UPbeat

News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.

07-06-2021

Passing of Portland Magazine Associate Editor Marcus Covert; Memorial Mass Set for July 10

On Sunday, July 4, the University of Portland lost an alum, longtime staff member and superlative storyteller.  Marcus Covert (’93, ’97), 60, Associate Editor for Portland Magazine, passed away following a courageous battle against cancer.  He is survived by his wife, Julia (’99), and their children, Oliver and Sally. 

“Marc,” as he was called by his Division of Marketing & Communications and campus colleagues, worked at UP for more than 25 years.  The Covert name, however, has long been a part of UP’s academic legacy.  His father, the late James T. Covert (’59), was a beloved History professor here and authored the definitive history of UP, “A Point of Pride.”  The late Sally Covert (’86), Marc’s mother, was also a Pilot, as are several other relatives.

It was Marc’s sense of humor, journalistic curiosity and love of history that made him the talented writer of countless stories for Portland Magazine, several of which won awards in the world of higher education publications.  For many years, Marc was paired with the late editor Brian Doyle in making the alumni magazine a treasured read by graduates and non-graduates alike.  For the past three years, he and current editor Jessica Murphy Moo have continued Portland Magazine’s creative and expansive literary tradition.  Our weekly UPbeat e-newsletter was also curated and edited by Marc with great pride and attention to accuracy. 

The Memorial Mass will be held in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 10 with a reception to follow in the Bauccio Commons. The mass will also be streamed at https://www.youtube.com/user/upcampusministry/live. Campus Ministry asks for people to wear masks in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher.

‘North Portland In Motion’ Survey

The city of Portland is kicking off a new transportation planning process for north Portland, called ‘North Portland In Motion.’ This 18-24 month effort will help identify needs and infrastructure investment priorities to support biking, walking and transit use in the North Portland Peninsula. UP students, faculty and staff can provide initial comments in this survey link, which is open until July 31. Your feedback on how you bike, walk and use transit around North Portland, top issues and barriers for using alternative forms of transportation, and ideas for helping overcome those barriers around The Bluff and surrounding campus neighborhoods are important and vital to this process.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NMLYRPN

Register for the Leadership Fellows Formation Program by August 2. Available for all UP Faculty and Staff

Traditional conceptualizations of leadership often focus on leaders being defined by their position, responsibilities, and power, while in many cases commanding, controlling, and coercing their followers. At UP, we see leadership differently. We emphasize the inclusive assertion that everyone can be a leader and express leadership through intentionally cultivated knowledge, skills, mindsets and the leveraging of unique leadership strengths. In the midst of the volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity of life, we celebrate that leadership is both what we do and the essence of who we are and who we are becoming. We lift up the idea that leadership is manifested through relationship and is enacted through serving and accompanying others on their journey and working for social justice. Leadership is by and for ALL of us, collaborating together toward a more holistic vision of the common good. With this in mind, we hope you will consider participating in the Leadership Fellows Formation Program in Fall Semester 2021.

Why should I get involved?

  • Leadership is for ALL – The UP community needs leadership from many different voices and perspectives from across campus. Learn how UP thinks about leadership and add your ideas to enrich the discussion. All are welcome and encouraged to participate.
  • Learn more deeply about YOU and who you are becoming! You will gain a deeper awareness of your leadership strengths and practice leveraging those strengths through our strengths-based approach to leadership development. 
  • Develop critical leadership knowledge, skills, and mindsets to apply to your personal and professional contexts 
  • Get ENGAGED – Cultivate community with faculty and staff members across campus. Intentionally form relationships with colleagues who deepen your learning, support you and goals, and provide a catalyst for your continued growth and transformation.  
  • Interested in being a future leadership coach and/or instructor – This program is a pre-requisite to serve as a leadership coach and/or instructor in the Leader Certificate Program; however, completion is not a guarantee of future placement (there is additional preparation that is required for those who desire to serve in those roles)
    •  Leadership coaches and instructors can earn a stipend of up to $2,500 for their teaching or coaching.

What does the program entail?

  • Live Sessions: 6, 1-hour live in person sessions (2 per month) during Fall Semester 2021: Live sessions bring the whole cohort together to learn, share, and explore leadership
    • Pre-work for live sessions: Participants will be invited to engage with materials such as readings, videos, and assessments to deepen their learning and make progress toward their goals
  • Pod discussions – Pods are small groups of 3-4 participants. The purpose of the pods is to cultivate community, deepen the learning, and forward the action and goals of participants.

o   Pods meet approximately 2 times per month, each being approximately 30 minutes (at a day/time that is convenient for the pod members)

o   Outline of each pod meeting structure/questions will be provided by the program

  • Leadership Laboratory – Participants will choose one leader character habit and additional professional and personal goals that they wish to focus on during the arc of the program. Pod members will serve as collaborators in curiosity and accountability, helping support and challenge their pod members. 
  • Individual Leadership Exploration Library – optional resources that participants can engage with to deepen their leadership learning and growth 
  • Reflection/Integration – Participants will complete a short reflection that gives them the opportunity to integrate, connect, and apply their learning to personal and professional contexts  

Total approximate time commitment for program = 16 hours (approximately 1 hour per week during Fall Semester 2021)

What are the dates of the live sessions?

  • Session #1: Wednesday, September 1, 12 p.m. -1 p.m. (Franz 120) 
  • Session #2: Wednesday, September 15, 12 p.m. -1 p.m. (Franz 120) 
  • Session #3: Wednesday, September 29, 12 p.m. -1 p.m. (Franz 120) 
  • Session #4: Wednesday, October 20, 12 p.m. -1 p.m. (Franz 120) 
  • Session #5: Wednesday, November 3, 12 p.m. -1 p.m. (Franz 120) 
  • Session #6: Wednesday, November 17, 12 p.m. -1 p.m. (Franz 120) 

Go to the website to see what faculty and staff have said about the program.

How do I register?

To register, please complete this registration form by August 2. There is not a fee to participate in the program. For questions, please contact Dave Houglum, Director of Leadership & Leadership Professor of Practice at houglum@up.edu. 

Are you Latinx? Join Our Employee Group

If you identify as Latinx (Latino/Latina/Latine/Chicano/a/Hispanic, etc.) and you work for the University in any capacity (adjunct, faculty, staff, Bon App, Physical Plant, administration, etc.) and would like to join our informal Latinx Employee Group, please email your name (first and last), pronouns, job title, department, to Yuri Hernández Osorio at hernandy@up.edu.

Campus Safety: Parking Permit Information

All faculty, staff and students must register online for a 2021/2022 parking permit if they plan to park a vehicle on campus during the academic year. Please navigate here and register your vehicle for the upcoming school year as soon as you are able.  To streamline the process, registrations will only be accepted via this form, we no longer accept registrations over the counter at our office. Employee permits will be distributed via interoffice courier. Student permits will be distributed to the location they choose on the form. Freshmen are not allowed to park on campus without being granted an exception in cases of extreme hardship.  Please contact Campus Safety if there are any questions, campussafety@up.edu 503.943.7161.

Summer parking – Our office is now asking students who are parking on campus during this summer 2021 to register their vehicles online. This is in case we need to contact you, if lights are on or if the vehicle is damaged while parked. There is no cost for the permit and the link can be found here by clicking on Vehicle Registration Application for Students – Summer Session. All vehicles parked on campus must display a current parking permit at all times. Once an application is submitted, a parking permit will be prepared and available for pick up at our office, Haggerty Hall Suite 100, within 72 hours.

Home Loan Benefit Program Resumes

Due to COVID budget restrictions, the University suspended its’ Home Loan Benefit Program.  We are happy to report the benefit will resume with some changes on July 1, 2021.  The two most significant changes to the Home Loan Benefit Program are an increase in the home purchase price to $500,000 and increases in the loan amounts based upon the zone in which the purchased home is located.  For complete information on the benefit please see the  Employee Home Loan Benefit Program plan document on the HR benefits page in Pilots UP.   For employees that have purchased a home in any of the three designated zones during the suspension period, please reach out to benefits@up.edu to see if your home purchase qualifies for the loan program.  Homes eligible for home loans must be located in sections I, II, or III on the Employee Home Loan Map.

New to The Bluff: Jennie Cambier, Associate Vice President for Land Use and Planning

Jennie Cambier has been hired as the Associate Vice President for Land Use and Planning. She previously served as a Project Manager at Hacker Architects in Portland.

The AVP for Land Use and Planning provides leadership in two primary areas. The first area involves developing, overseeing, and coordinating University land use and development along with integrated planning and resource conservation, with the purpose of achieving the University’s land use and development objectives in conformance with design standards, objectives, and local, state, and federal regulations. The second area is leading and overseeing the relationship between the University and local neighborhood associations and external regulatory or concerned agencies and their representatives.

Welcome to The Bluff, Jennie!

New CAS Associate Dean for Students: Hannah Highlander

The CAS Dean’s office is delighted to announce that Dr. Hannah Highlander has accepted a 5-year appointment as Associate Dean for Students.  Dr. Highlander has been a faculty member at UP in the Department of Mathematics since 2009, and was promoted to Professor last year.  She has published work on Mathematical Modelling, Undergraduate Research, as well as in Mathematical Biology Educational Research. Dr. Highlander has been a strong supporter, advisor, and mentor of students from the earliest days of her time on the Bluff.  For several years she was a CAS advisor for struggling students and has made it her mission to help students find their own voice and identify tools to become better learners. She has been recognized multiple times for her teaching and advising work, including the Outstanding Teaching Award in 2016, the Outstanding Mentor in Undergraduate Research in 2020, and the College’s Outstanding Advisement of Student Internships award this year.  Dr. Highlander has also served as a leadership coach and has participated in the SURE program, publishing multiple papers with undergraduates.  She has an unwavering commitment to supporting a diverse student population and will be a strong advocate in helping the college be more equitable and inclusive in how we advise and support CAS students.  Please help us welcome her to this new role in the Dean’s office and the College.