News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.
Employees who participated in Flex-Plan for the 2012 calendar year have a grace period of January 1, 2013 to March 15, 2013 that will allow them to maximize their 2012 benefit. Employees have until March 31, 2013 to submit claims for expenses incurred on March 15, 2013 or before.
Claims can be submitted online at www.flex-plan.com or through a paper form available at www.up.edu/hr (http://tinyurl.com/b7xha33). Contact hr@up.edu with questions.
The Pilots are set to take on OSU on Tuesday, March 5 at Joe Etzel Field at 2 p.m., and tickets are still available. Friday marks a three-game home series as they take on Seattle University at 2 p.m. Game two and three will be played on Saturday and Sunday, both at 1 p.m. For tickets call 7525.
The women’s tennis team is home this weekend for two matches at the Louisiana-Pacific Tennis Center. The action starts on Friday as the Pilots take on Montana University at noon. Then on Saturday the Pilots take on Gonzaga starting at 11 a.m. Fans can enjoy tennis action for free so come out to the tennis center and cheer on the Pilots.
The University’s Speech and Debate Union competed against 15 regional colleges and universities under the direction of Bohn Lattin and Brian Simmons, communication studies, at Oregon State University’s ninth annual Earl Wells Speakeasy Memorial Tournament held in Corvallis on February 23-24. Katie Husk and Katie Wilson placed in the top 10 of the 85 Open Division debaters. Caleb Patterson placed in the top 6 of the 35 competitors in the Novice Division of the Extemporaneous Speaking event.
The library will switch to its Spring Break schedule starting at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 8. The Terrace Room will be closed during the first weekend of the break and weekday public hours will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Staff will still be working weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and can be contacted by phone or e-mail if you have questions or need something outside of those publicly open hours. A full schedule is available at http://tinyurl.com/3cxvc88.
Faculty and staff are invited to take a walking tour of the River Campus to see recently completed shoreline work and new plantings, according to Jim Kuffner, community relations. Tours will last about one hour and will start and finish at the overlook near the corner of N. Portsmouth and McCosh. Please select one of the following tours and e-mail your choice to kuffner@up.edu:
Appropriate footwear is recommended. For more info contact Kuffner at 7331 or kuffner@up.edu.
The 2013 Engineers Week at the University of Portland started with bridge building, flag football team battles between programs, and the Honduran Culture booth sponsored by UP’s Engineers Without Borders. Other activities included a water balloon launch in the quad, robotics demonstrations, tug-of-war, an Engineering Olympics, and more.
Heather Dillon’s thermodynamic class, ME 322, created thermodynamic-themed art which was on display. The Society of Women Engineers sponsored resume reviews and the “What Not to Wear at a Job Fair” fashion show.
Faculty, staff and students attended the mid-week 49th Oregon State Annual Engineers Week High School Banquet and Expo. Engineering program counselor Kitty Harmon presented a display and Power Point presentation at an Engineering Week event in Salem.
The week’s activities at UP concluded with the SWE Engineering and Science Career Fair in Shiley Hall, attended by thirty companies and employers. The fair was co-hosted by UP’s Career Services.
See Dillon’s slideshow at http://tinyurl.com/d79jp5d. Photos from the Career Fair are here: http://tinyurl.com/cpzxley.
Faculty and staff are reminded to mark their calendars for the 16th annual UP Day at Joe Etzel Field, scheduled for Friday, April 5 at 3 p.m. The Pilots will take the mound against the Gonzaga Bulldogs. All employees and family members are welcome to attend the game at no charge and also enjoy complimentary hot dogs (vegetarian alternative available as well), chips, and soda. There will also be prizes raffled off every half-inning, so come out to Joe Etzel Field, take in some innings of baseball, and cheer the Pilots on to victory. Department heads and office directors are encouraged to allow as many employees to attend the game as possible. A rain date is set for Friday, April 26 versus Loyola Marymount. For more information contact Jon Brooks, athletics, at 7431 or brooksj@up.edu.
Two investment professionals and a tax attorney from TIAA-CREF will host a brown bag lunch presentation on 2013 tax law changes and how they affect personal finances on Wednesday, March 6, at noon in Buckley Center room 163. Contact Andy Sherwood, human resources, at sherwood@up.edu for more information. Snacks will be provided.
The next Bringing Eyes of Faith to FIlm Series screening will feature “Hunger Games” on Tuesday, March 5, at 7:15 p.m., in Shiley Hall room 319. As hosts of the popular series, Rev. Charlie Gordon, C.S.C., theology, and Karen Eifler, education, screen recently-released popular movies, preceded by brief comments illuminating themes of grace, transcendence, and redemption found in these unexpected places. Thematic snacks are provided as part of the experience. The series is free and open to faculty, staff, students, and the public. For more information contact the Garaventa Center at 7702 or powell@up.edu.
As the campus ministry office prepares for its annual Spring Encounter with Christ Retreat from March 22-24, faculty and staff are asked to consider writing letters of support (palanca) for the students they know who wil participate in the retreat, according to Beth Barsotti, campus ministry. Each retreatant will receive an envelope of surprise palanca—unexpected expressions of appreciation and support that lift someone’s spirits; they usually take the form of a brief note or letter. This is an opportunity to encourage students and express appreciation for them outside the classroom. Please do not discuss this concept with any students, whether or not they are on this Encounter. A list of retreatants and instructions for writing and submitting palanca can be found at www.up.edu/campusministry/palanca.
Please submit to the campus ministry offices in the Pilot House or St. Mary’s, marked “Encounter Retreat—(student’s name)” by Wednesday, March 20. For more information contact Barsotti at barsotti@up.edu or 7463.