Category Archives: Things to Know

2020 Commencement

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As you read in Fr. Poorman’s recent message, the University looks forward to an in-person celebration of the Class of 2020 at a future date. We also plan to proceed with virtual commencement exercises on May 3. While we recognize that none of this is ideal and so much of this is out of your control, we hope your family comes together on May 3 to celebrate your graduate in whatever way is most meaningful to you all. Our Class of 2020 deserves the world, and you deserve to celebrate too because you helped them to the finish line!

The Basics

  • When: Virtual Commencement will take place on May 3.
  • Where: More information about how to watch the ceremonies online will be available soon.
  • What: The virtual ceremony will include a special invocation, the conferring of degrees, a blessing by University President Fr. Mark Poorman, C.S.C., and other celebratory UP traditions.
  • Commencement Boxes
    • Many helping (and socially distant) hands are putting together a Class of 2020 Commencement Box for your student that will be sent to the address they provided in their Career Center survey. We hope this allows your graduation celebration to be filled with UP pride and brings a little piece of The Bluff to you and your loved ones. If you have concerns about the safety of handling the box, please review these Frequently Asked Questions. The undergraduate box will include:
      • Cap with tassel
      • Gown
      • Commencement Programs
      • Diploma Cover
      • A few surprises from your UP family
      • Each College/School may also include specific items too. For example:
        • School of Nursing Pin, Nurses’ Pinning Program, etc.
        • Honor Society Cords

Making Lemonade out of Lemons

We may be staying home and practicing safe social distancing, but here are some ideas for how to make virtual Commencement special for your family!

  • Gather a small group of family or friends together for an “at-home” celebration. We ask that you honor small group and social distancing stipulations for your city or state.
  • If a gathering is not possible, plan a parade for your graduate! Invite family and friends to drive by your house at a designated time, holding signs and cheering for your student.
  • Use online video chat platforms like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or FaceTime to include remote attendees in the fun! You can even use UP’s campus photos as your Zoom digital background.
  • Host a “ceremony” in your living room, on the front porch, in a courtyard of your housing complex, on the sidewalk in front of your apartment, in your backyard, or wherever you have space! If you host it in your front yard or a more communal space, you may even get neighbors joining in the fun and cheering your student on from a healthy distance!
  • Watch the ceremonies online. A laptop or phone works, but if you have the technology and equipment to do so, you can cast the video to a TV screen or project it on a larger wall to “enhance” the experience.
  • They may feel silly doing so but encourage your student to wear their cap and gown, which will be sent to them ahead of time in their Commencement Box, and then have a graduation photo shoot. They will appreciate having nice pictures to commemorate this milestone.
  • Speaking of caps, encourage your student to decorate their graduation cap. They can get inspiration from Pinterest, bounce around ideas with the family, or check out creative ideas from previous graduates. It can serve as a nice memento AND a fun arts and crafts project to do at home.
  • Pick different members of the family to be the emcee or “guest speaker” for your ceremony. As a surprise for your graduate, you could share your top 20 memories or proudest moments of your 2020 graduate, whether it spans their life or their time at UP.
  • You can also encourage your student to come up with and share their “Top 20 of ’20.” They can share their top 20 memories from college with their family. It could be a simple list they read aloud, or they can get creative with photos or a slideshow, but either way, it can be a nice way to reflect and celebrate with their loved ones, focusing on the positives!
  • Have fun with DIY decorating or baking – or support local bakeries, restaurants, and party supply shops if they are open and it is safe to do so.
  • We encourage families to still send graduation announcements, even if via email, to share the excitement of your student’s accomplishments with families and friends.
  • From video tributes to scavenger hunts, CollegiateParent also compiled some great alternative ways to celebrate!
  • Listen to UP’s Senior Playlist on Spotify. It will debut on April 23.
  • Encourage your student to take a video of their “diploma dance” and send it to upsocial@up.edu.
  • Share your excitement on social media!
    • Encourage your student to get creative and show us what their “last day of school” looks like and use the hashtag #LastDayUP or send the photo to upsocial@up.edu.
    • Add a special “Proud to be a Pilot Parent” frame to your Facebook profile picture.
    • Use a GIF on your Instagram Story. Search “University of Portland” for our Pilot Parent, #UP20, grad cap, and other UP GIFs.
    • Follow @Uportland on Instagram for other social media tips and ideas!
    • Use the cap and gown filter.
    • Post decorated grad cap photos.
    • Use hashtag #UP20.

Career Center Support

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As students are finishing the last month of classes, planning for the summer may be on their minds. All students are encouraged to schedule a phone and/or video appointment with the Career Center to outline next steps. For students who do not know what questions to ask, the 30-minute Virtual Career Chat is designed to get them started. Seniors who are thinking about life after graduation are encouraged to schedule a Senior Game Plan meeting.

Here are six suggested steps for students to advance their career development during this time. We encourage you to review this list with your student.

  1. Practice self-care. As students continue to transition to online instruction and prepare for the end of the semester, balancing coursework and integrating self-care practices is essential to health and well-being.
  2. Reflect. The world of work is changing. As students think about next steps, it is important to take time to reflect on past experiences including curricular and co-curricular experiences and the skills/qualifications developed through those experiences. Is your student not sure where to get started? The Career Center has a Skill Identifier as a good first step, or they can meet with a staff member to talk more and outline skills in resumes, cover letters, and interviews.
  3. Schedule an appointment. The Career Center has appointments for all career topics.
  4. Activate their Handshake account. The Career Center utilizes Handshake as the centralized hub for internship and job opportunities. All students have access. Does your student need tips on how to best utilize Handshake? They can schedule an appointment to learn more.
  5. Connect with people. While in-person opportunities are not currently an option, students can connect virtually for informational interviews.
  6. Create opportunities. Students should consider internship or job opportunities that may not be posted. Students can consider what value they can add to a company and create their own opportunity.

The Career Center can be reached at 503.943.7201 or career@up.edu.

Pilots Give Back

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Together we all add UP

With the outbreak of COVID-19, we have postponed #PilotsGive, our annual giving day originally planned for April 1–2, to another date. Instead, we will focus on #PilotsGiveBack, a celebration of what it means to be a Pilot – especially on what service, leadership, and faith mean in the face of great challenges.

In the days ahead, we will collect stories and photos and share them with you. We will also bring you thoughtful prayers and ways to connect with your faith during this Lenten season.

We ask you to join us in sharing the good news! Tell us what you and your fellow Pilots are doing to help. Share a story that will warm our community’s hearts. 

Photos courtesy of the Beacon student newspaper.

We are also encouraging our community members to be beacons of hope. We’ve received a number of heart-felt offers from community members inquiring how to best support our Pilots in this time of transition, and we will be sharing some ideas on how you can help soon. Stay tuned.

More immediately, for those specifically looking to assist students needing extra financial support during this transition, our Presidential Hope Fund is a meaningful way to help. For those interested in supporting students in this way, please contact Matthew Maas, Associate Director of Parent Giving, at maas@up.edu or 503.943.8008.