the President’s Senior Cup. This year’s recipients are:
Health, Arts and Sciences Christian Gomez		Engineering, Technology and Management Walker M. York
KLAMATH FALLS OUTSTANDING SCHOLARS
Outstanding Scholars – Engineering, Technology and Management Adam Flaigg-Fairness - Cybersecurity Brandon Foose – Mechanical Engineering Carson Porter – Operations Management David Abaroa – Computer Engineering Technology Garrett Oman – Civil Engineering Garrison Peacock – Embedded Systems Engineering Technology Jacob Hertel – Manufacturing Engineering Technology Jonathan Thurston – Electrical Engineering Katelyn Florez – Business-Management Option Kevin Thaddeus Steerman – Renewable Energy Engineering Nathan Ruscheinsky – Information Technology Nathan Ikola – Software Engineering Technology Sean Lange – Geomatics with Surveying Option Walker M. York – Accounting		Outstanding Scholars – Health, Arts and Sciences Alexis Harris – Applied Mathematics Anna Scolatti – Vascular Technology Asher Nieman – Communication Studies Christian Gomez – Biology-Health Sciences Hannah Jordan – Respiratory Care Heidi Horton – Diagnostic Medical Sonography Josie Hanel – Population Health Management Kelly O’Malley – Environmental Sciences Kylee Reinwald – Dental Hygiene Megan Ross – Applied Psychology Michael Yilek – Professional Writing Mikaela Schuman – Radiologic Science Rachael Blumenshine – Echocardiography Rhiannon Corcoran – Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
PORTLAND-METRO CAMPUS AWARDS
Outstanding Academic Achievement Matthew Sherland Outstanding Community Service Jimmy Pierce Outstanding Student Involvement Justin Ringle		Portland-Metro Outstanding Scholars Engineering, Technology and Management Devin Sachs – Mechanical Engineering Joanne Parsons – Cybersecurity Jorden Holland – Information Technology Justin Laughlin – Electrical Engineering Katelyn Mitchell – Operations Management Laura Sanchez – Embedded Systems Engineering Technology Matthew Sherland – Renewable Energy Engineering Nicholas Tucker – Manufacturing Engineering Technology Ryan Welch – Software Engineering Technology Sean Buchanan – Technology and Management Health, Arts and Sciences Kevin Parks – Health Informatics Mariana Elisa Salcido – Medical Laboratory Science

The Bringing Home the Gold campaign to revitalize Oregon Tech's track and field facility launched on March 10 with a $100,000 matching opportunity! The initial match was met within the first month! Learn more about being part of this amazing renovation.

More than $170,000 • Over 355 Donors

Thank you for supporting Oregon Tech's mission to foster student and graduate success while enhancing the teaching and learning experience for our talented students during the 2nd Annual Give A Hoot Day! 

Inaugural Battle of the Decades:

• Champion: 2010s
• Honorable Mention: 2000s
   

The Oregon Tech Foundation and Alumni Association are here to show support for your students! Through initiatives that fund priorities such as academics, classroom upgrades, student projects, faculty development, capital projects, athletics, and scholarships, we work to further the goals of the university and enrich the educational experience for all students, supporting the greatest needs of the University. This year we are thrilled to have awarded over $900,000 in scholarships to very deserving students, helping each one get another step closer to achieving their degrees and their dreams.

Our job at the Foundation is to support the mission of Oregon Tech, especially students. One of the ways in which we strive to do so is through our scholarship program. What this means for students is that over 300 young people will have a brighter future, a boost in morale and a vote of confidence. This milestone is possible through the generosity of individuals, including faculty, staff, alumni, students, industry partners and community members, and foundations, organizations, and businesses who believe in our exceptional students.

The Foundation’s first scholarship award process for the 2021-2022 academic year of over $360,000 is complete, and 138 students have been notified of their awards for the upcoming year. Many more students will receive renewals of their existing scholarships, increasing their likelihood for retention and success.

Applications for the Oregon Tech Foundation scholarship program will open again for a second process this summer and details will be available through the Financial Aid Office. We hope you will encourage your student to apply! For more information regarding the scholarship program or the Oregon Tech Foundation, please contact Mira Wonderwheel at 541.851.5679 or mira.wonderwheel@oit.edu.

We started awarding for the 2021-2022 academic year in March. If your student filed a FAFSA, and you have not heard from us, please have your student contact the Oregon Tech Financial Aid office at 541-885-1280 or at dollars@oit.edu.

As always, if your income and economic situation has changed drastically, please contact our office at the beginning of July 2021, when the Professional Judgment Application opens for the 2021-2022 academic year.

Recently, we awarded 135 students Oregon Tech Foundation scholarships. These scholarships totaled close to $360,000 and will help Oregon Tech students with the cost of education in the upcoming year. The Oregon Tech Foundation Scholarship summer application will open up the first week of July. Visit the Oregon Tech Scholarship page for the application and links to other scholarship opportunities.

Each term the Owls’ Worth program puts on financial literacy sessions on a variety of topics.  Scholarship drawings and food (when possible) are included with many sessions.  Please Check our website for more information, including recordings of previous sessions and upcoming events. 

On a beautiful sunny day in Wilsonville, Emergency Medical Services students got outside with Program Director, Professor Jamie Kennel. Students participated in an outdoor simulation experience facilitated by faculty to test their knowledge and skills. EMS Students prepare for their field experiences by gaining knowledge and broad exposure to the full spectrum of the EMS industry, including EMT, paramedic, critical care, community care, and EMS Management. 

Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) students participated in Lab Week in April! They hosted many events for the university to participate in and join in celebration of the medical lab professions! Events included virtual Guest Speaker, William Dettwyler, an Oregon Tech alumnus how shared about his thirty years of experience in lab environments and interesting stories from his time in the medical laboratory. There were also opportunities to connect with virtual coloring contests, Among Us games, and more!  

 

Associated Students of Oregon Institute of Technology (ASOIT) uses spring term as a time to prepare for their transitions to the next year and new leadership. Students are preparing for TRU Day at the State Capitol to lobby for support and funding for Oregon’s public universities. Events this year will be held virtually in May with an opportunity for students to discuss: 
•    Public University Support Funds
•    Oregon Opportunity Grant Funds
•    HB 2835 Basic Needs Navigator
•    HB2590 Student Voices 

The Edge Student Newspaper is back and better than ever with a new all-digital format! Students can access weekly content posted to the Oregon Tech app, as well as a dedicated Edge website in the future.

The Edge went on hiatus after the initial wave of COVID-19 lockdowns in March of 2020. Since then, the newspaper has taken time to restructure and adapt to the changing times. With students working remotely, we decided that a print edition of the Edge wouldn’t be as accessible for readers. For the near future, all articles will be shared via Google Docs or OneDrive links posted to the Oregon Tech app. We’re working on developing a website to host all of the Edge’s content and to explore other styles of news media.

The Edge is also implementing a new way to get stories from our readers. We are currently developing a way for Oregon Tech students to submit requests and ideas for stories, keeping our content relevant and interesting. Students taking any journalism course may also have the opportunity to get their writing published via The Edge. Please enjoy the following articles from The Edge:

The Owl Feather Exchange - Dane Tippman

COVID-19 Impacts on Athletics

Is your student looking for fun employment this summer?  Check out Canyon Creek Summer camp.  Follow the link for more information: https://www.canyoncreeksummercamp.com

Oregon Tech’s Hustlin’ Owls have been busy this term and extremely successful. Follow the links for full stories.

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