UPbeat

News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.

University Relations

New CASE Awards for Development Efforts

The University of Portland development office has been recognized with a 2019 CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) Educational Fundraising Award, an honor given each year to exceptional fundraising programs at educational institutions in the United States. UPN is among a select group of more than 90 colleges and universities receiving awards this year. The University is being recognized for Overall Performance, based on the judges’ blind analysis of three years of fundraising data submitted to CASE’s AMAtlas Voluntary Support of Education Survey (VSE).

In addition, the University of Portland is being honored with a Sustained Excellence Award, which is granted to those exceptional organizations that have been recognized with Overall Performance and/or Overall Improvement in three of the past five years.

For more information, contact Connie Ozyjowski, development, at ozyjowsk@up.edu.

Columbia Sportswear Employee Store: You’re Invited!

University of Portland faculty and staff are invited to shop at the Columbia Sportswear Company Employee Store from April 5 to 28. The Columbia employee store has discounted items marked at 40-50 percent off regular retail pricing, with all of the latest product from the Columbia Sportswear family (SOREL, Mountain Hardwear, prAna, and, of course, Columbia Sportswear).

To access the store, please bring the official invitation, printed or digital versions. Also bring your UP ID or business card, paystub, signature of work email, as well as a personal ID. This invitation is valid for each employee plus four guests (you must be present for guests).

Find store location and hours here or on the invitation. To find out more contact Columbia Sportswear at portlandemployeestore@columbia.com or Hannah Pick, university relations, at pick@up.edu.

Together We All Add UP!

Mark your calendar for April 3-4, noon to noon, and get ready for one of the biggest days of the year for the University of Portland!  #PilotsGive is a day of worldwide Pilot pride that raises critical support for scholarships, programs, innovative learning experiences, and student success. Will you help the University set a record with $1M in annual gifts in only 24 hours?

Last year over 2,000 Pilots made a gift and helped unlock challenge dollars that resulted in a total of $700,000 for programs and funds around campus. With #PilotsGive we can all continue creating positive change and amazing opportunities for students.

Together we all add UP!

For more information contact development at giving@up.edu  or x8003.

New Grants & Gifts for UP

The development office reports that UP recently received a $700,000 grant from the E.L. Wiegand Foundation to create the E.L. Wiegand Environmental Laboratory, which will be a part of the Franz Campus Boat House.

The University also secured a commitment in the amount of $500,000 to the recreation fields on the Franz Campus. This grant is made possible through Monica Names King, Class of 1990, from the Tom & Meg Names Family Foundation.

And, in honor of the one and only Jim Kuffner, former HR director and longtime UP neighborhood liaison, the Kuffner family recently made a $250,000 donation. $175,000 will go to the James J. Kuffner MBA ’88 Franz Campus Beautification Fund, since Jim played a key role in helping to secure the 35 acres that created the Franz Campus; and $75,000 will go to the Kathleen E. Kuffner MEd ’88 Chapel Choir Fund.

For more information contact development at x8607 or fookes@up.edu.

Columbia Sportswear Employee Store: You’re Invited!

University of Portland faculty and staff are invited to shop at the Columbia Sportswear Company Employee Store from November 30 through December 24. The Columbia employee store has discounted items marked at 40-50 percent off regular retail pricing, with all of the latest product from the Columbia Sportswear family (SOREL, Mountain Hardwear, prAna, and, of course, Columbia Sportswear).

To access the store, please bring the official invitation, printed or digital versions. Also bring your UP ID or business card, paystub, signature of work email, as well as a personal ID. This invitation is valid for each employee plus four guests (you must be present for guests).

Find store location and hours here or on the invitation. To find out more contact Columbia Sportswear at portlandemployeestore@columbia.com or Hannah Pick, university relations, at pick@up.edu.

#UPGives Campaign: Every Gift Matters on Tuesday, Nov. 27

Giving Tuesday, a global day of philanthropy, is coming on November 27, and the University of Portland will take part through the #UPGives Campaign, according to Marie Jobes, development. The UP Giving Tuesday website allows people to donate to any fund of their choice, including colleges, schools, clubs, centers, teams, scholarships, and more.

This year three UP families have stepped up to inspire more support for student programs, scholarships, and service learning. They’re challenging the Pilot community to make at least 400 gifts between now and November 27 to unlock $40,000. No matter the size, every donation counts towards reaching the 400 gift goal.

Make a gift today or find out more here.

To be a Giving Tuesday ambassador and promote a UP fund that you love, be sure to look at UP’s Giving Tuesday Social Media Toolkit. It includes content, images, and dates to post, tweet, gram, and share updates about Giving Tuesday to your social network.

Thank you for joining in the effort to give back and help our Pilots go forward! Please contact jobes@up.edu with any questions.

 

UP Makes US News Top 10 for 24th Consecutive Year

For the 24th consecutive year, the University of Portland has received a top-ten ranking by U.S. News & World Report, according to its 2019 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings. The University is 6th out of 127 institutions listed in the “Regional Universities – West” classification. The full rankings can be seen on the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges website.

The University was also ranked 3rd in the “Regional Universities – West” classification for “Best Undergraduate Teaching.”

Among notable measures in the U.S. News methodology was the University’s remarkable 90% first-year retention rate and an annual graduation rate of 82%.

In addition, the University’s Shiley School of Engineering’s reputation for excellence continues to rise. This year the Shiley School was ranked 26th nationally, three spots higher than a year ago, among engineering schools whose highest degree is a bachelor’s or master’s.

Fr. Gerry’s Going Away Party: All Welcome!

All UP community members are invited to bid Fr. Gerry Olinger, C.S.C., a fond farewell at a reception on Wednesday, August 8, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., in the Pilot House. A program will begin at 4:30 p.m., and refreshments, featuring a selection of summer beverages, will be provided.

Fr. Gerry has accepted the position of vice president for mission engagement and church affairs at the University of Notre Dame. He has served faithfully for the past nine years on The Bluff, engaging with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and constituents in his roles as vice president for student affairs, vice president for university relations, executive assistant to the president, and as pastoral resident in Schoenfeldt Hall.

For more information contact Hannah Pick at pick@up.edu.

New Role for Fr. Gerry Olinger, C.S.C.

Fr. Gerry Olinger, C.S.C., Vice President for University Relations, has accepted the position of Vice President for Mission Engagement and Church Affairs at the University of Notre Dame. Fr. Gerry’s last day at the University of Portland will be Friday, August 10, and he will begin his new role at Notre Dame on Monday, August 20.  Bryce Strang, Senior Associate Vice President for Development, will serve as interim Vice President for University Relations while a search is conducted for Fr. Gerry’s replacement.

At the Provincial Chapter meeting of the United States Province of the Congregation of Holy Cross in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania earlier this month, Fr. William Lies, C.S.C. was elected as the new Provincial Superior. Following his election, Notre Dame president Fr. John Jenkins, C.S.C., invited Fr. Gerry to consider succeeding Fr. Lies in his position at Notre Dame.

Fr. Gerry’s new role will offer him opportunities to grow in his priesthood and to further explore Holy Cross spirituality. In addition to deepening the Catholic and Holy Cross mission of his alma mater, he will also serve as the liaison to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the Vatican. The move also allows him to be closer to his parents and family in Pennsylvania during a critical time for them.

As Vice President for University Relations, Fr. Gerry has been responsible for the Offices of Alumni and Parent Relations, Development, Marketing & Communications, and University Events.  He is a concurrent assistant professor of political science in the University’s College of Arts and Sciences. He also serves as a pastoral resident in Schoenfeldt Hall.

Please make time in the next few weeks to wish him well on this new path of his journey.

Joseph Erceg, An Extraordinary Man

Joe Erceg ’55, who served as designer and art director extraordinaire on Portland magazine from 1986 until his retirement in 2017, passed away peacefully at his Portland home on Saturday, June 16, his sons Matt and Milan by his side.
Joe’s longstanding service to the University of Portland took many forms, but his biggest influence came from his 24-year partnership with the late Brian Doyle, producing the University’s award-winning quarterly, Portland magazine. According to Rachel Barry-Acquit, director of marketing & communications, “He was a true original. He was a force to be reckoned with—talented, opinionated, and stubborn, but also very kind. He produced some amazing work for the University over the years — creating UP’s first logos, award-winning publications, presidential inauguration materials, and thousands of pages of the magazine. There aren’t many universities that were so fortunate to work with a designer over the course of decades; his memory was legendary as was his dedication to his alma mater.”
Joe was a renowned artist, photographer, and graphic designer and was never so happy as when he was ensconced in his office/studio on NW 2nd in Old Town. One of Joe’s iconic local images was a large butterfly mural in pointillist style which adorned an entire outside wall of Portland’s Import Plaza, completed in 1976.
Please remember Joe and his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.