UHDS News

As you are getting ready to arrive at Oregon State University, we wanted to send you some resources and reminders.

We look forward to helping you move-in Sept. 24-25. Before you arrive we encourage you to watch the welcome video, read our move-in guide, and check MyUHDS for your arrival date and time. If you have additional questions, please email the housing assignments office at housing@oregonstate.edu.  There is a fair amount of construction on our west side of campus with the Austin Hall project and on our east side of campus with the construction of our New Student Residence. Both of these facilities are set to open in Fall 2014. Thank you for your patience, as you find your way to your building, where our staff and our volunteers will be happy to help you unload your car.

After you get settled, we hope you will join us at the New Student Picnic at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, in the Memorial Union quad. It’s a great way to meet and mingle with hundreds or your new campus neighbors. Tickets are $7 and can be billed to your OSU dining plan. Use this online reservation form to reserve your ticket.  Additionally, check out the full schedule of events and activities that take place throughout CONNECT at connect.oregonstate.edu.

Have a great rest of your summer and we look forward to seeing you next week!

Special notes for south side residents (Bloss, Finley, Halsell and ILLC):

Your mailbox for the year can be seen when you check MyUHDS. In years past mailboxes were tied to room locations but all of our system now has a four digit number for mailboxes. More information on how to address mail to your new address can be found here: http://oregonstate.edu/uhds/service-centers.

We discovered some discrepancies of information around bunks kits for Bloss and Finley Halls on our website. Please know that we do not provide any loft or bunk kit materials for the beds in these buildings. If you want to raise your bed you can purchase bed risers and if you would like to loft your bed you can build your own kit per the specifications we describe here: http://oregonstate.edu/uhds/loft-kits. Sorry for any inconvenience this misinformation caused you.

Posted in Housing | Comments Off on Move-in: Last minute resources and reminders

[Corvallis Gazette-Times, June 24, 2013] –Oregon State University housing and dining officials have announced the closure of the four aging co-op housing units on campus. Now they are evaluating how any future co-op program might look and where it might be located after the houses close in June 2014.

“The cooperative program is not about a particular house,” said Tom Scheuermann, the director of University Housing and Dining Services (UHDS) at OSU.

The four co-op facilities that will close next year are Avery, Azalea, Dixon and Oxford. They are clustered along Southwest Jefferson and Monroe avenues between Southwest 11th and Ninth streets. The oldest of the buildings date to just after World War II and house about 200 students in a communal living environment. For the 2013-14 school year, UHDS lists the room fees for co-ops at about $3,300. For a triple room in several dorms, the cost is about $4,900. Neither cost includes dining fees.

“The facilities are safe,” Sheuermann said. “But we also know that’s not going to continue to be the case indefinitely.”

Scheuermann said the co-op program and facilities need to be analyzed separately.

The co-op program enables each house to hire its own chef, and each house largely is in control of its own management. Maintenance is handled by the university.

“That’s a fine approach, but if someone wants to keep that, that’s probably more likely going to be something that’s off campus,” Scheuermann said.

On-campus living in the future likely would include food services and management through the university, Sheuermann said.

The co-op buildings themselves need full renovations. They’ve had annual maintenance but haven’t been fully renovated in at least the 14 years that Dan Larson has worked for the university as the associate director of UHDS, he said.

Renovations typically cost between $250 to $350 a square foot, depending on the condition of the building.

Scheuermann said they will first look at how the co-op program would look in the future, and then find facilities to accommodate them.

A workgroup will be formed this summer to go over the program. Five to six UHDS staff members are likely to be part of the group, as well as co-op residents and alumni.

….

Read the full article by McKinley Smith and see photos at www.gazettetimes.com.

Posted in Housing | Comments Off on Corvallis Gazette-Times: Group to look at options for OSU’s cooperative housing program

Below is information that was shared with current and future cooperative house residents via email and a public meeting at the end of Spring Term 2013:

Oregon State University leaders, including administrators within Housing & Dining Services (UHDS), recognize that the university’s cooperative houses provide a unique and valuable living option.

Based on a recent comprehensive review of the cooperative living program and facilities, which included OSU staff and student cooperative members, UHDS has determined that Avery, Azalea, Dixon and Oxford houses will continue as co-ops for the 2013-14 academic year, but will not be used in support of the existing cooperative living program after June 2014.

The cooperative houses have reached a point of requiring significant program revision to ensure the cooperative living program is in alignment with the values, initiatives, and operations of OSU’s on-campus residence program. We also anticipate that the current co-op houses will require significant renovation to maintain the current living standards beyond this next academic year. Throughout the next academic year, UHDS is committed to sustaining the current houses and delivering a high-quality of service to residents.

UHDS is in the process of organizing a workgroup that will begin to meet this summer and fall to explore how cooperative-style living options may be a viable program beyond June 2014. However, these options may not be located in the existing facilities. This workgroup will be led by senior UHDS staff members, and will include opportunities for student and alumni participation. The workgroup process will feature a variety of ways for ideas and input to be provided.

• For questions or comments regarding the future of the cooperatives, please contact me at 541-737-5622 or tom.schuermann@oregonstate.edu.
• For questions regarding the creation of the UHDS workgroup on co-op programming, please contact UHDS Associate Director of Residential Education Ann Marie Klotz at 541-737-3612 or annmarie.klotz@oregonstate.edu.

Tom Scheuermann, director
University Housing & Dining Services

Posted in Housing | Comments Off on Notice of cooperative house changes coming after June 2014

University Housing & Dining Services hosted the annual “Dianne’s” award ceremony on the evening of Tuesday, May 28. Here are some of the students and staff that were recognized at the event:

• Dianne Marie Finklein Memorial Scholarship: Brenda Dao ($1000), Gabriela Busto Ramos ($750), Karla Chavez ($500)
• Residential Education Staff Member of the Year: Courtney Darr – West Hall
• Dr. M. Edward Bryan CommunityDevelopment Award: Dustin Fernandes – Weatherford Hall; and Gabriel Hernandez – Bloss Hall
• Academic Excellence Award: Rachel Rosenbaum – Weatherford Hall
• The Dianne Marie Finklein Creative Spirit Award: Colton Taylor – McNary Hall
• External Black Belt of Caring Award: Dale McCauley– AEP
• Internal Black Belt of Caring Award: Jill Childress, AD Student Conduct & Community Standards
• After Dark Outstanding Participation Award: Jeffrey Tsang, Late Night & Leadership Program Assistant

The Cooperative House Awards “Coopies”

• House Member of the Year: Sarah Hewett-Dixon Lodge; and Maddy Greathouse-Oxford House
• Executive Council of the Year: Azalea House
• Executive Council Member of the Year: Michelle Scarborough- Azalea House; and John Ngo- Avery Lodge
• President of the Year: Lauren McGee – Dixon Lodge
• Cooperative House of the Year: Avery Lodge

Tags: awards, Dianne's, oregon state, UHDS
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Congratulations to year-end award winners

[May 16, 2013 — The Daily Barometer] — Oregon State University found out Wednesday night which chef’s cuisine reigned supreme.

Chefs from the OSU campus competed for the title of Iron Chef:M cNary Champion in a setting similar to that of the hit TV show.

University Housing and Dining Services held the event in collaboration with the Human Services Resource Center as a fundraiser for the OSU Emergency Food Pantry, which supplies food to students and community members in need.

McNary Dining Hall, located on the east side of campus, hosted the event. Students and faculty members stopped and stared as each contestant used skill and finesse to create a masterpiece dish.

Three chefs from across campus competed in the event with only the help of a single companion. Each team received 50 minutes to cook their meal, and then 10 minutes to plate their creations.

Participating chefs had a box of secret ingredients commonly found in the OSU Emergency Food Pantry at their disposal. The chefs then used the ingredients to create a meal worthy of the title Iron Chef champion.

Despite tough competition from the other chefs, Jason Phillips was able to use the skills he gained during his childhood to come out on top.

Phillips grew up in Portland, and was inspired to cook by his grandmother.

“She was passionate about food and spent hours in the kitchen,” Phillips said. “She started preparing dinner at 7 a.m.”
Phillips is currently a student in the OSU nutrition program, and spends his free time volunteering at the Jackson Street Youth Shelter teaching basic cooking skills to children.

…

Those who would like to donate to the food pantry can do so by stopping by the Snell International Forum on Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Additionally, donations are also accepted online through HSRC’s website.

…
Read the full article by Lara von Linsowe-Wilson.

Tags: emergency food pantry, food box, hsrc, human services resource center, iron chef, McNary, nutrition, oregon state, osu
Posted in Dining, Education | Comments Off on Daily Barometer: Food enthusiasts fight for title of Iron Chef: McNary

Still deciding where to live next year? Given the growing need for more affordable on-campus housing, UHDS has increased the popular triple room options for the 2013-14 academic year.
More triple rooms will be available in Buxton, Cauthorn, Hawley, Poling, Sackett, Wilson (4th floor) and Weatherford halls, as well as triples and quadruple rooms in McNary hall.
 
Specific rate information on this low-cost option is available on the UHDS rates page: http://oregonstate.edu/UHDS/rates

Apply for housing at myuhds.oregonstate.edu.
If you have any questions during the process, please contact University Housing & Dining Services by calling 541-737-4771 or emailing uhds@oregonstate.edu.