August 21, 2024

DFA colleagues,

We have been experiencing Oregon summer at its finest this year, with a little heat moderated by cool evenings and, thankfully, less forest fire smoke than in past years. Now, the energy on the Corvallis campus is ramping up with fall term preparations and new student orientations underway. And in the Division of Finance and Administration, we are getting ready to welcome a new vice president, Carla Ho’a. You can read more about Carla’s background and qualifications in the story below.

As I am sure you know, I am retiring from Oregon State and this is my last message to the DFA team. I started my career in higher education administration working for the Oregon State System of Higher Education as a senior internal auditor in the basement of the Kerr Administration Building 34 years ago. To close the circle, I will end my career in the Kerr basement (at my request) serving as a consultant for Vice President Ho’a for a short time as she transitions to Oregon State.

I am so proud to have been a part of the Division of Finance and Administration team over the last decade. We have accomplished so much together! And DFA employees continue the important work of supporting the university’s collective success. This summer, OSU’s Administrative Modernization Program (AMP) kicked into high gear, and our division is already in deeply engaged supporting this transformational work. Finance and accounting teams closed the books on fiscal year 2024. Construction of the Huang Collaborative Innovation Center got underway in earnest, while the second half of the Cordley Hall renovation project wraps up in preparation for the new academic year. Transportation projects continued, including the new Washington Way bike path, which should be completed soon, just in time for the new sustainable bike and scooter share pilot program this fall that came from a collaboration with the Associated Students of OSU. And, many other projects and initiatives are being led or supported by the DFA team this summer and throughout fiscal year 2025.

The DFA senior leadership team recently visited the OSU-Cascades campus in Bend for our semi-annual planning retreat. While we were there, we discussed plans for implementing OSU’s Prosperity Widely Shared strategic goals with leaders from the Division of Research and Innovation and OSU-Cascades. We also had an opportunity to tour the construction of the new Student Success Center and the future site of the OSU-Cascades Innovation District, which is being built atop a reclaimed pumice mine and construction landfill. You really need to visit in person to appreciate the scale of this project, but as I think you can see from the photos, the Cascades team is advancing a number of remarkable complex and transformational projects.

I wish you all the best as you start fall term in September with the guidance of Vice President for Finance and Administration Carla Ho’a, the DFA senior leaders, Provost Ed Feser and President Jayathi Murthy. I am confident that your dedication and teamwork will help the university thrive this next academic year and for  decades to come.

Read on for lots of great news about what has been happening the past few months in the Division of Finance and Administration.

Sincerely,

Mike

Michael J. Green

Vice President for Finance & Administration / Chief Financial Officer

Kudos Corner! Highlighting Stories of DFA Employee Excellence
Kudos Corner! Highlighting Stories of DFA Employee Excellence
Read Kudos Corner Stories Highlighting DFA Employee Excellence.
New Faces in the DFA
New Faces in the DFA
Neil Knight Joins as Assistant Director in Insurance and Risk Management Services.
Framework for Success: Decision Support System
Framework for Success: Decision Support System
The F4S program promotes transparent decision-making and unifies diverse roles. This summer, the Division of Finance and Administration refined metrics and planned for FY 2025. A new SharePoint site provides easy access to F4S information and metrics.
DEIB Committee Promotes Belonging, Transitions Membership for Fall
DEIB Committee Promotes Belonging, Transitions Membership for Fall
DEIB Committee Promotes Belonging, Transitions Membership for Fall. The Committee welcomes new co-chair Aviva Rivera who will serve alongside Chrstine Atwood for the coming year.
Corvallis Revised Budget Model Fully Implemented for Fiscal Year 2025
Corvallis Revised Budget Model Fully Implemented for Fiscal Year 2025
Corvallis Revised Budget Model Fully Implemented for Fiscal Year 2025.
AMP Celebrates Launch with Adaptive Planning Kick-off
AMP Celebrates Launch with Adaptive Planning Kick-off
OSU’s AMP kicked off with a university-wide celebration in July, introducing a five-year, $80M initiative to modernize administrative work and implement Workday ERP. The AMP team also launched the Workday Adaptive Planning project to enhance budgeting and financial modeling.
Surplus Property Team Brings Community Support to Area Youth and Farm
Surplus Property Team Brings Community Support to Area Youth and Farm
Surplus Property provided 50 computers for hands-on learning at the Canby STEAM Summer Camp. And Surplus Property’s first Farm Sale raised over $48,000 for local OSU farms.
"Great Move-Out" Event Drives Student Donations to Local Charities
"Great Move-Out" Event Drives Student Donations to Local Charities
The Great Move-Out Donation Drive collected and redistributed 19,415 lbs of donations from OSU students to local charities. The College of Forestry’s Clothing Library restocked with over 50 pairs of durable work pants, jackets, and other items from the Great Move-Out event.
Sustainability Office Promotes Campus Engagement for Change
Sustainability Office Promotes Campus Engagement for Change
Sustainability Office promotes campus engagement. Student Council wins award, colleges plan decarbonization, and energy efficiency saves $300,000.
Facilities Services Team Makes Campus a Living Lab for Students
Facilities Services Team Makes Campus a Living Lab for Students
Facilities Services makes campus a living lab for students. Art students paint a mural in the Energy Center steam tunnels. Engineering students explore storm drainage systems. New critical building upgrades for Horticulture Department.
Newport Student Housing Project Breaks Ground
Newport Student Housing Project Breaks Ground
The $16.5 million HMSC High Ground Housing Project will provide 72 studio units and five two-bedroom units for students, staff, and visiting scientists at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport.
Facilities Services Minimizes Campus Disruption in Fallen Tree Incident
Facilities Services Minimizes Campus Disruption in Fallen Tree Incident
Facilities Services minimizes disruption. Quick response to fallen tree near Snell Hall ensures campus operations continue smoothly.
Transportation Alternatives Expand with Bus Routes and ZAP Incentives
Transportation Alternatives Expand with Bus Routes and ZAP Incentives
Transportation Services expands options. Beaver Bus adds LBCC route, benefiting dual-enrolled students. ZAP program boosts bike commuting with new riders and community events. Bike and Scooter Share program comes to the Corvallis campus.
EPPMO Manages University-Wide Projects Supporting Students, Research and AMP
EPPMO Manages University-Wide Projects Supporting Students, Research and AMP
OSU's Enterprise Project Portfolio Management Office (EPPMO) provides an update on the university-wide projects they support.
UHR Offers New Employee Resources and Skills-Building Workshops for All
UHR Offers New Employee Resources and Skills-Building Workshops for All
UHR offers new resources: Group Onboarding sessions, New-Hire Connections, and regular New Employee Orientations for new employees. Build your skills with UHR workshops: FYI Fridays, FourSight Mindset Reveal, Crucial Conversations, and more!
Get in the know! Upcoming Events and Meetings
Get in the know! Upcoming Events and Meetings
Get out there! Consider attending one of the upcoming DFA events, trainings or networking opportunities.

DFA Food Insecurity Committee Donates 222 Cereal Boxes

The DFA Food Insecurity Committee coordinated a breakfast cereal drive for the OSU Basic Needs Center in July which resulted in 222 boxes of breakfast cereal donated to the BNC! The committee would like to extend our thanks to our DFA unit liaisons who helped us spread the word about the drive and to all our colleagues in the DFA and across OSU who donated to this event.

Bring Food Donations to the Fall Kick-Off Meeting!

The DFA Food Insecurity Committee will be collecting non-perishable food items to restock the OSU Basic Needs Center for the start of the fall term. If you would like to participate, you can bring items to the DFA Fall Kick-off Meeting or donate online via the BNC’s Target or Amazon wish lists. To ship your items directly to the BNC, please choose the shipping address for Emily Faltesek/OSU Basic Needs Center. More ideas for items to donate can be found at: https://studentlife.oregonstate.edu/bnc/food-resources/food-pantry-wish-list. 

Thank you for supporting the BNC and contributing to student success at OSU! 

Questions or suggestions?

Contact the VPFA Office for information, assistance, requests for signature on documents and to make appointments.

DFA supports OSU every dam day!