This year’s Fall Break is October 15–19. Students might use the time to relax at home or on campus after a busy midterm period, immerse themselves in diverse communities through one of the Moreau Center’s Immersion experiences, attend Campus Ministry’s Called to Joy Retreat, or venture off to another city for some fun. No matter what your student’s plan is, here is some helpful information to know.

The basics:

There are no classes from Monday, October 15 through Friday, October 19. Some students use this time to catch up on studies or projects due later in the semester. Hopefully they also take time to rest!

If they’re staying on campus:

Unlike Winter Break, students can stay in the Residence Halls over Fall Break. Here are some of the adjusted hours for certain campus resources.

• Beauchamp Recreation Center
  • All regular services will be available during these hours:
    • Friday, October 12 from 6:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
    • Saturday, October 13 from 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
    • Sunday, October 14 from 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
    • Monday, October 15 to Friday, October 19 from 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
    • Saturday, October 20 from 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
    • Sunday, October 21 from 10:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m.
  • Fitness Classes are canceled over break.
• Bon Appetit Dining
  • Our on-campus dining services will have modified or limited hours during Fall Break. Click here to see the adjusted hours.
• Career Center (Orrico Hall Lower Level)
  • Hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
  • Did you know that University of Portland students have access to over 9,000 employers through the platform Handshake? Your student already has a Handshake account – they just need to activate it! Let them know that they can use Handshake to schedule an appointment with the Career Center during Fall Break to get a head start looking for jobs and internship opportunities.
• Clark Library
  • All regular services will be available during the following listed hours:
    • Friday, October 12 from 7:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
    • Saturday, October 13: Closed
    • Sunday, October 14: Closed
    • Monday, October 15 to Friday October 19 from 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
    • Saturday, October 20 from 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
    • Sunday, October 21 from 10:00 a.m.–2:00 a.m.
• Health Center
  • Open Monday, October 15 to Friday, October 19 from 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

If your student is staying on campus, there is plenty to explore and do nearby!

• They can sign up for a trip planned by UP’s Outdoor Pursuits! Trips include transportation and all necessary equipment. Overnight trips include meals.
  • Smith Rock Fall Break Climbing Trip from Saturday, October 13 to Wednesday, October 17. Cost is $165.
  • Dog Mountain Hike on Saturday, October 20. Cost is $30.
• Students can get off The Bluff and explore Portland! No matter what your student likes, there is something fun to do for everyone!

If your student is coming home:

There is always some adjusting when students come home for breaks. Keeping the following things in mind may be helpful!

• If they’ve just wrapped up a busy first half of the semester, they’re probably exhausted- so don’t be surprised if they sleep a lot!
• Give them some space when they get home, but don’t be afraid to re-establish “house rules.” They’ve gotten used to their independence and living with a roommate, so they may need a reminder from you of what living under your roof means.
• Carve out some quality time to spend with them, but include them in any activity planning, since they might be making plans of their own with friends from home.
• Don’t be afraid to use this time as a chance to check in about how the semester is going. You’ll be able to get a better sense of how they are by speaking face to face as opposed to texting and phone calls. If they seem to be facing any challenges, this is a great time to remind them of the resources available to them on campus and encourage them to ask for help.
• Breaks are the perfect time to make career or internship connections back home! Encourage your student to sign up for UP Switchboard to start making connections with alumni, parents, and other UP community members who might have experience in their field of interest. Here is a great success story as an example of the type of connections that can happen on UP Switchboard.