05-13-2013

2013 Building Community: Serving To Learn

August 18, 2013

On Saturday, August 31, University of Portland first-year students will be uniquely immersed in the three hallmarks of our University: Teaching and Learning, Faith and Formation, and Service and Leadership. Faculty and staff members are asked to consider being a part of this endeavor by participating in the ninth annual Building Community: Serving to Learn program. Junior student Megan Lester is organizing this half day of community service and discussion for all first-year students, in coordination with the Shepard Freshman Resource Center and the Moreau Center for Service and Leadership.

As University community members, faculty and staff often go beyond the boundaries of classrooms and offices in their investment in the lives of students. This generosity is one of the unique advantages that students experience at the University of Portland. By giving time on August 31 to work alongside students and serve as a facilitator for a group of fifteen students after their experience faculty and staff will be fulfilling a vital part of the University’s mission. More information and a signup form can be found at http://tinyurl.com/cnhalnl. The day’s schedule is as follows:

8:15 am: Meet at the Tennis Center/Breakfast
8:45-9 a.m.: Send-off to designated sites • 12-1:15 p.m.: Return to campus, pick up lunch, discussion in small groups
1:15-1:45 p.m.: Closing ceremony.

For more information contact Brenda Greiner, freshman center, at 7895 or greiner@up.edu.

Learning Assistance For Summer

July 8, 2013

The learning assistance program which operates during the academic year will also be available on a limited basis for students taking summer classes. All students interested in developing skills of time management, test taking, reading strategies, note taking, and more are welcome to improve their abilities by contacting the learning assistance counselor, Bro. Thomas Giumenta, C.S.C., at 8716. Faculty referrals are welcome.

$250,000 Renda Gift For RISE

May 27, 2013

The University of Portland has announced a RISE Campaign gift of $250,000 from Larree M. Renda, an executive with Safeway Inc., based in Pleasanton, Calif., and a member of the University’s board of regents. The gift will help finance improvements of Joe Etzel Field, formerly Pilot Stadium, which was completed prior to the 1988 baseball season. The stadium was renamed in the summer of 2004 in honor of former Pilots athletic director and long-time head baseball coach Joe Etzel.

The first phase of the baseball stadium upgrades include installing artificial turf, in place of the natural grass field, stadium lights and outfield/perimeter fencing, according to athletic director Scott Leykam. Fundraising is continuing with the goal of completing the first phase immediately after the conclusion of the 2014 baseball season. Following the initial renovations, a second phase is being developed which will include new grandstands, improved concession and ticketing facilities and coaches offices.

As executive vice president for Safeway, Renda is responsible for all retail strategies and a broad range of administrative functions for one of the largest food and drug retailers in North America. She began her Safeway career in 1974 at the age of 16. She progressed through Safeway’s retail ranks and earned the distinction of being the youngest store manager, district manager and retail operations manager in Safeway’s 86-year history. She was the first woman and youngest person promoted to senior vice president in 1994, and become Safeway’s first female executive vice president in 1999. Her son, Tommy Renda, graduated from the University in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in finance and earned an MBA at UP in 2013.

For more information contact the development office at 7395, or go to the RISE Campaign website at http://rise.up.edu.

Chapel Closure Through June 7

May 27, 2013

The Chapel of Christ the Teacher will be undergoing renovations to the floor and sanctuary and will be closed from Monday, May 6 through Friday, June 7, according to Theresa McCreary, campus ministry. Sunday 10:30 a.m. Masses and weekday 12:05 p.m. Masses will be celebrated in the Moreau Chapel in Christie Hall during this time. In addition, the parking lot behind the Chapel of Christ the Teacher will be closed to all non-construction traffic throughout the project. Construction questions may be directed to André Hutchinson, physical plant, at 7306 or hutchina@up.edu. For information about Masses contact campus ministry at 7131 or mccreary@up.edu.

From Our Past

May 13, 2013

Vernia Jane Huffman, who served as dean of the School of Nursing from 1961 until 1973, died on May 14, 2008, at the age of 92. She was first appointed acting dean, but was confirmed to a full appointment in 1962. All previous deans had been Sisters of Providence. She had served as a nurse in the U.S. Navy during World War II and for part of the Korean war. She had come to the University in 1960 to begin a course in public health nursing. During her tenure as dean, the School of Nursing first received national accreditation. She saw the nursing program through its often tumultuous transfer from St. Vincent’s Hospital to The Bluff, and strove tirelessly to transform the program from one that produced “technical” nurses to one that produced professional nurses, setting into motion the school’s emphasis on a wholistic, integrated curriculum that emphasizes compassionate, knowledge-based professional nursing. After her retirement, Huffman regularly attended University nurses’ pinning ceremonies at graduation, until failing health prevented her from doing so after 2005. An award is given annually in her name for outstanding service by a graduating senior in the area of community health nursing.

For more University history from this week see the University Almanac at www.up.edu/almanac.

Course Packs Due

May 13, 2013

All faculty and instructors must turn in their course pack materials for summer session to the printing services office as soon as possible, according to Kassie Hansen, printing services. Lead time is needed so printing services staff can obtain copyright permissions and organize the packs for production before the start of the summer 2013 semester. In addition, faculty need to have their course packs for fall session turned in to printing services no later than the end of June to obtain copyright clearance. Some copyright requests take up to six weeks to obtain; please keep this in mind so staff are better able to serve faculty needs prior to the start of school. For more information contact Hansen at 7200 or hansenk@up.edu.

Need New Cards?

May 13, 2013

Staff and faculty who need to order new or replacement business cards can order them through printjobs@up.edu. In the subject line type “business cards.” Orders can be as little as 250, 500 or 1,000. Please allow five business days from the time they are approved to receive your order. For more information, contact printing services at 7200.

Now’s The Time

May 13, 2013

Now is the time to submit orders for letterhead, envelopes, and forms for the upcoming academic year, according to Bridget Bimrose, marketing and communications. This allows the publication team to schedule production throughout the summer. Please estimate usage for the next academic year and order accordingly. Letterhead is available by the ream (500 sheets) or by the case (4,000 sheets). Envelopes are available by the box (500) or by the case (2,500). When ordering, include a sample of each item and indicate if any changes are necessary. For more information, contact Bimrose at 8370 or bimrose@up.edu.

AmeriCorps VISTA Position

May 13, 2013

Fr. Mark Poorman, C.S.C., Fr. Gerry Olinger, C.S.C., and Tom Greene have collaborated to sponsor a one-year AmeriCorps VISTA member who will work full-time on developing programming specific to first-generation students at the University of Portland, according to Michele Leasor, honors program and fellowships and grants. Faculty and staff are asked to assist in recruiting for this position by sharing the job posting with qualified individuals (http://tinyurl.com/cjdbjsp). For more information contact Leasor at 7857 or leasor@up.edu.

New Garaventa Center Directors

May 13, 2013

The provost’s office has announced the appointment of Karen Eifler and Rev. Charles Gordon, C.S.C., as co-directors of the Garaventa Center for Catholic Intellectual Life and American Culture, effective July 1, 2013.

Eifler is well known across campus and involved in many activities that speak to the very essence of the Center. She has been a board member and leader in Collegium, a national organization that explores issues similar to those explored by the Garaventa Center. Eifler and Norah Martin, College of Arts and Sciences, have led the Friday afternoon Faith and Intellectual Life Discussion Group for many years. Eifler is a respected and recognized teacher, author, and colleague. Her vast experience, inexhaustible creativity, deft organizational skills, and unquenchable thirst for knowledge and understanding will be assets in leading the Center forward.

Fr. Gordon is well-known for his public lectures in the region and his scholarly discussion groups. His students also find his classroom lessons stimulating and provocative. Cambridge educated and an expert in American culture from the sublime to the ridiculous as well as a widely respected Holy Cross priest, he will add his capacious set of attributes to advancing the Center.

Jamie Powell will continue in her role as program coordinator for the Garaventa Center. For more information contact Powell at 7702 or powell@up.edu.