UPbeat

News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.

University Relations

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.

UP’s 25 Days ’til Christmas Advent Calendar Is Here

This Advent season, count down to Christmas with UP’s 25 Days ’til Christmas online calendar. Share Advent prayers, cookie recipes, historical winter photos of campus, and more with the rest of the UP community. Be sure to visit the site for a new surprise each day leading up to Christmas. Find the calendar here at giving.up.edu/25days.

#GivingTuesday, Dec. 3: Together We Can Shine!

This Tuesday, December 3 is #GivingTuesday, a day of global generosity when millions of people around the world give in support of the causes that matter most to them. On the UP campus, we will celebrate the generosity of the donors who have supported our mission of teaching and learning, faith and formation, service and learning.

We get to see philanthropy in action every day at UP, whether it be while teaching students in the newest building on campus, Dundon-Berchtold Hall, cheering on our Portland Pilots cross country teams from the Pilot House, or by enjoying a reflective moment in the Marian Garden. Our experiences and ability to make a difference in the world around us through teaching, research, and service have been enhanced by the thousands of donors who support UP and our mission each year.

This #GivingTuesday, one special family has challenged the UP community to come together and secure gifts from 1,000 donors. When we do, we will unlock $100,000 in funding for student scholarships.

Make your gift online here (giving.up.edu/givingtuesday) or consider inviting others who believe in UP’s mission. Donors can give to any area of campus that matters most to them, and every donor counts toward the 1,000 donor goal, no matter the amount.

Other ways you can help us celebrate #GivingTuesday this year:

Thank you for celebrating #GivingTuesday and the generosity of UP donors. When the UP community comes together, it is amazing what we can achieve.

Latest CASE Awards: Gold, Silver, Bronze

The marketing and communications office received notification of the following awards in the 2020 Best of CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) Awards:

  • A gold award for University of Portland Junior Viewbook, produced by Rachel Barry-Arquit, Elizabeth Gilmore, Amy Shelly, Patricia McDonald, Frances Pimentel, Jason McDonald, Tanya Wangsmo, Ologie Agency, in the category “Alumni, Student, Donor and Community Engagement: Viewbooks and Prospective Student Publications.”
  • A gold award for “UP Admissions Rebranding Campaign: Wonder,” in the category “Visual Design: Print Design: Series of Related Publications.” Team: Rachel Barry-Arquit, Elizabeth Gilmore, Amy Shelly, Patricia McDonald, Frances Pimentel, Jason McDonald, Tanya Wangsmo, Kris Travis of Firesign Design, and Ologie Agency.
  • A silver award for “UP Wonder Transit Design” (ads appearing on Tri-Met buses), in the category “Visual Design: Environmental Graphic Design.”
  • A silver award for “First Gen: Changing the Possible” by Anna Lageson-Kerns, Adam Guggenheim, Amy Shelly, and Connie Ozyjowski in the category “Video and Multimedia: Multimedia for Special Events.
  • A silver award for Portland Magazine, Winter 2019, in the category “Magazine: Print General Interest Magazines, Circulation Under 30,000.” Editor: Jessica Murphy Moo.
  • A silver award for “Here Goes” by Jessica Murphy Moo, in the category “Editorial Shorts (Print or Web, less than 1,000 Words”
  • A bronze award for the “Love on The Bluff” campaign in the category “Advancement Practices and Initiatives: Alumni, Student, Donor and Community Engagement Programs,” by Roya Quirk, Petra Khan, Frances Pimentel, and Amy Shelly.
  • Honorable mention for Portland Magazine’s “J.H. Carroll, We Remember You,” in the category “CASE Platinum Awards: Best Article of the Year.” Author: Eileen Bjorkman.

These latest awards follow a strong showing in the July 2019 CASE Circle of Excellence Awards, which recognized advancement work on a national level:

  • The hard-bound edition of Sweet Dreams, Storycatcher was a Grand Gold winner for book design, one of only 26 Grand Golds awarded. The book is a collection of essays written for Portland Magazine by the late Brian Doyle.
  • The Junior Viewbook earned a bronze award in the viewbook/prospectus category, out of 132 bronzes awarded, citing “The University of Portland’s viewbook beautifully conveys the university’s interest in the life of the mind, beginning with the cover statement, ‘when we wonder’…” It was one of four to be recognized in the viewbook/prospectus category.

Award recipients will be recognized at the Best of CASE VIII Awards Luncheon on Thursday, January 30. Gold awards will be considered for the Grand Gold in their award categories. The Virginia Carter Smith Grand Crystal award, recognizing the most outstanding entry of the year, will be selected from the Grand Gold winners.