Health Center

Exam Accommodations For Fall Finals

November 8, 2013

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSWD) would like to remind faculty that there is just over a week between Thanksgiving break and the start of final exam week. Due to this short window of time, the OSWD encourages faculty to request final exam proctoring needs from students before they leave for Thanksgiving break. The OSWD offers faculty the following tips to assist them in preparing for final exams:

Make multiple announcements of the date and time of your final exam and include a request of students needing exam accommodations for the final exam to contact you directly by a specific date (i.e the Friday before Thanksgiving).
Send individual e-mail reminders to students with exam accommodations requesting that the student contact you by a specific date to confirm the need for exam accommodations for the final exam.
Ask the student to confirm which exam accommodations are needed for the final exam. Note: Students who utilize accommodations such as use of a scribe, use of a reader, or use of text-to-speech or speech-to-text software may be referred to the OSWD for proctoring.
Find a location for the exam. To reserve individual exam seats in FR 123 or locate other possible exam space, faculty should contact their school or departmental administrative assistants.

For assistance with exam proctoring questions, contact Christa Hill at hillc@up.edu. For general accommodation questions, contact Melanie Gangle at gangle@up.edu. Thank you for your partnership in creating equal access for every member of our community.

Don’t Take The Flu Lightly

October 14, 2013

Why should people get vaccinated against the flu? Influenza is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Every flu season is different, and influenza infection can affect people differently. Even healthy people can get very sick from the flu and spread it to others.

The “seasonal flu season” in the United States can begin as early as October and last as late as May. During this time, flu viruses are circulating in the population. An annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to reduce the chances that you will get seasonal flu and spread it to others. When more people get vaccinated against the flu, less flu can spread through that community. The health center has a limited supply of flu vaccine available for a $15 fee. If you missed last week’s flu vaccination clinic on campus, please contact the health center at 7134 and schedule a time to get vaccinated.

Time For Flu Shots

October 7, 2013

The health center has a limited amount of Influenza vaccine which it will make available to the UP community during flu shot clinics offered at the Pilot House on Monday, October 7, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.; and Tuesday, October 8, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

The flu vaccine is recommended for all members of the UP community. People with underlying medical conditions that put them more at risk are encouraged to come early or to make an appointment at the health center prior to the clinics (aged 50 years or above; chronic pulmonary or cardiovascular, renal, hepatic, neurological, hematologic, or metabolic disorders; immunosuppression; women who are or will be pregnant during the influenza season; American Indians and Alaska natives; persons who are morbidly obese).

Cost of the vaccine is $15. For more information or accommodation for disabilities contact the health center at 7134.

SAFE Advocates Needed

September 13, 2013

The health center is seeking faculty and staff who are interested in becoming SAFE (Stop Assault For Everyone) Advocates, according to Kristina Houck, health center. SAFE Advocates are committed, caring faculty and staff members trained to support students who are impacted by interpersonal violence, including stalking, dating violence, sexual assault, and rape. Advocates serve as important resources to students by participating in an on-call rotation as well as being listed on the SAFE Advocate website, allowing students to contact them directly.

Joining the advocate network requires full-time employment by the University of Portland, attendance at a one-time three hour training session, excellent listening skills, and a willingness to be available to students. A training session is scheduled for Thursday, September 26, from 1 to 4 p.m., in the career services conference room in Orrico Hall. If you are interested in becoming a SAFE Advocate or would like more information, please contact Houck at 8125 or houckk@up.edu.

Plan Now For Exam Proctoring

September 6, 2013

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSWD), in partnership with the College of Arts and Sciences and the professional schools, assists faculty and staff in meeting the accommodation needs of students with disabilities. As the number of students registered with the OSWD continues to grow, faculty are asked to plan ahead now to meet UP’s shared responsibilities to ensure equal access for all. Faculty are reminded that it is their responsibility to proctor exam accommodations for extended time and/or alternative (distraction-reduced) settings. Now is a great time to extend a general invitation to each of your classes for students to discuss their accommodation needs privately with you. Anticipating exam proctoring needs now, including final exams, allows the most effective use of University space and resources. Feel free to set up a faculty proctoring cooperative within your department or school. Be creative and work collaboratively to share proctoring resources. An unmonitored exam room, Franz 123, is set up to meet faculty space needs for proctoring exams.

Thank you for your partnership in creating equal access for every member of our community. For exam proctoring questions or to reserve individual exam seats in FR 123, faculty should contact their school or departmental administrative assistants. For general accommodation questions, contact Melanie Gangle at gangle@up.edu.

Green Dots Prevent Violence

August 26, 2013

The University’s violence prevention strategy, Green Dot, reminds all of us that we have the power to prevent violence through taking action and intervening in situations that have the potential to cause harm, according to Kristina Houck, health center. During last week’s Orientation, incoming freshmen were invited to join in defining violence prevention as a community responsibility, ensuring that fewer people are affected by violence at UP.

The Green Dot Team thanks all faculty, staff and administrators who have joined us in conveying to the entire community that we are all committed to doing our part to prevent violence. If you haven’t yet, please consider displaying a poster in your office, including a statement of support in your e-mail signature line, adding a message about preventing violence to your syllabus or student worker materials, or simply adding a green dot to PowerPoint slides used in presentations.

To assist you in demonstrating your commitment to preventing violence, the team has created a Green Dot media kit with suggestions and materials for your use. It is available for download at www.up.edu/greendot on the ‘What Can I Do?’ page alongside the faculty and staff tool kit. If you need of a poster for your office, please e-mail Houck at houckk@up.edu.

Green Dot Launches January 30

January 28, 2013

The launch event for the University’s Green Dot violence prevention initiative will take place on Wednesday, January 30, at 8 p.m., in the Pilot House Cove, according to Kristina Houck, health center. Green Dot is a comprehensive bystander intervention program that encourages individuals to intervene in incidents of power-based personal violence, such as stalking, dating violence, sexual assault, and rape. All faculty and staff are welcome and are asked to help spread the word and encourage students to attend.

Martin Monto, sociology, and Kristina Houck, health center, received a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) to apply methods to reduce violence at UP. Research done by Monto prior to the implementation of Green Dot will allow the University to more accurately report its effectiveness. Additional Green Dot training sessions will also be available later this semester. For more information, visit www.up.edu/greendot or contact Houck at houckk@up.edu or 7134.

Two New Faces To Welcome

January 9, 2013

The University health center has added two new employees to complete their latest efforts to better meet student demand for services, according to Paul Myers, health center director. UP alumna Susan Chisum is the new assistant director for nursing services, and UP alumna Elizabeth Doherty will serve as the new medical assistant. Physical health care services will be provided by nurse practitioners Tim Crump, Sue Oshiro-Zeier, and Susan Chisum, with the assistance of Liz Doherty. Liz will also join new hire Kimberly Felipe with front desk coverage. Questions can be directed to myers@up.edu.