UPbeat

News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.

05-06-2019

TIAA Representative Visit, May 28-30

A representative from TIAA, which administers the University’s retirement accounts, will be on campus for financial counseling sessions on May 28, 29, and 30, according to Laura Barnard, human resources. Appointments with Rebecca Rohleder (pictured) are available during work hours on those days in the Career Center in Orrico Hall. Schedule your appointment today at www.tiaa-cref.org/schedulenow or by calling TIAA at 877.842.2028 (press 5 to schedule an appointment). This will be the last TIAA campus visit until school resumes in September.

Please email benefits@up.edu with questions.

Summer Soccer Camps: 20% Discount for Faculty and Staff

Discounts are available to faculty and staff for summer soccer camps located on campus:

  • Women’s Soccer Camps: Look here for more information. Use promo code GOPILOTS for a 20 percent discount
  • Men’s Soccer Camps: Look here for more information. Use promo code EMPLOYEE for a 20 percent discount

Please note: While members of the UP coaching staff operate summer camps and programs, the summer camps are not University-sponsored programs. The summer camps are neither affiliated with nor endorsed by the University of Portland. Authorized use of University of Portland logos and trademarks does not imply an endorsement of the camp or program.

Summer Traffic Restrictions, Road Closures: May 13-July 20

With the conclusion of the 2018-2019 academic year, work will commence to complete the plaza, road, and landscaping work that was started last summer for Dundon-Berchtold Hall. As with last year, the road between the Pilot House and Waldschmidt Hall will be closed. A preliminary schedule has the road closed starting on May 13 and re-opening on or before July 20.

In order to accomplish this, there are going to be changes to the traffic flow entering and exiting campus beginning next week and continuing through construction completion.

Please read the information below carefully and refer to the map located at the Facilities Planning & Construction page link here.

Main entrance: Beginning Monday, May 13, traffic coming onto the campus via the main drive off of Willamette Boulevard will be required to stop and turn right by the Pilot House and proceed to the main lot. Cars will not be able to proceed any further along the main drive past the Pilot House to reach the Waldschmidt parking lot or Kenna Road.

Kenna Road (near Kenna and Shipstad Halls, off Willamette boulevard): Southbound traffic on Willamette Blvd. will be allowed to turn right to enter onto Kenna Road at the southeast edge of campus. Traffic departing campus from Kenna Road can only turn right onto Willamette Blvd. and proceed south. Northbound traffic on Willamette Blvd. cannot turn left onto Kenna Road, but must either proceed into the main entrance or must turn around further north and proceed back to the right turn entry into Kenna Road. Kenna Road will be striped to provide two lanes for traffic moving in both directions from Willamette Blvd. to the Waldschmidt parking lot.

Portsmouth Avenue: All buses visiting campus will be directed to enter via Portsmouth Avenue, which will not be affected by the construction. This includes buses for camps or athletic events.

Fortunately, there will be no additional loss of parking spaces during the summer, and there will be no restrictions to pedestrian access for the plaza, bookstore, and Pilot House.

Peter Rachor’s Farewell Gathering, May 14

Please join the Pamplin School of Business and the Franz Center as we say goodbye to Peter Rachor, Director of Entrepreneurship. The gathering will be held on Tuesday, May 14, from 4 to 6 p.m., in Franz Hall room 120.  All University employees are invited to extend their good wishes to Peter.

If you have any questions, please contact Christine Naylor at naylor@up.edu.

Study on Multnomah Falls: Participants Needed

Ruth Dittrich, economics, is working with the U.S. Forest Service in performing a study on the visitor experience of Multnomah Falls this summer, and she would like to test their survey method before it is used in the field. They are searching for individuals who have been to Multnomah Falls and would be willing to participate in a 60-minute focus group on campus.

Participants in the focus groups will receive a $25 Amazon gift card in exchange for their time. Those who are interested are asked to please complete the 1-minute survey at this link.

For more information contact Dittrich at dittrich@up.edu.

 

Clark Library: Scheduling Summer Instruction

Are you teaching a course this summer? As you plan, remember that the librarians are available to provide library instruction. We will collaborate with you to make sure key concepts are covered and can also create course guides to support your students in their academic research and projects. To schedule a class meeting, please email preferred dates and times to Stephanie Michel at michel@up.edu. Interested in adding a video, poster, or podcast assignment to your course? Email José Velazco at velazco@up.edu to arrange multimedia instruction through the Digital Lab.

Prayers, Please: Peng “Mona” Wang

A note to the UP community from interim physical plant director Joe Cates:

“I am very sorry to inform everyone that Peng (Mona) Wang recently passed away while she was on leave. Mona was respected and appreciated by all who knew her. She held herself to the highest standard, and had a way of winning over even the most challenging of people.

“I reflect back to just over a year ago when Mona was walking across the stage at the Christmas luncheon to accept the Deis/Dodson award. Her excitement and enthusiasm lit up the room as her friends in Physical Plant all cheered her on. I am grateful for this memory, and for the opportunity to know Mona, and share in her light.

“Mona was a wonderful member of our community, a beloved wife and mother, and we are fortunate to have had her in our lives. Please keep Mona and her loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.”

German Studies Announces DAAD Summer Language Stipends

The German studies program of the Department of International Languages and Cultures is pleased to announce three recipients of the German Academic Exchange Service’s (DAAD) summer language and culture course stipends. Caitlyn Hott ’21 and Elizabeth Reich ’21 are heading to Düsseldorf, Germany in June for four weeks of intensive German language and culture instruction. Maddy Smith ‘20 will participate in a four-week course in Augsburg, Germany.

During their participation in these intensive German courses, Caitlyn, Elizabeth, and Maddy will learn alongside students from all over the world and will take part in cultural learning activities. The University’s German studies program has been increasingly successful in promoting the DAAD’s summer stipends to students and supporting them in the application process. Over the last five years, nearly 80 percent of UP students who applied for the grants were awarded the summer stipends that pay for the course and much of the travel costs. Since 2015, twelve of the University’s German studies students have received these competitive grants.

For questions about the DAAD summer course grants, contact Jeffrey White, German studies, at white@up.edu.

Faculty, Staff Immersion Accompaniers Needed for 2019-2020 Academic Year

As you head into the summer months and think about the upcoming year, the Moreau Center for Service and Justice would like to invite faculty and staff to consider serving as immersion accompaniers for the 2019-20 academic year. Applications are due by Sunday, September 15 using the online application found here, and Moreau Center staff would like to give ample time to consider this opportunity.

The immersion accompanier role is open to UP faculty or staff members in full-time, exempt positions who have a commitment to service and community engagement, a desire to encourage student formation, and a willingness to live simply while immersed in an extended experience with students. Immersion experiences offered next year are listed below:

Fall Break

  • North Portland Civil Rights Immersion
  • Rural Immersion  (Yakima, WA)

End of Winter Break

  • Urban Immersion (Portland)

Spring Break

  • Border Immersion (US-Mexico Border)
  • Affordable Housing Immersion (Pacific Northwest)
  • Environmental Justice Immersion (Portland and Columbia River Gorge)

Summer

  • Tanzania Immersion (2-3 weeks in May)
  • Peru Immersion (2-3 weeks in May)

Any questions can be directed to Tyler Wagner, Moreau Center, at wagnert@up.edu.

Summer Provost’s Initiative for Undergrad Research Awards

The Summer Provost’s Initiative for Undergraduate Research has been awarded to the following faculty members and their student collaborators:

  • Martin Cenek, computer science
  • Laurie Dizney, biology
  • Andrew Eshleman, philosophy
  • Nicole Ralston, education
  • Giannina Reyes-Giardiello, Spanish
  • Sarina Saturn, psychological sciences

For more information about future Provost Initiative applications, please contact John Orr at orr@up.edu.