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08-26-2019

Marilynne Robinson to offer Zahm Lecture, Sept. 11

September 6, 2019

Renowned author and Pulitzer Prize winner Marilynne Robinson will present the 2019 Zahm Lecture, “Wisdom and Knowledge,” on Wednesday, September 11, at 7:15 p.m., in the Chiles Center. Robinson will touch upon the roles of wonder, grace, and imagination to explore intersections and disconnects between knowledge and wisdom in this lecture that is free and open to all. Doors will open at 6:15 p.m. with first-come, first-served seating. Additional parking available in the Franz river campus lot, with frequent shuttles up to the Chiles Center.

Robinson was the recipient of a 2012 National Humanities Medal, awarded by former President Barack Obama, for “her grace and intelligence in writing.” In 2016 she was awarded the Library of Congress Lifetime Achievement Award in American Fiction, as well as the Dayton Peace Prize’s Richard C. Holbrooke Distinguished Achievement Award. In 2013, she was awarded South Korea’s Pak Kyong-ni Prize for her contribution to international literature. She is the author of Gilead, winner of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Critics Circle Award; Home, winner of the Orange Prize and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize; and Lila, winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award. Her first novel, Housekeeping, won the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award. Robinson’s nonfiction books include The Givenness of Things, When I Was a Child I Read Books, and Mother Country, which was nominated for a National Book Award. Robinson, professor emeritus at the University of Iowa, taught at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop for 25 years.

The Zahm Lecture, which annually launches the academic year, addresses important issues confronting American Catholic higher education, and honors Fr. John Zahm, C.S.C., an eminent Holy Cross priest and scientist of the late 19th and early 20th century, who was one of University of Portland’s founders.

For ADA accommodations or further information, please contact the Garaventa Center at 503-943-7702 or garaventa@up.edu.

Filed Under: 08-19-2019, 08-26-2019, 09-03-2019, 09-09-2019, Academics, Garaventa Center Tagged With: Garaventa Center, Marilynne Robinson, Zahm Lecture

UP Writing Center and Writing Program At Your Service

August 23, 2019

The Writing Center and Writing Program are gearing up to serve the UP community in fall 2019, according to Molly Hiro, English. The Writing Center (in the Learning Commons, BC 163) is a completely free resource, staffed with trained Writing Assistants who can help students at all levels, from all disciplines, at all stages of the writing process. We open for the semester Sunday, Sept. 1 (open daily except Saturdays). Please visit the Writing Center website to learn more and make appointments.

One of the best means of getting students to bring their work-in-progress to the Writing Center is for faculty themselves to encourage them to do so (some professors require at least one visit; some give extra credit to students for using our services). When talking to your students about the UP Writing Center, you might keep in mind the following:

  • Our goal is not just to inspire better papers, but create better writers. This means we don’t “fix” papers; we work with students to improve their overall writing skills for this and future tasks.
  • Writing assistance isn’t just for students with major grammar or mechanical problems. Instead, we focus on higher-order concepts such as argument, organization, development, and other areas. Even accomplished writers can make progress on their work in a half-hour session.
  • While our Writing Assistants represent most majors as well as the professional schools, they are trained in a semester-long course to work with students from any discipline.
  • You may have found that your students weren’t able to find appointment times in past semesters, especially in early fall as we await the newly trained Writing Assistants to come on staff. We’ve fixed that problem this semester, preparing the new Writing Assistants to begin working earlier in the term—so reassure students that if they want writing help, they should be able to get it!
  • When a student meets with a Writing Assistant to discuss a paper for your course, you’ll get a copy of the conference report—a brief summary of what the student and Writing Assistant worked on (This is an easy way of keeping track of who visited the WC for assigning extra credit, e.g.).
  • An effective way to familiarize your students with the Writing Center and to demonstrate your support for our services is to invite a Writing Assistant to visit your classroom to give a 5-10 minute presentation during the first few weeks of the semester. Email our hotline writing@up.eduwith the day and time of the class you’d like a Writing Assistant to visit and we’ll get back to you shortly.
  • Lastly, all Moodle pages now have a link to the Writing Center—see the top left corner, under “Learning Resources.”

To foster student writing integrity at UP (i.e., find cases of plagiarism when they occur), consider using the Turnitin function through your class Moodle page. Instructions for using this paper-authentication software can be found here.

All of your students should possess a common writing handbook – The Pocket Cengage Handbook—as it’s required in their two writing-embedded courses.  The Cengage Handbook helps keep our campus on the same page when it comes to grammar, punctuation, citation styles, and basic expectations for essay writing across the university.  If you need a desk copy of this reference, please contact the Writing Center Director by the second week of the semester.

As the director of the Writing Program and the Writing Center, Hiro is happy to be a point of contact on all writing-related matters this semester. Need insight on crafting better writing prompts? Resources for integrating writing instruction into your class-time? Help with language to use when evaluating student writing? Please feel free to contact her at hiro@up.edu or x8031.

Filed Under: 08-26-2019, 09-03-2019, Academics, Campus Services, English Tagged With: Molly Hiro, Writing Center

New Face in the Office of International Education, Diversity, and Inclusion: Rebecca Dixon

August 23, 2019

Rebecca Dixon has been hired by the Office of International Education, Diversity, and Inclusion as an administrative assistant according to Eddie Contreras, assistant provost for International Education, Diversity and Inclusion. Dixon has a bachelor of arts in English literature from the University of Tennessee where she also studied Chinese and served as the fiction editor for the Phoenix Literary and Arts Magazine. She also served in the Peace Corps in Malawi in various educational capacities. Most recently, Dixon earned a master of arts in higher education and student affairs at the University of Portland where she interned with the Office of International Student Services. Beyond her educational experiences, Dixon’s myriad talents and service have been demonstrated in her role as café manager at World Foods, an au pair in France, an ESL group facilitator at the Children’s Home Society of Washington in Seattle, and as trained advocate for victims of domestic violence.

Filed Under: 08-26-2019, Diversity & Inclusion Tagged With: Eddie Contreras, Rebecca Dixon

Dundon-Berchtold Hall Use & Opening

August 16, 2019

Dundon-Berchtold Hall is nearing completion, and the building will be open for use on Thursday, August 22, for Orientation, and then the start of classes on Monday, August 26. With the opening of the building there are serval new spaces in EMS that can be requested for your events and classes starting Wednesday, August 21.

  • 17 classrooms varying in size
  • 1 meeting room that accommodates 12 people

There are rooms that require additional approval to be requested for meetings or events:

  • Brian Doyle Lecture Hall – accommodates 150 people
  • Conference Room 102 – accommodates 14 people
  • Conference Room 202 – accommodates 12 people

These rooms require a member of the President’s Leadership Cabinet or a dean to request the room and to be present for the entire meeting or event. Requests for these rooms are to go through the president’s office. Contact Kathy Simek at x7101, or simek@up.edu.

If you have additional questions, please email events@up.edu.

Filed Under: 08-12-2019, 08-19-2019, 08-26-2019, 09-03-2019, Academics Tagged With: Dundon-Berchtold Hall, President's Office

New Faculty Orientation: Welcome Our New UP Profs

August 16, 2019

The University of Portland welcomes 27 new faculty members to The Bluff as they begin new faculty orientation on Monday, August 19. The two day long orientation will introduce new faculty to the University’s resources, traditions, and culture with sessions on teaching and learning, faith and formation, and service and leadership. Visit the 2019 New Faculty Profiles page and get to know our new faculty members, and please join the provost’s office in welcoming them to UP.

Filed Under: 08-19-2019, 08-26-2019, 09-03-2019, Academics Tagged With: New Faculty Orientation

Opening Convocation: Tuesday, Aug. 27

August 16, 2019

The University’s Opening Convocation takes place Tuesday, August 27, at 4 p.m., in Buckley Center Auditorium. All faculty and staff are invited to attend, starting the year off right by being informed and celebrating our campus community. Following the remarks of President Fr. Mark L. Poorman, all are welcome to attend a reception in the Bauccio Commons Boardroom. 

For more information, please contact the Office of the Provost at x7105.

Filed Under: 08-19-2019, 08-26-2019, Academics Tagged With: Fr. Mark L. Poorman, Opening Convocation

Scott Leykam Named to NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Committee

August 16, 2019

Scott Leykam, vice president for athletics, has been appointed to the NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Committee, and will serve a four-year term beginning on September 1, 2019. The committee is responsible for the organization and implementation of the NCAA Championships tournament, including selection of the participants and creation of the bracket. The committee also establishes playing rules and procedures for competition.

University of Portland soccer is one of the premier collegiate brands having combined to reach ten NCAA College Cup final four appearances between the men’s and women’s programs, with the women claiming national championships in 2002 and 2005. The programs have produced dozens of All-Americans and professional players, while 12 former Pilots have participated in World Cup or Olympic competitions.

Leykam is entering his eighth year at UP and oversees a department of 16 varsity sports and more than 270 student-athletes. He has overseen significant growth and achievements on The Bluff, while serving on several influential committees at the national and conference level. Leykam is currently the Second Vice President for the Division I-AAA Athletic Directors Association and previously served a six-year term as Chair of the West Coast Conference Basketball Cabinet and completed a four-year term on the NCAA Championships & Sports Management Cabinet.

He recently led the department to its largest fiscal year fundraising number in history by bringing in $3.25 million dollars and has facilitated a number of capital projects that have been completed, or are currently in-process.

For more information contact athletics at x7117 or athletics@up.edu.

Filed Under: 08-19-2019, 08-26-2019, Athletics Tagged With: Scott Leykam

Do You Know an Outstanding UP Alumnus?

August 16, 2019

Every year, the University of Portland recognizes alumni who embody the mission of UP in their life and work. As part of the Pilot community, you are invited to help us identify these alumni through the annual Alumni Awards.

Whether it’s a person who has shown great promise early in their career, someone who embodies the University’s mission of service and leadership, or an individual who has built a sustained record of accomplishment and community contribution throughout their lifetime, we’d like to celebrate them and share their inspiring stories.

Please submit stories and nominations by Tuesday, October 15 using this link. Honorees will be chosen this fall, and will be celebrated at the President’s Alumni Awards Gala during Alumni Reunion Weekend in June 2020. Learn about our outstanding 2019 winners, or view photos from this year’s Gala.

Filed Under: 08-19-2019, 08-26-2019, 09-03-2019, Alumni, Campus Services Tagged With: Alumni Awards

CORE Revitalization Forums: Come One and All!

August 16, 2019

All faculty and staff are invited to attend any one of the CORE Revitalization Forums listed below. Come hear your colleagues from the CORE Revitalization Committee share proposals for an updated Core Curriculum. The Committee welcomes all feedback.

  • Friday, September 6, 3:40 to 4:35 p.m., Buckley Center Room 103
  • Monday, September 9, 8 to 9 a.m., Buckley Center Room 108
  • Tuesday, September 10, 1 to 2 p.m., Buckley Center Room 103
  • Thursday, September 12, 4 to 5 p.m., Buckley Center Room 206

Filed Under: 08-19-2019, 08-26-2019, 09-03-2019, Academics, Provost's Office Tagged With: CORE Revitalization Forums

Scheduling Library and Digital Lab Sessions

August 16, 2019

Are you teaching this fall? The Clark Library offers instruction in two areas: information literacy and multimedia skills. Now is a great time to schedule us to meet with your classes before our calendar fills up. Librarians teach information literacy sessions and collaborate with you to make sure key concepts are covered. They 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 reference@up.edu.

The Digital Lab coordinator provides assistance with creating assignments and instructs classes that have multimedia projects such as creating videos, digital posters, and digital photography. Email José Velazco at velazco@up.edu to arrange multimedia instruction through the Digital Lab.

 

Filed Under: 08-12-2019, 08-19-2019, 08-26-2019, Academics, Campus Services, Library Tagged With: Clark Library, Digital Lab, Jose Velazco

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Dave Houglum, Franz Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation, completed a six-year commitment on the Board of Directors for the Maybelle Center for Community, with two of those years serving as the Executive Board Secretary. Founded by Fr. Richard Berg, C.S.C. (former Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at University of Portland from 1978-1991), the Maybelle Center disrupts social isolation so we can all experience a healthy, connected life and contribute to a thriving Portland.

Chloe Littzen, nursing, co-presented “Pronoun recognition for inclusive excellence across the UACON.” [Abstract]. LGBTQ+ National Symposium.

Eli Goldwyn, mathematics, published “Calculating prescription rates and addiction probabilities for the four most commonly prescribed opioids and evaluating their impact on addiction using compartment modelling.” Mathematical Medicine and Biology: A Journal of the IMA, dqab001.

Aziz Inan, Shiley School of Engineering, published the article titled, “Numerical curiosities for Bob Moore’s 92nd birthday,” in Clackamas Review, Pamplin Media Group, Portland, Oregon, February 16, 2021.

Simon Aihiokhai, theology, was a manuscript reviewer for Springer’s Journal: SN Social Sciences.

Barbara Braband, Amber Vermeesch, Corey Pressman, nursing, published “Piloting the perfect Storm: A vision for the vital practitioner.” Journal of Nursing Education (accepted/in press).

Barbara Braband, nursing, published “Working with community populations to increase wellness.” In A. Vermeesch (Ed.), Integrative health nursing interventions for vulnerable populations, (pp. 73-87). Springer.

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UPbeat is a newsletter for University of Portland faculty and staff published through the marketing & communications office; submit information to Marc Covert, upbeat editor, at 8132 or upbeat@up.edu. Submission deadline is noon the Thursday prior to publication. Submissions may be edited for clarity, consistency, brevity, or style.

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