As the semester draws to a close, faculty are asked to take a moment to reflect on freshmen and sophomores who might be strong candidates for University-endorsed awards, such as Fulbright grants. The Office of Fellowships and Grants’ Talent Identification Program (T.I.P.) uses faculty to help identify high achieving students early in their careers, marking them as potential candidates for various fellowships, grants, and scholarships. Once identified, the fellowships and grants office will meet and work with these students to identify goals for their upcoming years, identify potential scholarship opportunities, and assist in applying for appropriate awards. Submit recommendations at http://tinyurl.com/5r3tyh6. For more information visit www.up.edu/fellowships or contact the fellowships and grants office at 7857 or scholars@up.edu.
Academics
Recent Retirees Redux
The University archives and museum have prepared a new WordPress post featuring the 2014 retiring faculty members, according to museum coordinator Carolyn Connolly. Visit the WordPress site for a slide show of the eight retirees and see how they’ve changed over the years: https://wordpress.up.edu/museum/2014-retiring-university-faculty/.
2014 Faculty Development Day Schedule
The 2014 Faculty Development Day will take place on Tuesday, May 6. The day’s schedule can be downloaded at http://tinyurl.com/mmnczan.
Faculty will meet in Buckley Center Auditorium for a continental breakfast from 8:30 to 9 a.m., followed by a welcome from University provost Thomas Greene and a keynote address by Jim Baillie, philosophy (“From PHL 200 to Graduation: Infusing Ethics Throughout the Curriculum”). Following the keynote will be an announcement from the Rank and Tenure Committee and distribution of a Butine survey. Parallel sessions, a luncheon, and more parallel sessions will follow.
For more information contact the provost’s office at 7105 or staten@up.edu.
Faculty Awards Dinner
The 2014 Faculty Awards Dinner will take place on Tuesday, May 6, beginning with a reception at 6 p.m., in the Bauccio Commons Board Room. Dinner with faculty awards will begin at 7 p.m. The dinner is by invitation only and RSVPs are requested to university events at 7523 as soon as possible. For more information contact the provost’s office at 7105 or staten@up.edu.
Dan McGinty To Head Dundon-Berchtold Institute
Dan McGinty, who has served for the past ten years as special assistant to the provost for academic advising to athletes, has been named as director of the Dundon-Berchtold Institute for Moral Formation and Applied Ethics, according to Thomas Greene, provost. This administrative position is funded through a generous gift from Amy Dundon and Jim Berchtold. McGinty will provide leadership for strategic planning, program coordination, and new outreach efforts for the Institute. He has been involved with the initiative from its inception and has demonstrated a passion for this important work in extending ethics as a centerpiece of the University. For more information contact the provost’s office at 7105 or staten@up.edu.
$100K Challenge Venture Competition Results
Six Shiley School of Engineering students placed first in the for-profit business category of the University of Portland’s $100K Challenge Venture Competition, an expanded business plan competition hosted by the University’s Franz Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation. The winning engineering group, Dynamic Assistive Technologies, consisted of Jordan Schiemer, Audre Ramey, Caroline Pisani, Ann Truong, Mikah Bacon, and Matt Brown. The team created an assistive drinking cup for those who suffer from hand tremors.
Second place in the for-profit category was senior entrepreneurship and innovation major Connor Whan and his business, named FlavOils. Third place went to engineering students Sean O’Rourke, Peter Chamberlin, and Nick Mackinnon with their business, AutoPilot Medical Technologies. Junior entrepreneurship and innovation major Ari Morris took first place in the Social Venture track with his business, Youth Skate Movement.
The $100K Challenge Venture Competition provides students with opportunities to receive feedback from experts in the entrepreneurial community, win monetary prizes, and acquire legal services that will help advance their idea to the next stage. Finalists in the for-profit track will be eligible for an investment of up to $100,000 (half cash and half support services). The winner of the Social Venture track will be eligible for a $2,500 grant and $2,500 in professional services. Investment decisions will be made by the Launch Pad committee. Next year’s competition will be held Saturday, April 25, 2015.
For more information, contact Peter Rachor, Franz Center, at 7769 or rachor@up.edu.
Munro Wins 2014 Vernier Software Contest
Deborah Munro, engineering, has been named as a winner of the 2014 Vernier Software and Technology Engineering Contest. She joins co-winners Gary Garber of Boston University Academy and Julianne King of the Regina Caeli Academy in Spring, Texas, each of whom used Vernier sensors to introduce engineering concepts or practices in the classroom. Selected by a panel of Vernier educational experts, each winner received $1,000 in cash, $3,000 in Vernier technology, and $1,500 toward expenses to attend the 2014 National Science Teachers’ Association Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) conference or the 2014 American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) conference.
Applications were judged on innovation, engineering objectives, and the ease by which others can replicate the project. Middle school and high school applicants were additionally asked to specifically explain how the project addresses the engineering practices called for in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Munro’s entry, “Developing a Biomechanics Course,” features a six-station lab designed to give students hands-on experience with how different lab equipment can be used for biomedical research. In addition, this course provides exposure to testing with human subjects, as well as an introduction to anatomy, physiology, and the terminology used in the medical industry.
To learn more about the 2014 Engineering Contest winners, and to watch videos of the projects in action, visit http://tinyurl.com/k8e2xac. To learn more about the 2015 Engineering Contest, visit http://tinyurl.com/mpu66fq. For more information on the UP engineering program go to http://engineering.up.edu or call 7292.
Wanted: 20 Faculty, 20 Staff For Leadership Fellows Positions
The Franz Center is seeking 20 faculty and 20 staff members who want to learn more about becoming a leadership fellow as part of the Leadership Certificate Program, according to Pete Rooks, Franz Center. Prospective leadership fellows must be either full-time staff members or faculty members appointed at an adjunct level or higher.
A Dexheimer Leadership Coach will coach students through their developmental leadership journey (LDR 290) as part of the Leadership Certificate Program. Qualifications for the coach are completion of the Strengths Educator and Successful Strengths Coaching courses offered by Gallup (SE 100 and SSC 200) and appropriate leadership experience.
A Franz Leadership Teacher will teach the courses (LDR 225 and LDR 425) that make up the Leadership Certificate Program. Qualifications for the professor of record are a minimum of a masters degree, and at least one of the following:
- Scholarly study in leadership
- Significant professional experience in leadership
- Published scholarly research in leadership
After the training, leadership coaches and teachers will be recruited from the student affairs division, all five schools and colleges on campus (Engineering, Business, Education, Nursing, and Arts and Sciences), the library, admissions, athletics, and the Shepard Freshmen Resource Center. Leadership coaches and teachers will be selected based on alignment of the goals of the Franz Center with individual interests and capacity. The Franz Center will appoint leadership coaches and teachers for a one-year, 12-month term. Leadership coaches and teachers will receive a stipend of $2,500.
To learn more about becoming a leadership fellow please send notice of interest to your dean or director by May 14. To nominate a colleague to become a leadership coach or teacher, contact Pete Rooks by May 14 at rooks@up.edu, or call 8914. To see more about the program go to http://www.up.edu/cfe/default.aspx?cid=13043&pid=7874.
New UP Theater Facebook Page
The drama department recently launched a new Facebook page, intended to serve as a hub for behind-the-scenes action, upcoming performance information, and tidbits from the theater world as a whole. The new page is PFA’s latest tool to get the word out about the exciting art that students at University of Portland are creating. Just like the page Theater UP at https://www.facebook.com/TheaterUP to get in on the fun. For more information contact performing and fine arts at 7228 or pfa@up.edu.
Let Us Commence
The University is preparing for a record number of graduates in its 2014 spring commencement exercises on Sunday, May 4, set for 1:30 p.m. at the Earle A. and Virginia H. Chiles Center on campus, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd. University president Rev. E. William Beauchamp, C.S.C., will confer an anticipated 818 bachelor’s degrees on Sunday. Also participating will be 111 students who expect to be awarded bachelor’s degrees at the end of the summer, for an all-time record 929 undergraduate students. Anne Thompson, NBC News’ Chief Environmental Affairs correspondent, will deliver the commencement address.
The University will hold a separate commencement ceremony for an anticipated 212 graduate students on Saturday, May 3, at 12:30 p.m. in the Chiles Center. Beauchamp will be the commencement speaker.
Tickets are required for all undergraduate commencement events. Please visit this site (http://tinyurl.com/axmryjw) for ticket information. For those unable to attend, the University will be providing a free live web stream of both Saturday’s and Sunday’s Commencement at www.up.edu/commencement/video.