Want to learn more about the ReadUP book selection, The Leavers? The Clark Library has created a companion guide with author interviews, reviews, awards, and other resources. Visit the ReadUP site for the latest on upcoming events and opportunities to discuss the book. Faculty, staff, and commuter students can now pick up their pre-reserved copy of The Leavers from the Clark Library service desk.
11-11-2019
UP Wind Symphony Concert, Nov. 16: “The Legend of Maracaibo”
TLC Teaching Tip of the Week: Designing Courses That Enhance Learning
Just in time to start thinking about your spring course planning, Jeffrey White, Learning Commons, offers 7 minutes of advice answering the question“What Course Design Principles Enhance Student Learning?” in this IGNITE-funded video.
Spring 2020 Moodle Courses: Timing, What’s New, and Support
Spring 2020 courses will be available in Moodle starting Friday, November 15 to allow instructors to get an early start in preparing courses for the upcoming semester, according to Ben Kahn. If you don’t see your courses right away, don’t press the panic button. It takes a few days to get all of the courses into the system. Yours will be there soon if you don’t see them right away.
The first thing you’ll notice when you access your spring 2020 courses is the fresh new experience of the interface. Course creation is now easier than ever with a new Moodle plugin that enables you to start building your course with a prebuilt template. You can start fresh with a blank course or import content from an existing course. Each option is just a few clicks away.
Want some personalized help with your course set-up? Contact academic technology services and innovation at atsi@up.edu to schedule an appointment or ask questions. You can also visit our new Innovation Lab in Franz Hall 033 the first week of December for hands-on help from an ATSI Moodle expert. Stop by any time from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., December 2 through 5, for drop-in help.
Provost’s Initiative for Undergrad Research: New Deadline
Faculty members are invited to apply for one of ten spring 2020 Provost’s Initiative grants for support to collaborate with an undergraduate on a co-designed research project during the spring semester 2020. Students are expected to meet and work with the faculty member weekly. Students will enroll in a 493 course and will earn a minimum of 1-credit for their work on the project and produce an artifact (research paper, lit review, or presentation etc.) appropriate to the discipline. (Note 1 credit hour typically requires 45 hours of work on the project, which includes faculty meeting time). Faculty members who are new to undergraduate research at University of Portland will receive $1,500 for mentoring the student in research, while experienced faculty members will be compensated $1,000.
Applications are available here and are due November 15, 2019. Email ur@up.edu with questions or call John Orr, assistant provost, at x7857.
New Faculty Profiles: Welcome Aboard!
This week the Office of the Provost is pleased to introduce:
- Cynthia Backer, Instructor, School of Nursing
- Jose Reyna, Visiting Instructor, Biology
- Lucy Shanno, Visiting Instructor, Performing and Fine Arts
Visit the 2019 New Faculty Profiles page and get to know all our new faculty members.
Climbing Wall Friends & Family Event, Nov. 23
All UP employees are welcome to bring family and friends to the Beauchamp Center climbing wall for a few hours of climbing and fun on Saturday, November 23, 1-3 p.m. Other activities include making rugs and doormats with retired climbing ropes and painting/designing coffee mugs.
The ratio of adults to minors is 1:2 and an adult/guardian must be present at all times while minors are climbing. There is no age or weight requirement; however, a climber must be big enough to fit into either adult or child specific harnesses. A waiver must be signed before climbing can occur.
For more information contact Matt Libby, recreational services, at x8755 or libby@up.edu.
Jazz Faculty Recital, Nov. 15
Members of the University of Portland jazz faculty will present a recital on Friday, November 15, at 5 p.m., in Mago Hunt Center Recital Hall. The program will feature original compositions by the faculty as well as jazz standards, with Don Norton on saxophone, Ryan Meagher on guitar, Bill Athen on bass, Tyson Stubelek on drums, and Dan Harvey on piano. This event is free and open to the public.
For ADA accommodations or other questions, please contact the PFA office at x7228 or pfa@up.edu.
2019 Flexible Spending Accounts Information
Human resources would like to remind employees who signed up for a 2019 medical or childcare flexible spending account offered by UP that services must be incurred in 2019 to be eligible for reimbursement. You will have until March 30, 2020 to submit reimbursement requests for elgible expenses incurred in 2019 to Allegiance. In April 2020, any unused medical FSA balances between $20 and $500 will rollover into a 2020 flexible spending account. Dependent care balances are not eligible for rollover.
For more information, such as a listing of eligible expenses or plan forms, please visit the plan’s page at the UP website. If you have any questions about benefits, please contact human resources at benefits@up.edu or call x8484.
Basketball Back on The Bluff, By Golly
Basketball is back on The Bluff, with action-packed matchups this week:
- Women’s Basketball vs. Warner Pacific, Wednesday Nov. 13, 11 a.m., Chiles Center
- Men’s Basketball vs. Maine, Saturday, November 16, 7 p.m., Chiles Center
- Women’s Basketball vs. Fresno State, Sunday, November 17, 1 p.m., Chiles Center. Followed by Parent-Daughter Clinic–if you are interested in attending please RSVP to Fishera@up.edu
For more information contact athletics at x7117 or go to https://portlandpilots.com.