UPbeat

News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.

University Relations

Lifetime Achievement Award for Michael Lewellen, Marketing & Communications VP

Michael Lewellen, vice president of marketing and communications, will receive the 2020 William W. Marsh Lifetime Achievement Award by the Public Relations Society of America – Oregon Chapter during their virtual Spotlight Awards Gala on Thursday, December 3.

William Marsh was a leading figure in the public relations profession in Oregon for nearly 40 years, and was president of the Portland Metro PRSA Chapter (now PRSA Oregon) in 1963. Aside from his time in the profession, Marsh taught at Marylhurst University from 1986-1993, before passing away in 1996 at age 81. This award was established and named for him in 1986.

During the Marsh Award segment, University president Rev. Mark L. Poorman, C.S.C., and Portland Trail Blazers CEO Chris McGowan will offer video comments on Lewellen’s service in the public relations field during his 38-year career. Because the Spotlight Awards are virtual this year, those who would like to watch the event can reserve free tickets using this link.

Update From Fr. Mark: Cost-Saving Adjustments, COVID Testing, Pilots Prevent Dashboard

Dear Colleagues,

As always, I pray that this message finds you and your loved ones healthy and well. Preparations for our Spring 2021 Semester are well underway, and I write now to provide an update on our work and preview some important communications that you will receive in the coming weeks.
Adjustments to Cost-Saving Strategies
The financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have been felt by almost every individual, family, and organization across the country, and our University of Portland community is no different. We have been forced to make difficult decisions to promote the University’s financial stability, and I recognize the toll that these decisions have had on our faculty and staff. I will be forever grateful to individuals across the University for their sacrifice and dedication throughout one of the most challenging times in our institution’s history.
Thanks to the limited re-opening of residence halls next semester and other budgetary adjustments, I am pleased to report that we will be able to relax some of our cost-saving strategies and take other steps to lessen the financial burdens being placed on UP community members.
We intend to reverse the temporary faculty and staff salary reductions on December 31, as originally planned. Members of the University’s senior leadership team, however, have voluntarily agreed to a continued reduction in their pay. As the University’s operational needs change in the Spring 2021 Semester, many employees’ furloughs will be eliminated or reduced. Additionally, as stated in the open enrollment communications you have received from our Human Resources Benefits Team, most cost increases for UP-sponsored medical and dental insurance will be absorbed by the University, and most employees receiving coverage through UP will not see an increase in their monthly medical and dental insurance costs next year. For now, other cost-saving strategies (such as University contributions to retirement accounts and suspension of professional development budgets) will continue.
On Tuesday, November 17, Interim Vice President for Financial Affairs Eric Barger will send a message to all University employees with further information on these changes and several other matters related to the University’s finances.
COVID-19 Testing Protocol and “Pilots Prevent” Dashboard
Critical to the University’s success next semester will be our COVID-19 screening and testing protocol. As I announced in my October 2 message, our comprehensive preventative strategy has four components: baseline testing for all on-campus students and employees, ongoing screening, surveillance testing, and symptomatic testing. In the weeks that have followed my announcement, the University has further developed our protocols and selected an industry-leading third-party vendor to help us refine our plans and administer tests. Additionally, we have published our Pilots Prevent Dashboard to provide ongoing information on testing and the presence of COVID-19 on campus. Very soon, members of the University’s COVID-19 Steering Committee will provide much more detailed information on these plans to all community members.
Conclusion
We continue to closely monitor the course of the pandemic, and our prayers continue to be with all those who have been impacted. While we welcome recent developments in COVID-19 treatments and vaccinations, headlines also illustrate that the serious impacts of this pandemic are still far from over. We must remain nimble and responsive to conditions locally, regionally, and nationally. At this time, we have confidence that the protocols we have developed for next semester will help to keep our community safe while enabling us to advance our sacred mission of teaching and learning, faith and formation, and service and leadership.
I offer once again my gratitude to all in the community who are working tirelessly in support of the University we cherish. Along with the Holy Cross Community here at UP, I am praying for you, your loved ones, the brave health care workers on the frontlines, and all members of our global community as we navigate these extraordinarily challenging times. May we continue to move forward with a spirit of resolve, compassion, and hope.
God bless,
Father Mark

Pilots Prevent COVID-19 Tracking and Posting Dashboard Activated Nov. 9

In accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Oregon Health Authority, the University of Portland will track and post via this dashboard relevant data pertaining to the presence of COVID-19 on our campus.  The information posted is based on University-led testing of UP students only, and does not reflect self-reported student cases or test results of faculty and staff. As we partially open our campus next semester, we will report all COVID test results administered by the University, including faculty and staff tests results. The athletics department continues baseline and surveillance testing consistent with NCAA and Oregon mandates.

Information monitored includes the number of COVD-19 tests administered; positive test results identified; number of students isolated and/or quarantined; and aggregate data of positive cases both on and off-campus. This statistical dashboard will be updated weekly on Wednesdays, or more frequently as dictated by the pandemic.

Pilots Prevent is the University’s health initiative that provides resources and information to keep our campus community healthy and safe. Visit the Pilots Prevent website to learn more about COVID-19 related health and safety practices, find out tips for optimizing health, access downloadable resources, and discover how we can all do our part to care for the health of our communities.

For more information, contact the Office of Wellness & Prevention, wellness@up.edu.

US News & World Report Ranking: UP Ranked No. 2 In West

The University of Portland is now ranked second out of 127 institutions listed in the “Regional Universities – West” classification according to U.S. News & World Report magazine. The University also placed second in the 2020 rankings – its highest ranking to date. In the 2018 and 2019 rankings, the University placed sixth in the same “Regional Universities – West” category. This ranking marks the 26th consecutive year the University has received a Top 10 ranking. The full rankings can be seen on the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges website.

Among notable measures in the U.S. News & World Report methodology is the University’s 90% average first-year-to-second-year retention rate for the past several years and six-year graduation rates of 82% and 84% for the last two student cohorts. In addition, the University’s Donald P. Shiley School of Engineering’s reputation for excellence continues to rise. This year, the engineering program was ranked 33rd nationally among engineering schools whose highest degree is a bachelor’s or master’s.

According to U.S. News & World Report, regional institutions are those that provide a full range of undergraduate majors and master’s programs, but few – if any – doctoral programs. The universities in this category are not ranked nationally but rather against peers in one of four regions – North, South, Midwest and West – because they tend to draw students primarily from surrounding states.

U.S. News & World Report’s methodology for this category weighs heavily on student retention rates, peer assessment and faculty resources; as well as on student selectivity, financial resources earmarked for educational purposes and the alumni giving rate.

University of Portland’s commitment to its mission of teaching and learning, faith and formation, and service and leadership has been successfully proven through its graduates. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, the University of Portland ranks among the highest in the nation alongside peer institutions for the number of students and alumni earning Fulbright grants for several consecutive years.

Portland Magazine Wins National Silver Award

The University of Portland’s Portland magazine has won a national Silver Award from CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) in its annual Circle of Excellence awards. Portland won second place in the “Magazines, Alumni/General Interest 3x Per Year category.

In announcing the award, CASE’s statement about Portland reads: “After Portland magazine’s two-year hiatus following the death of beloved, longstanding editor Brian Doyle, editor Jessica Murphy Moo put the wheels in motion again with new designer Darsey Landoe (using partial redesigns from Zehno). They had an audience eager to receive Portland again, and expectations were high in terms of both content and design. Portland magazine has a strong and unique brand; it is more literary and heartfelt than many alumni magazines. The brand was also very much attached to the previous editor. So the team needed to figure out how to continue to give the audience what they wanted—authentic, deeply human stories—with a new editor at the helm. This first year of the redesigned magazine offers great stories—a balance of personal essay and reporting. A New York Times writer described his work with the Compton Cowboys, and the founder of a nonprofit named Girls Build told a personal story about her work to encourage girls to consider careers in the trades. The editor wrote about an archeological dig in Mallorca, Spain, and an alumnus wrote about his summer answering phones at the White House. The tradition of spiritual writing continues as well. The elements of the Portland magazine tradition are there. In the first year of the redesigned magazine, the team delivered the authentic, deeply human storytelling our readers wanted and expected.”

Please congratulate Jessica Murphy Moo for her outstanding vision and leadership in continuing Portland magazine’s reign as one of the top university magazines in the U.S. and beyond.

Prayers For Amy Dundon-Berchtold

University of Portland regent and longtime benefactor Amy Dundon-Berchtold passed away on Monday, March 16. A visionary real estate entrepreneur and investor, Amy, along with her husband Jim Berchtold ’63, gave generously to the University of Portland. In 2011, Amy and Jim created the Dundon-Berchtold Institute for Moral Formation and Applied Ethics, which offers classes, public events, and student-faculty research support. From the success of that endeavor, Amy and Jim provided the lead gift for the University’s first new academic building in 25 years, Dundon-Berchtold Hall. This new academic building has transformed the University of Portland campus, with classrooms, faculty offices, formal and informal gathering areas, and state-0f-the-art teaching resources.

After earning her bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree from the University of California Irvine, Amy went on to a remarkably successful 40-year career buying, selling, and renovating properties. A dedicated philanthropist, Amy Dundon-Berchtold has also contributed to other endeavors, including the Boys & Girls Club of Garden Grove, the University of Southern California, the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, and many, many other worthy causes. Amy was elected to the University of Portland’s Board of Regents in 2013 and received an honorary doctorate from UP in 2019.

Please keep her husband Jim and their family in your thoughts and prayers.

 

 

#PilotsGive Has Been Postponed, But Watch for #PilotsGiveBack!

In light of growing concerns around Covid-19, development has made the difficult decision to postpone #PilotsGive, originally scheduled for April 1-2 , until a future date.

For the last two years, #PilotsGive has been a truly special occasion, bringing together worthy causes on campus with supportive donors from the greater Pilot community. We look forward to the day, hopefully not far off, when we will be able to announce that #PilotsGive is back on the calendar.

With the move to online learning last week at UP, everyday life on our campus has changed tremendously. However, it’s still very important for Pilots near and far to feel connected and a part of a positive and hopeful community. For this reason, we have decided to transition #PilotsGive into something more responsive to the current global situation.

In the days ahead, we will be sharing #PilotsGiveBack, an online movement for collecting stories, words of inspiration, connections to faith, and ways to provide impact. Near or far—all Pilots will be able to participate! Stay tuned!

Barger Selected for 2020-21 NACUBO Fellows Program

Eric Barger, associate vice president for finance and controller, has been selected for the 2020-21 National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) Fellows Program, a one-year professional development opportunity for a small group of promising higher education leaders in business and finance.

Barger earned a bachelor’s degree in health care management with a minor in communication studies as well as a bachelor’s degree in marketing in 1990, and a master’s degree in business administration in 1994, all here on The Bluff. He has served as controller since October 2008.

Sixteen promising higher education professionals from colleges and universities across the country have been selected for this year’s program. Over the next year, NACUBO Fellows will work with higher education presidents, provosts, chief business officers (CBOs), and other experts as they expand their management, communications, and leadership skills and learn from the experiences of others.

NACUBO, founded in 1962, is a nonprofit professional organization representing chief administrative and financial officers at more than 1,900 colleges and universities across the country. NACUBO works to advance the economic vitality, business practices, and support of higher education institutions in pursuit of their missions.

For more information contact Barger at barger@up.edu or NACUBO at KMcCreary@nacubo.org.

President’s Biennial Address, Feb. 25

University president Rev. Mark L. Poorman, C.S.C., will share the latest campus developments and showcase how UP continues to thrive in uncertain times for higher education at the President’s Biennial Address on Tuesday, February 25, at the Sentinel Hotel’s Governor Ballroom. Doors open at 11 a.m. and the program runs from noon to 1 p.m. Individual tickets are $25 and table sponsorships for eight are available for $200.

Please Register here prior to February 18. For questions, contact Celeste Robertson at robertso@up.edu or x7397.

ReadUP & Schoenfeldt Book Discussions, Feb. 4-6

Fr. Charlie Gordon, C.S.C., will lead discussions of this year’s ReadUP selection, The Leavers by Lisa Ko, on Tuesday, February 4; Wednesday, February 5; and Thursday, February 6 from noon to 1 p.m., in the Clark Library conference room. Light refreshments will be provided and all are welcome to bring their lunch, questions, and insights as we sink our teeth into Ko’s wonderful novel.

Ko will be speaking on February 10 as part of this year’s annual Schoenfeldt Distinguished Writers Series. The Leavers was a 2017 National Book Award Finalist and winner of the 2016 PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction.

For more information about this year’s ReadUP selection, including a reading guide and video highlighting compelling themes, visit up.edu/readup. For questions about discussion groups, contact the Garaventa Center at x7702 or garaventa@up.edu. These events are sponsored by the Schoenfeldt Distinguished Writers Series, the Office of the Provost, Garaventa Center for Catholic Intellectual Life & American Culture, Clark Library, Office of Residence Life, the Office of University Relations, and the Office of Marketing and Communications.