UPbeat

News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.

02-03-2020

President’s Biennial Address, Feb. 25

University president Rev. Mark L. Poorman, C.S.C., will share the latest campus developments and showcase how UP continues to thrive in uncertain times for higher education at the President’s Biennial Address on Tuesday, February 25, at the Sentinel Hotel’s Governor Ballroom. Doors open at 11 a.m. and the program runs from noon to 1 p.m. Individual tickets are $25 and table sponsorships for eight are available for $200.

Please Register here prior to February 18. For questions, contact Celeste Robertson at robertso@up.edu or x7397.

Research in The Application of Ethics Program: Apply Now

Applications are now being accepted by the Dundon-Berchtold Institute for the 2020-2021 Research in the Application of Ethics Program. A catalog of past projects and the details for submitting proposals can be found at the website for the Dundon-Berchtold Institute by clicking here.

The deadline to submit proposals is Friday, February 28.

Research Projects in the Application of Ethics: Individual faculty work with an undergraduate student of her/his choice on a research project related to ethical issues in their respective academic subject areas or in the professions supported by those academic areas. Faculty Fellows participate in two brief colloquia on classical methods in ethics facilitated by UP philosophy faculty during the fall semester of their awarded project.

The Faculty Fellow receives a stipend of $2,500, and the Student Scholar receives a financial aid scholarship of $2,500.

Ethics Curriculum Fellowship: A four-person team (two faculty members and two students) works to research/develop/replicate and implement applied ethics scenarios into course or major curriculum related to and complementing the PHL 220: Ethics course. Faculty Fellows participate in two brief colloquia on classical methods in ethics facilitated by UP philosophy faculty during the fall semester of their awarded fellowship.

The Ethics Curriculum Fellowship is a $10,000 grant. Funds are paid as $2,500 stipends to each of the two Faculty Fellows and $2,500 financial aid scholarships to each of the two Student Scholars.

For more information contact Dan McGinty, Dundon-Berchtold Institute, at x7596 or mcgintyd@up.edu.

REFLECT: Your Teaching Matters. Make It Matter More!

Online registration for “The Making of a T1 University” is now open, according to Tara Prestholdt, biology. All faculty are welcome to join colleagues and administrators from regional universities to share your experiences. The $20 registration fee includes all concurrent sessions, hosted JOY lunch, plenary speaker, cocktail hour, and banquet dinner (fee waived for presenters).

This invitation comes from the University’s REFLECT (Redesigning Education For Learning through Evidence and Collaborative Teaching) project. REFLECT is dedicated to significantly increasing the use of highly effective, evidence-based STEM teaching methods at the University of Portland using peer observation.

Ideas for posters, presentations, discussions, and workshops include:

  • Evidence-based instructional practices
  • Formative assessment
  • Technology in the classroom
  • Equity and diversity
  • Creativity and cognitive demand

Registration closes on Saturday, February 29. Questions? Email Stephanie Salomone (salomone@up.edu) or Tara Prestholdt (holdt@up.edu).

Why Theology Needs Marie Kondo, Feb. 11

All are invited to the next installment in the popular “Why Theology Needs…” series from the Beckman Humor Project on Tuesday, February 11, at 7:15 p.m., in the Brian Doyle Auditorium (DB 004). Senior theology major  Andrew Plasker will explore Marie Kondo’s methodology for “tidying up” and how her attitudes toward cleaning can enrich spiritual practices and help us look at our faiths in new ways.

For ADA accommodations or more information contact the Garaventa Center at x7702 or garaventa@up.edu, or visit up.edu/beckmanhumor.

SON 85th Anniversary Guest Speaker Joan Gurvis, Feb. 18

In celebration of the University of Portland School of Nursing’s 85th Anniversary, guest speaker Joan Gurvis will be visiting campus on Tuesday, February 18, to discuss the topic of leadership. All faculty, staff, students, and the public are invited to join the School of Nursing for Gurvis’ presentation as she works with senior nursing students on “Learning Agility: Maximizing your student experience and beyond” in Buckley Center Auditorium from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. No RSVP is required.

Gurvis’ work in her private practice as a leadership and organizational development consultant focuses on working with clients to deliver leadership solutions at the team and organizational level, with an emphasis on senior team development, shaping culture, and organizational transformation. In her role as a senior faculty member at the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL), she is building capability within CCL to advance the center’s organizational leadership practice, and facilitates programs focused on the C-Suite. At CCL, she is one of the lead faculty for “Leadership at the Peak,” CCL’s offering for C level executives.

There will be a community reception that evening to honor Gurvis and her work. You will hear reflections of her visit and have the opportunity to engage in conversation over light hors d’oeuvres from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Terrace Room, Bauccio Commons. Please RSVP for the reception here.

For more information use this link or contact Steven Arends, nursing, at arends@up.edu.

 

 

Free Portland Taiko Performance, Feb. 15

All faculty and staff and families are welcome to enjoy a performance by the critically acclaimed Portland Taiko drumming troupe on Saturday, February 15, at 7 p.m., in Buckley Center Auditorium. Portland Taiko blends the tradition of Japanese taiko drumming with a sense of Asian American identity, creativity, and empowerment. Since its founding in 1994, the group has headlined at arts festivals and concert halls, and has performed at hundreds of community events and school assemblies. Don’t miss this memorable show!

For questions or ADA accommodation requests, please contact Jeromy Koffler or Bryan Dennis, student activities, at x7470 or stuact@up.edu.

Hancock, Wootton to Share Outstanding Teaching, Scholarship Thoughts, Feb. 12

Christin Hancock, history, and Aaron Wootton, mathematics, the 2019 Faculty Award for Outstanding Teaching and Outstanding Scholarship recipients, will share their thoughts in a joint session on Wednesday, February 12, from 3 to 5 p.m., in the Clark Library classroom (room 211). Hancock’s talk is titled “Teaching about the past with an eye on the (feminist) future,” and Wootton’s talk is titled “So, you’re a mathematician. What on Earth do you do?”

All staff and faculty are invited to attend and light refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact the Teaching and Scholarship Committee at tas@up.edu.

First-Year and Sophomore Family Weekend, Feb. 14-16

The University will soon welcome approximately 800 participants in the inaugural Family Weekend for first-year and sophomore students. Parents and family members will arrive on Friday afternoon, February 14, complete their registration at the UP bookstore, and are welcome to attend a full slate of academic showcases and social events throughout the weekend.

This weekend provides a special opportunity for families to spend time together learning, exploring, and experiencing the true sense of our community here on The Bluff. The complete schedule of events can be found at this link. For questions or concerns, please contact Kathryn Seccombe at the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations at x7328 or Jeromy Koffler, student activities, at x7470.

 

University Singers & Bel Canto Concert: Women Rise!

The University Singers and Bel Canto will present a concert, “Women Rise!,” on Sunday, February 16, at 1:30 p.m., in Buckley Center Auditorium. The concert is free and open to all.

As part of the University’s year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of Women’s Suffrage, this concert will feature choral works by women composers, songs sung by and written in commemoration of the Women’s Suffrage movement, and songs that explore social justice issues.

For more information contact performing and fine arts at x7228 or pfa@up.edu.

Woot Woot, Aaron Wootton!

Mathematics professor Aaron Wootton has been awarded the Distinguished Teaching Award for the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) Pacific Northwest Section. Winners of the section award are automatically nominated for the national MAA Deborah & Franklin Tepper Haimo Award, given to nominees who are widely recognized as extraordinarily successful in their teaching, who have had an influence in their teaching beyond their own institution, and who foster curiosity and generate excitement about mathematics in their students. The Pacific Northwest Section includes all institutions of higher education in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, and the Northwest, Nunavut, and Yukon territories.

Wootton has been teaching math classes spanning the entire undergraduate curriculum for 21 years. The success of his teaching comes down to his willingness to listen carefully to his students and colleagues and adapt his teaching methods accordingly. He teaches classes offering students multiple formats to help in their learning, creating a safe and comfortable learning environment, and by regularly communicating with them to learn about their individual needs and concerns. For example, he requires that every student picks up each of their tests from his office in person. Though these meetings take up a tremendous amount of time (200+ meetings per semester), every minute is time well spent as it allows him to build an honest and trusting relationship with his students, and it provides him with the opportunity to identify and help students who are struggling.

Outside of the classroom, to pique student interest in mathematics, Wootton created a course in cryptography and drafted an accompanying 200-page textbook. Nationally, Aaron is recognized as the founder and series editor of the book series Foundations for Undergraduate Research in Mathematics (FURM, published by Springer Verlag). To date, FURM has released one volume with two further volumes in press. He is a member of the Mathematics Calculus Consortium, a group of educators ranging from high school teachers to faculty from world-renowned research universities. Since joining the Consortium, he has been involved in the completion of four new edition textbooks, all of which are published by Wiley, and are strong sellers throughout the world.