UPbeat

News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.

Moreau Center

Civil Rights Immersion Fundraiser: Spring Cleaning

spring cleaning DTThe Moreau Center’s Civil Rights Immersion group is hosting a fundraiser in the form of spring cleaning during the month of April. Students and staff are willing to work hard and get grubby; jobs that have been completed in the past include washing/cleaning cars, scrubbing windows, gardening, pulling weeds, spreading bark, mowing lawns, and painting. Jobs are not limited to those listed here. Propose a job for consideration by filling out the form found at this link.

Tools and materials need to be provided for the completion of the job. There is a suggested minimum contribution of $50 for small jobs and $100 for large jobs.

The Moreau Center’s Civil Rights Immersion is set to take place in May of 2016, with students and staff traveling to the Deep South to learn about the Civil Rights movement as well as contemporary issues of racism and classism. Click here to learn more about the Civil Rights Immersion.

For more information contact Lindie Burgess, Moreau Center, at burgess@up.edu.

Faculty and Staff Immersion Accompaniers Needed for 2016-2017

laird copyFaculty and staff are invited to apply to be an immersion accompanier for the 2016-17 academic year. Applications are due by Monday, April 18, using the online application found here. The opportunity is open to UP faculty or staff members in full-time, exempt positions who have a commitment to service and community engagement, a desire to encourage student formation, and a willingness to live simply while immersed in an extended experience with students. Immersion experiences offered next year include: Food Justice and Rural Immersions (Fall Break), Urban Policy Immersion (Winter Break), Border and Habitat for Humanity Collegiate Challenge Immersions (Spring Break), and Nicaragua Immersion (3 weeks in May).

Any questions can be directed to Laurie Laird, Moreau Center, at laird@up.edu or any other Moreau Center staff.

Servant Leadership Discussion, Feb. 22

mountain-climber-silhouette2 copyThose who would like to learn about the concept of servant leadership are invited to attend a with Chris Yarco, executive director for Willamette Christian Church, on Monday, February 22, at 7:10 p.m., in Buckley Center Auditorium. Among Yarco’s duties are staff leadership, growth and development plans for ministry and capital expansion, creating and casting vision, and developing plans to achieve the vision. Attendees will learn what servant leadership looks like, feels like, why it’s the model for so many peoples’ lives, how to grow healthy teams in that model, and how people can build future careers by adopting the position of a servant leader in all they do.

Sponsored by the Franz Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Innovation. For more information, contact Linzy Rodriguez at rodrigli17@up.edu.

Nicaragua Silent Auction Donations Needed

nicaragua2Donations from faculty and staff have been the backbone of the success of the annual silent auction fundraiser for the Moreau Center’s Nicaragua Immersion service program. All faculty, staff, students, and UP friends are welcome to participate in the silent auction, either as a donor of items or a bidder. This year’s auction will take place from Monday, November 30 through Friday, December 4, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., in the Bauccio Commons main entrance hallway. Single items, gift baskets, tickets to events, signed books, weekends at vacation homes or timeshares, gift certificates to local restaurants, and UP merchandise are just some of the items that have been popular at the auction in the past. Donations can be brought to the Moreau Center any time during the workday from now through Monday, November 23.

Please contact Theresa McCreary at 7131 or mccreary@up.edu if you have any questions about the auction.

Laurie Laird Appointed as Director of Moreau Center

Laurie Laird copyLaurie Laird has been appointed as director of the University of Portland Moreau Center. Laird comes to The Bluff after two years with Jesuit Volunteer Corp Northwest and fifteen years of service in higher education at Santa Clara University. Laurie has collaborated with campus ministry and residence life to develop living and learning communities. Laird will begin her role on Monday, Oct. 26.

Laurie has master’s degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from San Jose State University and a bachelor’s degree from Santa Clara University.  She has also worked for Global Fund for Women, personally studied and traveled internationally, and accompanied students on domestic and international immersion service trips.

For more information contact the Moreau Center at 7132 or moreaucenter@up.edu.

David Houglum named director for leadership of the Franz Center

houglumNew-copyDavid Houglum was named the director for leadership in the Franz Center. He was actively involved in the Franz Center programs while serving as the Director of the Moreau Center, which will make for a seamless transition.

Houglum came to the University as interim director of the Moreau Center in 2013 and was named director the following year.

Houglum has a Ph.D. in leadership studies and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Gonzaga University and received an undergraduate degree from Pacific Lutheran University. He has previously served as associate director of Student Leadership and Development and director of the Ignatian Leadership Institute at Loyola Marymount University. He has also served as both adjunct professor and faculty capacities at Gonzaga University and Loyola Marymount University.

Kick-start Into Service Initiative

service2015 copyThe Moreau Center and Office of Residence Life are implementing a new initiative during the 2015-16 academic year to continue cultivating the campus culture of service through the creation of the “Kick-start into Service” initiative. The new program replaces the “Building Community: Serving to Learn” service project that has traditionally occurred over Labor Day weekend.

Each residence hall will be provided kick-starter funds to develop a hallmark service program at the local, national, or global level. These programs will be unique for each hall depending on the passion and gifts of each residence hall team (hall director, resident assistants, sustainability coordinators, intercultural coordinators, faith and formation ambassadors, service and justice coordinators, and pastoral residents). The programs will encourage an intentional discernment process for the one-time or ongoing service/social justice related initiative. Additional mini-grant funds will be available for residence hall leadership teams to apply for and to increase the impact of their service initiative.

The Kick-start into Service initiative is rooted in the mission and values of Holy Cross, which promote service to and with others in multiple cultural contexts. By building a greater capacity and culture for students to live out service and social justice, this program provides key experiential transformative learning opportunities.

For more information, contact Dave Houglum, Moreau Center, at 8559 or houglum@up.edu.

Applications Still Available For Immersion Accompaniers

New employee and staff portraitsFaculty and staff members who have a desire to walk alongside students during service and learning immersions trips still have time to apply for positions as Moreau Center immersion accompaniers for 2015-16. Those who have a commitment to service, a desire to encourage student formation, and a willingness to live simply while immersed in an extended experience with students should consider this unique opportunity. Several domestic and international opportunities are available over fall, winter, spring, and summer breaks and most travel costs are covered. Accompaniers only need to cover costs for any personal items or food outside of group meals and any necessary passports, visas, or immunizations. No experience is necessary.

For more information contact Dave Houglum, Moreau Center, at houglum@up.edu. Details and application can be found at up.edu/moreaucenter.

Immersion Accompanier deadline extended to April 17

service2There’s still time to apply for an Immersion Accompanier position for the 2015-16 year. The application deadline has been extended to Friday, April. 17. If you have a desire to walk alongside students serving and learning from other cultures, socio-economic groups and countries, you are encouraged to apply. All that is required is a commitment to service, a desire to encourage student formation and a willingness to live simply while immersed in an extended experience with students. Several domestic and international opportunities are available over Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer breaks. Accompaniers only need to cover costs for any personal items or food outside of group meals. All other food and travel costs are covered (with the exception of passports, visas and immunizations). Details and application can be found at up.edu/moreaucenter.

Questions? Contact Dave Houglum at houglum@up.edu.

Father Thomas C. Oddo, C.S.C., Memorial Scholarship

oddoTomShortly after his untimely death in 1989, Univer­sity of Portland president Rev. Thomas C. Oddo, C.S.C., was memorialized by faculty, staff, students, and friends with the establishment of an endowed scholarship fund named after him. Every year the University awards scholarship funds in Fr. Oddo’s name to one or two students who meet a set of criteria which includes demonstrated commitment to service and to service learning. Nominations are welcome at this time for the next awards to students, and are due by March 27. A nomination form is available at http://tinyurl.com/m936kyp.