Other University offices to familiarize yourself with:
Academics: Every academic program falls under our College of Arts and Sciences or one of our four professional schools: the Pamplin School of Business, the School of Education, the School of Nursing, or the Shiley School of Engineering. Learn more about the college and schools.
Accessible Education Services: Accessible Education Services is part of the Shepard Academic Resource Center. They assist University of Portland students with obtaining appropriate documentation of a disability, developing an accommodation plan to ensure necessary and appropriate classroom accommodations, and facilitating non-classroom accommodations. Learn how you can connect with their team.
Alumni & Parent Relations: The Office of Alumni & Parent Relations serves to be a resource for families as they partner with you in the development and success of your student during their UP journey. Through important communications like their parent newsletters, local and regional events, and additional opportunities to get involved, you can stay connected to the UP community. Let us know how we can support you as you transition into the Pilot family! Contact our office at 503.943.7328 or parents@up.edu.
Care Team: When parents, faculty, or staff members are concerned about the physical, emotional, academic or personal health of a University student, the Care Team Program can assess the situation, offer support, and provide referrals to the breadth of resources on-campus. Submit a Care Team referral, or contact a member of the Care Team.
Financial Aid: The Office of Financial Aidis dedicated to helping students and their families finance a high-quality education at the University of Portland. For scholarship, grant, loan, and other aid related questions, please reach out to them at finaid@up.edu.
First Generation College Students: First Generation (FGEN) students are defined by the University of Portland as those students where neither parent or guardian has earned a four-year college degree. At UP, approximately 20 percent of the student population identifies as a first generation college student. Learn more about the community and resources available to FGEN students at UP.
International Education, Diversity, and Inclusion: The Office has a mission of fostering a welcoming campus climate and establishing a robust array of learning opportunities that support internationalization, equity, and inclusion on campus and in the world. The unit is comprised of International Student Services, Studies Abroad, Diversity and Inclusion Programs, Collaborative for International Studies & Global Outreach, and the Diversity Center. Learn more about the important work of this group.
Learning Commons: The Learning Commons provides assistance that supplements classroom work. Students can connect with peer tutors in a variety of disciplines, including math, writing, speech, and international languages. Learn more about their peer-assisted learning community and resources!
On-campus Dining: UP’s on-campus dining is provided by the Bon Appétit Management Co. Learn more about the dining facilities, daily menus, and meal plan options. To contact Bon Appétit, please email Kirk Mustain, General Manager, at mustain@up.edu.
Registrar: The Office of the Registrar maintains all permanent academic records, coordinates classroom assignments, processes transcript requests, provides enrollment certification/verification, and processes graduation applications and distributes diplomas. They also provide course schedules, registration information, and student schedules. The office can be reached at registrar@up.edu.
Shepard Academic Resource Center: The Shepard Academic Resource Center (SARC) provides several services and programs, including tutoring, advising, learning assistance counseling, first-year programming, educational accommodations, and programming for students who are the first in their family to go to college. The SARC team will be a valuable resource for your student during their first year and beyond!
Student Accounts: The primary responsibility of the Office of Student Accounts is to ensure that all funds due the University are billed, collected, posted, deposited, and reconciled accurately and in a timely manner in compliance with University policy and all federal and state regulations. Check out these important updates and dates, and contact stu-acct@up.edu if you have questions.
Student Affairs: The division of Student Affairs is the lifeblood of the University community! Click on each department below to learn how they are ready to connect and help build community for all students. For any general questions and inquiries about the Division of Student Affairs, you can reach out to the Office of Student Affairs at 503.943.8532 or studentaffairs@up.edu.
Student Employment: The opportunity for a student to work is a fundamental part of the University of Portland’s philosophy, based firmly in the conviction that a meaningful and rewarding work experience is an educational benefit of lasting value. While some students qualify for the Federal Work-Study program, most students work on campus earning Student Employment Institutional Funds. Learn more about Student Employment at UP.
Technology and Information Services: Learn more about technology at UP, what equipment your student will need to be successful as a UP student, and how your student can get started with the technology you will need as a UP student. Information Services can be contacted at 503.943.7000 or help@up.edu.
Para preguntas o inquietudes de orientación que se aborden en español, comuníquese con Thomas Giumenta a giumenta@up.edu o llamando al 503.943.8716. For Orientation questions or concerns to be addressed in Spanish, please contact Brother Thomas Giumenta at giumenta@up.edu or by calling 503.943.8716.
The first year of college presents wonderful opportunities for growth and learning. To help your student prepare for the adjustments ahead, we encourage you to have important conversations with them and teach them helpful life skills, especially if they will be moving away from home and onto campus.
Don’t feel like you have to tackle this all at once! You can break topics into 5-minute chats and incorporate them into your everyday interactions (running errands, washing dishes, etc.). The more natural the setting, the more smoothly the conversation may go.
As the semester begins to wind down, you may notice a shift in the attitude of your student. The energy that may have accompanied your student after Fall Break will be gone, and in its place will be frustration at classes, registration, end of semester projects and exams, and an overall sense of anxiety for the end of the semester.
Making It to the Finish Line
Many students will feel overworked and extremely tired during these last few weeks. Often, first-year students begin to develop a sense of regret about their college choice, or even going to college in the first place. Many students feel as though they are not doing well enough in school, especially in comparison to high school. Remind your student that the average first-year student’s college GPA is about one point less than it was in high school – not unusual in their first semester.
Many students may find that they are struggling in calculus, chemistry, biology, physics, philosophy, or macroeconomics. This is common. Some students are unprepared for college-level classes because they did not understand the conceptual basics of calculus and physics in high school. Others struggle because they think two hours of homework per day is enough. However, by better managing their time and communicating with their professors, many students will be able to pass. In addition, students can also connect with the Learning Commons to get individual help for each of these classes. The Learning Commons can help students learn how to study more effectively, prepare for exams, practice language skills, receive math and writing tutoring, or improve memory strategies.
While this may feel like a lot of doom and gloom, your student is resilient and can rise to the occasion. How can you help them to the finish line? First, encourage them to take deep breaths, and then consider these tips:
Let them know that you’re proud of the growth and progress they have made so far in the semester.
Support them in continuing to work hard. They can do this!
Encourage them to build effective stress relief time into their schedule.
Encourage your students to connect with the Learning Commons and set up an appointment with a peer tutor.
If you will see your student over the Thanksgiving Break, use that time to pump them up for the homestretch of the semester. After the four-day weekend, they only have one week of class and then finals week itself. They can do this, and you are there to encourage them along the way.
Helping your Student with “Major” Choices
During this part of the semester, some students begin to be concerned about their major and may question their academic course of study. Sometimes this becomes a hot topic around the Thanksgiving dinner table with family, who may be curious about what your student is studying. To assist you in supporting your student with these big questions, we have included helpful information below about choosing majors.
For most first-year students, the second semester is considerably less stressful than the first semester. But for many first-year students, one important question still remains: “What will be my major?” Many new students are still “undeclared” majors, and many students who declared a major upon enrollment have since had second thoughts about that decision. These students will be soliciting advice from their peers, professors, advisors, and families. When parents discuss this matter with their UP students they should keep the following in mind:
Choosing a major does not mean choosing a career. What do singer and EGOT winner John Legend, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, and legendary astronaut Sally Ride have in common? All three received undergraduate degrees in English. The conclusion to draw from this bit of trivia is that an undergraduate major is not the surefire predictor of future career. Some majors may be better preparation for certain kinds of work than others; however, relatively few undergraduate majors lead directly to a specific career. Career goals should certainly be one consideration when choosing a major, but by no means the only one. Moreover, employers in any field will be more interested in what a potential applicant can do than they will be with the student’s college major.
Skills matter. When thinking about a major, students should consider not only their interests but their skills and talents as well. How will the major help them capitalize on their natural talents and develop skills that may be weak? In a recent survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, employers ranked communication skills as the most important personal characteristic they sought in potential employees. Other important characteristics included analytical skills, ethics, leadership abilities, work experience, motivation/initiative, teamwork skills, and technical skills. Students considering a major should ask professors and upper-class students how the major will help them develop as writers and speakers. They should also inquire about internship and co-op opportunities in the major, and projects that will give them practice working with others and using the latest technology in the field.
Think of a major as an intellectual home. When students enter a major they begin a concentrated course of study that becomes increasingly focused and demanding. They will be going to classes, working on projects, and socializing with other students as well as professors in that discipline. It is important that they enjoy not only the work but also the people with whom they will be spending so much time. If a student is drawn to a major because of genuine interest and curiosity about the subject, then chances are they will feel at home with peers within the field. On the other hand, a student may feel out of place and uncomfortable if they enter a major because they think it will lead to a high-paying job (as an example) or to fulfill the expectation of parents or teachers.
A good choice is an informed choice. Encourage your student to make use of the information and resources available through UP. UP professors and advisors are always willing to share their expertise, and upper-level students in the major they are interested in can offer a student perspective. The Career Center also holds a wealth of information about majors and career planning as well as tools and services to help students assess their own interests and abilities.
Be patient. The earlier a student chooses a major, the easier it will be to fulfill the requirements of that major. However, second-semester first-year students still have time to make up their minds. Students enjoying many different courses are often those who have the most difficulty choosing one discipline on which to concentrate. These students should be encouraged to begin the exploration process early to avoid making a hasty decision when the time comes to declare a major. Students who take the time to explore different major options before declaring are often more confident and content in their final decision.
Check out these other helpful articles on choosing or changing a major:
