About Oregon State University
What is Oregon State University?
Oregon State University is a public research university in Corvallis, Oregon, and one of a handful of institutions holding four federal grant designations at once: it describes itself as "1 of 3 land, sea, space and sun grant universities in the U.S." Its research base is the largest in the state: Oregon State reports "$422 million in research expenditures" and "more research funding than any public university in Oregon", across oceanography, forestry, agriculture, engineering and climate science. It teaches "38,125 total students" on campus and online.
Where will I work?
The main campus is in Corvallis in the Willamette Valley, with OSU-Cascades in Bend, the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, the OSU Portland Center, and OSU Ecampus online. Working away from campus is formalised: the University's Flexible Work Arrangement policy covers "Fully remote work, hybrid work and/or irregular/flex work schedules", each needing an agreement signed off by the employee's supervisor. Arrangements "will not exceed an academic or calendar year and will be renewed on an annual basis".
What is the Oregon State University team like?
Around 2,800 faculty teach and research alongside classified staff, professional faculty, graduate assistants, postdoctoral scholars and student employees. Roles run well beyond teaching: research administration, IT, finance, libraries, marine operations, Extension services, facilities and student services. Classified staff are represented, and their pay, leave and holiday terms are set out in the Oregon Public Universities and SEIU collective bargaining agreement.
Work-Life Balance
Oregon State's flexible-work policy defines "Irregular/Flexible Schedule Work" as an arrangement where "the employee's work week is compressed from five days to four or less with the employee still maintaining a work week commensurate with their normal full-time equivalency by completing their usual number of work hours each week". That is a compressed schedule at full-time hours rather than reduced hours, and it is not automatic: "No employee has the 'right' to a flexible work agreement of any form", and a supervisor may end an approved agreement with notice. The University's own holiday guidance shows the pattern in live use, spelling out how holiday pay works for a classified employee "required to work a 4-10 schedule (four ten-hour days per week)" and for one who "works a 4-10 work schedule at their request".
Leave is accrual-based. Classified staff earn 12 days of vacation in their first five years, rising with service to 27 days, plus 24 hours of personal leave each fiscal year and eight hours of sick leave a month. Ten holidays are observed, and eligible full-time classified staff receive an additional paid Special Day that may be taken "on any mutually agreeable day".
Perks and Benefits
- PEBB medical, vision and basic life insurance
- PEBB dental plans for employees and dependents
- Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) pension, plus voluntary 403(b) and 457 savings plans
- Staff Fee Privileges: reduced tuition for up to 12 credits a term, transferable to a family member
- Lyra Health: "8 free confidential sessions per person per year", part-time staff included
- Care.com premium membership subsidy and a Family Resource Center for dependent care
- Fertility and family-building cover through PEBB, including Progyny or Kindbody
- Ten observed holidays plus a paid Special Day taken on a day you choose