UPbeat

News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.

09-16-2013

U.S. News Ranks UP No. 8 in the West

FranzFor the 19th consecutive year, the University has received a top-ten ranking by U.S. News & World Report, which released its “2014 America’s Best Colleges” publication last week. The University is ranked eighth out of 119 institutions listed in the “Regional Universities – West” classification. U.S. News’ methodology includes peer assessment, student retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources earmarked for educational purposes, and an institution’s annual bachelor’s degree alumni giving rate.

Additionally, the University of Portland ranked ninth among 119 western regional universities in “Great Schools at Great Prices,” a listing of schools that offer the best value as determined by a formula that relates a school’s academic quality to the net cost of attendance for a student receiving the average level of financial aid.

The Shiley School of Engineering ranked 33rd nationwide among schools whose highest degree is a bachelor’s or master’s.

For more information contact marketing and communications at 7202.

$100,000 RISE Campaign Gift

1adolly150The development office has announced a $100,000 RISE Campaign gift from Debra A. and John D. Burns to establish the Dolores Casciato Lomax Endowed Scholarship, which will honor Debra’s mother, who passed away in 2012. The scholarship is for full-time students who are enrolled in the School of Education and demonstrate financial need. Dolores “Dolly” Casciato (pictured) was born in 1934 to one of Portland’s pioneer Italian families, and attended the University of Portland before marrying Gary Lomax upon his return from the Korean War.

The gift is part of the University’s RISE Campaign, which was announced in December 2010 and seeks to raise $175 million by 2014. The RISE Campaign, which has raised more than $162 million to date, is one of the largest development campaigns ever for a Pacific Northwest private college or university. For more information contact development at 7395.

New Moreau Center Director

1aDave Houglum Picture.150David Houglum has been hired as interim director of the Moreau Center for Service and Leadership, effective September 30, according to Rev. John Donato, C.S.C., student affairs. Houglum has served as a leadership scholar and educator at Loyola Marymount as associate director of student leadership and development in the Ignatian Leadership Institute. Please welcome him to the campus community when he arrives to assume his new duties. For more information contact Donato at 8532 or donato@up.edu.

Clarence Thomas, Red Mass

1Clarence Thomas.jpgThe University of Portland and the Garaventa Center will host U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and the annual Red Mass on Thursday, September 19. Thomas will appear at 4 p.m. in the Chiles Center for “A Conversation with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas,” and will answer questions from political science professors Gary Malecha and William Curtis.

The University’s Red Mass will follow at 5:30 p.m. in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher. Presiding at the Mass will be Portland archbishop Alexander Sample. Both events are free and open to the public. There will be general seating, and tickets are not required. Attendees are asked to arrive early to allow time to clear security, and large bags or backpacks will not be allowed. Following the public events, a private dinner for the law community will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Bauccio Commons. Tickets to the dinner and lecture are $100 per person or $1,000 for a table of ten. RSVPs for the dinner are requested by September 10, and can be made by calling Jamie Powell, Garaventa Center, at 7702 or powell@up.edu.

Beacon Makes National Finals

1aBeaconReader150The Beacon, the University’s weekly student-produced newspaper, is a finalist for the Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker Award, a national award considered for the past 86 years to be the most prestigious award in college media, according to Nancy Copic, student activities. The Beacon is among 22 colleges and universities whose newspaper are finalists, including Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston College, George Washington University, University of Oregon, Johns Hopkins, and more. The Associated Collegiate Press will announce this year’s Pacemaker winners at their convention in New Orleans on October 26. For more information contact Copic at 7470 or copic@up.edu.

Get Ready For Game Jam

1aGameJam150The Shiley School of Engineering, Portland Indie Game Squad, and Pixel Arts Game Education are hosting a 48-hour Game Jam programming marathon from Septem­ber 27 through 29, in Shiley Hall room 319 and the 3rd Floor Atrium. Participants will gather Friday evening, hear the jam’s secret theme, then race against the clock to make a game using their technical skills, teamwork, and everything learned along the way. More information can be found at http://tinyurl.com/p3fop4o. The public is invited to watch the final game-making steps from 5:30 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, September 29. For more information contact Tanya Crenshaw, engineering, at 7687 or crenshaw@up.edu.

Come See The Crab Lab

1aCrabLab150All students, staff, faculty, and friends are invited to visit the Crab Lab during its open house on Friday, September 27, from noon to 6 p.m., in Swindells 139 and 128, according to Tara Maginnis, biology. With over 1,000 gallons of saltwater and six species of crab, there is plenty to explore. Maginnis and her biology research students will be there explaining how the lab works and what kind of research goes on there (and no, you don’t get to eat the crabs). For more information contact Maginnis at maginnis@up.edu.

Lou Masson Reading September 25

1aLouis Masson150.JPGLouis Masson, Tyson Distinguished Emeritus Professor of English, will appear as part of the English department’s Readings and Lectures Series on Wednesday, September 25, at 7:45 p.m., in Mago Hunt recital hall. His reading is free and open to all. Masson is the author of three collections of essays, most recently Across the Quad (Corby Books, 2013). His other collections include Reflections: Essays on Place and Family and The Play of Light: Observations and Epiphanies in the Everyday World. Masson has been a regular contributor to Portland Magazine and has published poems and essays in a number of other publications. He retired from the University in 2011 after teaching here for 40 years.

For more information, contact the English department at 7264 or english@up.edu.

Teaching Mindfully Conference

1aBrainRules150Bestselling author John Medina will kick off a day of presentations about learning when he delivers the keynote address for “Teaching Mindfully: The Role the Brain Plays in Learning,” a conference cosponsored by the School of Educa­tion, Jesuit High School, and the Manresa Center for Professional Development, on Saturday, Sept. 28, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Jesuit High School (9000 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway, Portland). Medina, who wrote the New York Times bestseller Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School, will present “Brain Rules for the Classroom.” Additional breakout sessions include “Visual Thinking: A Neuroeducation Application,” by Ellyn Arwood, education, and more.

Register online at www.jesuitportland.org/manresa as soon as possible. Conference attendance is $100; UP alumni receive a 50 percent discount; parents of Jesuit High School students can register for the Medina keynote speech from 9-10:30 a.m. for $50. For more information contact the Manresa Center at 503-292-2663.

SAFE Advocates Needed

1aSAFE logo.150The health center is seeking faculty and staff who are interested in becoming SAFE (Stop Assault For Everyone) Advocates, according to Kristina Houck, health center. SAFE Advocates are committed, caring faculty and staff members trained to support students who are impacted by interpersonal violence, including stalking, dating violence, sexual assault, and rape. Advocates serve as important resources to students by participating in an on-call rotation as well as being listed on the SAFE Advocate website, allowing students to contact them directly.

Joining the advocate network requires full-time employment by the University of Portland, attendance at a one-time three hour training session, excellent listening skills, and a willingness to be available to students. A training session is scheduled for Thursday, September 26, from 1 to 4 p.m., in the career services conference room in Orrico Hall. If you are interested in becoming a SAFE Advocate or would like more information, please contact Houck at 8125 or houckk@up.edu.