UPbeat

News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.

11-28-2022

Nominations for the 2023 Teaching Award and Scholarship Award (Due Jan. 23)

The Committee on Teaching and Scholarship (TAS) is enthusiastically accepting nominations for the 2023 Teaching Award and Scholarship Award. Self-nominate or nominate someone by sending a simple “I nominate X person” to tas@up.edu by January 23. Nominees will be contacted, and their supporting materials will be due March 20. Visit the Teaching and Scholarship Awards site for more info regarding the nomination process, award criteria, and supporting materials required for nomination. 

Please contact TAS chair Patrick Murphy at tas@up.edu with questions. 

Tired of Changing Your Network Password Every 4 Months?

Student typing on laptop

Information Services would like to remind you that we will be extending a 2-year password expiration policy once we reach 90% of Faculty and Staff users who have completed both of the following (for reference, our current completion rate is 13% of Faculty and Staff users): 

  • 2022 Cyber Security Training: This training is a yearly program through Moodle which is required for all Faculty and Staff. The program focuses on reducing cyber risk to the university through awareness of how to identify common risks. 
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Registration: MFA is an authentication method which requires the user to provide two or more verification factors to gain access to University resources such as email or Moodle, decreasing the risk of a compromised account. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the Help Desk at 503.942.7000 or help@up.edu. 

Portland Parks and Recreation Seeking Feedback to Inform the North Portland Aquatic Center (by Dec. 1) 

Portland Parks and Recreation is seeking feedback from affinity group subject matter experts to help inform the design development process for the North Portland Aquatic Center. 

If you were a user of Columbia Swimming Pool, please contact Beatriz Itzel at cruzmegc@up.edu by December 1. We are especially interested in the perspectives of people who have lived experience and expertise in the following communities: 

  • Disability community 
  • LGBTQIA+ community 
  • Black community 
  • People of Color community 
  • Low-income community 
  • Immigrant and Refugee community 
  • Youth community 
  • Senior community 
  • Competitive swimming community 
     

The first focus groups will be convened in early to mid-January. Their goal will be to provide the team with input on what criteria they think is most important to prioritize when selecting the site, as well as what programming elements they feel are most important to include in a new center. The commitment for each focus group member will be as follows: 

  • Attend one 2-hour focus group listening session 
  • Offer feedback about key project considerations based on their unique expertise and lived experience, and identify the priorities that are important to members of the affinity group they are representing 

Stock UP (Dec. 2)

Stock UP is returning for another pop-up event on Friday, December 2, from 1:30–3:30 p.m. at 5516 N. Willamette Blvd. Stock UP is open to all students, staff, and faculty and will have fresh produce, nonperishable goods, menstrual hygiene items, and more. Masks are optional, and bags will be provided for attendees who need them. Afterwards, Stock UP goods will be available in the Diversity Center for UP community members who want any free nonperishables and hygiene items. 

If anyone would like to make a direct donation to Stock UP, the deadline is Monday, November 28. To inquire about donations, email dip@up.edu. 

Diversity and Inclusion Programs (DIP) is also seeking feedback to further improve the offerings and set-up of Stock UP. For those interested in contributing, please fill out this brief feedback form. 

For questions or ADA accommodations, contact dip@up.edu 

River’s Lament (Dec. 4)

The River’s Lament is a walk to seven stations along the perimeter of the University of Portland campus where faith leaders will tell the story of the Willamette River from the river’s perspective. This walk was first sponsored by EcoFaith Recovery in 2011 and has now become a ritual that many groups have participated in.  

  • Who: Cherice Bock, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon and UP theology dept., will lead the walk with other faith leaders and EPA’s Josie Clark and Rich Francis will be in attendance. Members of the UP community are welcome! 
  • When: Sunday, December 4, 12:45–3:00 p.m. 
  • The walk should take approximately two hours.    
  • Where: Meet-up location is on a footpath at the University of Portland, near the Chiles Center. Directions are as follows: 
  • We will have signage up at the meeting spot until 1:00 p.m., when we will begin the walk.  
  • Length/Mobility: The walk is approximately one mile in length and requires walking on some non-paved surfaces and standing for the full two hours. If you have mobility concerns, please let us know when you RSVP and we will provide a modified path.   

Bonus! Light snacks and refreshments will be provided. 

  • RSVP: If you plan to attend, please RSVP via email to phcollaborative@triangleassociates.com or to 206-458-5710. (Students are encouraged to attend even if they don’t get a chance to RSVP) 

Poetry Showcase (Dec. 6)

Join student poets from the Writing Minor’s Poetry Writing Workshop as they share highlights from their original poems on Tuesday, December 6, 7:30–9:30 p.m. in the Brian Doyle Auditorium (Dundon-Berchtold Hall).  

Free and open to all. Info at up.edu/garaventa or 503-943-7702. An ADA compliant event.   

Thirst Friday: Jingle Bells (Dec. 9)

The Garaventa Center invites all faculty and staff to enjoy laughter, libations, live jazz, and round food on Friday, December 9, 4–6 p.m. Come for 10 minutes or ’til last call! 17 extra credit points for anyone who is attending their first Thirst Friday, brings a newbie, or brings their own cup.  

Garaventa Center, Franz Hall 3rd Floor. Hope to see you! Questions? Karen Eifler, eifler@up.edu. An ADA compliant event. 

Undergraduate Research Awards: Nominate Now (Due Dec. 15)

The Office of the Provost and the Office of Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement are requesting nominations for two awards to be given on Founders’ Day: the Outstanding Undergraduate Research Faculty Mentor Award and the Outstanding Graduating Senior in Undergraduate Research Award. Faculty members can be nominated by other faculty members, administrators, students, or by self-nomination. Students can be nominated by faculty members or by self-nomination. 

Both nominations are due by December 15; send your nomination to ur@up.edu. For more information about the criteria for the awards click on these links: 

PollEverywhere License Ending (Dec. 17)

University of Portland’s site license with PollEverywhere will be ending on December 17. After this date, all UP PollEverywhere accounts will automatically be downgraded to free personal accounts. Please note that no information will be lost during this transition, but new polls will be limited to 40 participants.  

We encourage PollEverywhere users to work with your departments to purchase individual licenses if you wish to continue using the additional features of a paid account. Many faculty members would likely benefit from the “Individual Instructor” option. This page lists paid account options: https://www.polleverywhere.com/plans/higher-ed 

Please contact atsi@up.edu if you have any questions. 

Kate Regan Faculty Development Fund Awarded to Two Environmental Studies Professors 

CISGO’s Executive Committee is pleased to announce the 2022 Kate Regan Faculty Development Fund will be awarded to two professors in the Environmental Studies Department. 

Neil Oculi was invited to participate in COP 27 in Sharm El Sheik, Egypt, as a representative of the Association of Small Island States. The award of $5,500 will cover his expenses for this important work. Oculi’s project is entitled Addressing Issues of Environmental Ethics and Policy Through Diplomatic Participation with the Alliance of Small Island States at the Climate Change Negotiations in Sharm El Sheik, Egypt. 

  • Oculi wrote, “I am currently teaching a new course in Climate Change Negotiations…My presence and participation at the COP will strengthen my teaching and mentoring capacities…” 

Kali Abel is awarded $4,500 to cover her expenses for research in the summer of 2023 in Colombia where she will examine the responses of local communities to the twin threats of climate change and violent conflict as they work together to protect their land. Abel’s project is entitled Nos Matan: Environmental Governance, Climate Change, and Conflict in Antioquia, Colombia. 

  • Abel wrote, “My courses are current-context driven and lean heavily on my research and the stories of the communities and individuals I am working with. This allows my courses to mirror my work in the field by being interdisciplinary, problem-solving oriented, and informed by current context and lived experience…” 

Both Oculi and Abel will bring their projects into their classrooms as well as present their work to the broader UP community. Both faculty members are also early in their careers and exemplify the enthusiastic junior faculty that Kate Regan was always championing.