Now is the time to start sending the Office of Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement (OUSE) the names of current juniors who would be strong candidates to apply for Fulbright Grants. Fulbright offers grants to countries around the world, and in many cases, the applicant is not expected to have studied the language of the host country. Likewise, Fulbright has no minimum GPA requirement, but they are looking for people who will be good ambassadors for the United States. Fulbright is particularly interested in getting applications from underrepresented groups. Students from all disciplines and schools are encouraged to apply, but OUSE needs faculty to identify them.
Academics
Compassionate Listening Basics Intensive Workshop, May 17-19
The theme of Faculty Development Day this year was “Compassionate Listening.” As speakers Joanie Levine and Yehuda Winter mentioned, they will be holding a Compassionate Listening Basics Intensive Workshop on Friday, May 17 to Sunday, May 19 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Portland. This three-day workshop in Compassionate Listening will help attendees learn a powerful set of skills that enable them to help begin to heal the world from the inside out.
Any member of the University community—faculty, administrators, staff, students—is welcome to participate. Simply get a taste of the Art of Compassionate Listening on Friday, May 17, or to sign up for the complete three-day Basics Intensive. Fees are $175-275 (sliding scale; $75 deposit due at registration) or $10 for Friday only. You may register at this link.
For more information, please contact Matthew Lawrence at matthew@trinity-episcopal.org or Louisa Egan-Brad, psychological sciences, at brad@up.edu.
Dr. Louisa C. Egan Brad
University of Portland
Council for Undergraduate Research: Increasing Opportunities for UP Students
Four faculty members in the College of Arts and Sciences (Nicole Leupp Hanig, performing and fine arts; Lora Looney, Spanish; Laura McLary, German; and Josh Swidzinski, English) applied to and were selected to participate in the Council for Undergraduate Research in the Arts and Humanities yearly institute at Montana State University in Bozeman, October 5-7. Participants developed a plan for achieving goals to increase participation and opportunities among students and faculty in undergraduate research in the arts and humanities at UP and attended panels detailing best practices in working with undergraduate students to promote creative inquiry in the arts and humanities. This project is supported by the College of Arts & Sciences as works towards broadening and strengthening its undergraduate research initiatives.
For more information contact the College of Arts and Sciences at x7221 or cas@up.edu.
Pilot Student Athletes Shine Academically
The complete NCAA Academic Progress Rates (APR) were released on Wednesday, May 10, and the University of Portland has maintained an elite level once again. Each of Portland’s varsity athletics programs from the 2015-16 multi-year calculation rated high on the scale and no teams are subject to penalties.
Among the four Division I universities in the state of Oregon, UP posted the highest APR multi-year rate in seven of the 13 sports in which the data is provided.
Looking at the 2015-16 single-year data, Portland had an overall rating of 982. Baseball, men’s cross country, men’s tennis, men’s track, women’s soccer and women’s tennis each received a perfect APR score of 1,000 during the year.
Seven Pilot programs either maintained or increased their multi-year APR score from the previous year and seven teams posted scores at or above 985.
To compete in the 2017-18 postseason, teams must achieve a 930 four-year APR. NCAA member representatives chose the 930 standard because that score predicts a 50 percent graduation rate for the team. Additionally, teams must earn at least a 930 APR to avoid penalties.
In the 13 years of the Academic Performance Program, more than 15,000 former college athletes have earned APR points for their former teams by going back to school and earning their degrees. Each of those graduates earned APR points for their former team, but often don’t count toward the Graduation Success Rate or federal graduation rate because those rates only track students for six years after enrollment.
For more information contact the athletics office at athletics@up.edu.