The Open Enrollment period for UP employee benefits is happening now and will end on Tuesday, November 20, at 4:30 p.m. All benefited employees are required to confirm or change their healthcare benefits during this time. During open enrollment, benefited employees can elect new Flex Spending amounts, add or change supplemental life insurance, as well as add or drop dependents from healthcare. Those on Share the Savings will need to submit new forms for 2019 enrollment. Any changes made during open enrollment will go into effect January 1, 2019. All forms can be found on the Open Enrollment website: Open Enrollment. There are new providers in 2019 for Life Insurance, Long Term Disability, and Flexible Spending Accounts.
For more information contact human resources at benefits@up.edu.
The next meeting of the Faith and Intellectual Life Discussion Group will be held on Friday, November 9, at 3:30 p.m., in the Murphy Room, according to Norah Martin. The group will be discussing “Seeing is Believing: What Flannery O’Connor Meant by ‘Vision” by Cassandra Nelson, “Practice Makes Reception: The Role of Contemplative Ritual in Approaching Art” by Joanna Ziegler, and the poem “Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians” by Matthew Minicucci. All readings can be found at 
Catholics believe in the Communion of Saints—the spiritual connection with those loved ones who have gone before us and the saints that lived as examples for us. Through the month of November we remember all of those who have gone before us in faith, especially our loved ones who have died. 
Every year at the Christmas luncheon for staff members, the University presents four staff awards:
All students, faculty, staff, and religious of all faiths, spiritual traditions, and languages are warmly invited to participate in this year’s Prayers for Peace event on Friday, November 9, at 2 p.m., at the International Peace Garden by Buckley Auditorium. As part of the event, international students and others from the UP community will offer public calls for peace in their native language. If you are interested in participating, or for more information or ADA accommodations, please contact Megan Hayakawa in International Student Services at 
Each month, the marketing office schedules a photographer to take a small number of head shots, available on a first-come, first-served basis for our online directory. The October session is Tuesday, October 30, from 11 a.m. to noon. To schedule an appointment, please e-mail Suzanne Frey at 
The 2018 UP Wellness Fair hosted by human resources is coming up on Friday, November 2, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Beauchamp Center. All benefit providers will be onsite to answer questions, along with neighborhood community partners who offer wellness services. In addition, athletics and Beauchamp Center staff will be hosting a table. Each faculty or staff member who visits the Wellness Fair will receive a raffle ticket to win fabulous door prizes provided by our vendors. We look forward to seeing you there!
This will be a busy week for the Pilots, according to the athletics office. Men’s basketball opens up their season on Saturday, October 27 with an exhibition game against Antelope Valley at 7 p.m. in the Chiles Center. Volleyball also continues their stellar season with games on Thursday at 7 p.m. vs. powerhouse BYU and vs. San Diego at noon on Saturday.
Diversity and inclusion programs and the Filipino American Student Association will present Valerie Francisco-Menchavez, who will lecture on her recent book, The Labor of Care, on Thursday, October 25, at 6 p.m., in the Pilot House bookstore. Francisco-Hernandez teaches at San Francisco State University in the sociology department, and her book covers Filipina migrant workers and the role of technology in keeping families in touch in the digital age.
The University of Portland invites nominations for the 2019 commencement speakers, Christus Magister Medal recipient, and honorary degree recipients. All nominations should be emailed to