UPbeat

News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.

Ann Harris

New Student Information Release and Parent Information

parentshubWe are pleased to announce a new UP website for parents (up.edu/parents) to provide important information and to help them find answers to many of their questions.  In addition, we are adding a new tool enabling students to authorize a parent or other individual to view certain portions of their student records via Self Serve Banner.

Students will have the option of sharing information such as student account invoices, tax information, payment options, financial aid award and summary information, unofficial transcripts, class schedules, and contact information with their designated Proxy(s). Students’ private information is protected by FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 1974), so we encourage students to discuss sharing access with their parent (proxy).

Please visit the website for additional information.  For question, please contact Ann Harris, information services, at harrisa@up.edu.

Have you downloaded UPmobile yet?

mobileappThe official UPmobile app is available to download for free for iPhone, iPad, and Android mobile and tablet. The app will hive the UP community access anywhere and anytime to important campus resources including:

  • Courses – View class schedules, assignments, class rosters, grades, and discussions.
  • Events – Explore the University calendar and save events to your mobile device.
  • Directory – Browse or search for students, faculty, and staff, and easily connect.
  • Maps – Search and get directions to all campus facilities using Google Maps. (Updated campus map with virtual tours coming soon!)
  • News – Read the latest campus news.
  • Emergency Numbers – Quickly access important emergency phone numbers on- and off-campus.
  • Social Media – Interact with UP on Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube.
  • Pilot Athletics – Check scores and schedules by quickly accessing the Pilots mobile app.
  • Library – Access research databases, reserve study rooms, and more through a quick-link to the Clark Library’s app.

A Windows version of the app will be introduced soon, and many new features will be added in the coming months. In the meantime, your feedback and suggestions are welcome and appreciated.

For more information and for any questions and comments, please contact Ann Harris, information services, at harrisa@up.edu.

New UP Mobile App

appicon150x150-whiteThe University has a new mobile app (UP Mobile) available for iPhone, iPad, and Android mobile devices and tablets. The app is ready and can be downloaded immediately at no cost, and it will give users access to important campus resources any time and anywhere, including:

  • Courses – View class schedules, assignments, class rosters, grades (students only), and discussions
  • Events – Explore the University calendar and save events to your mobile device
  • Directory – Browse or search for students, faculty, and staff, and easily connect
  • Maps – Search and get directions to all campus facilities using Google Maps (Updated campus map with virtual tours coming soon!)
  • News – Read the latest campus news
  • Emergency Numbers – Quickly access important emergency phone numbers on- and off-campus.
  • Social Media – Interact with UP on Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube Pilot
  • Athletics – Check scores and schedules by quickly accessing the Pilots mobile app
  • Library – Access research databases, reserve study rooms, and more through a quick-link to the Clark Library’s app

A Windows version of the app will be introduced soon, and many new features will be added in the coming months. In the meantime, feedback and suggestions are welcome and appreciated. Please share them with Ann Harris, information services, at harrisa@up.edu.

Celly: UP Private Social Networking

cellyAll are welcome to stop by the Library Classroom on Wednesday, February 19, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., to learn more about Celly, the student-led network that is changing our campus, according to Ann Harris, information services. This is a great chance to visit with the Celly team and meet faculty, administrators, and students who are using Celly to facilitate their campus conversations. Snacks and pizza will be provided.

Celly allows groups to create private social networks or “cells” that members can join in seconds from any device. More versatile than e-mail and text, safer than Facebook or Twitter, an alternative to Clickers, Celly can organize your classrooms, clubs, and departments.

“Celly’s use on our campus really has no bounds!” says Quinten Chadwick, ASUP President. “From classroom communication, group projects, student clubs, or mass messages to the student body, Celly gives students the ability to easily communicate in all aspects of their academic life.”

Please visit wordpress.up.edu/celly for more information, or contact Harris at 8116 or harrisa@up.edu.

Mobile App Vendor Sessions

Apps Smart phone applications logos images dreamstime_m_31882324.jpgThe administration has heard the message: students want mobile application functionality at UP. The President’s Advisory Council on Information Technology has appointed a sub-committee to identify the needs and goals of mobile applications and/or websites. This is a time of transition for mobile technology, so the focus of this group is the long term.

In the short term, committee members have identified two vendors who offer solutions specific to higher education, and whose offerings complement other campus mobile solutions such as Moodle, Library, and Guidebook. Information services will be demonstrating two vendor solutions on campus with sessions focusing on students, and also for University personnel. The two vendors are DubLabs (www.dub labs.com) and ModoLabs (www.modolabs.com). The committee is very interested in all opinions concerning these two offerings and it is hoped that representatives of all campus units are able to attend. There will be three sessions by each vendor. Everyone is welcome to attend any of the three sessions. Each session will be approximately one hour in length with the first half hour being a demonstration of the product offerings, and the remaining time for questions.

The DubLabs sessions took place on Thursday, January 30. The ModoLabs sessions will take place on Wednesday, February 5, at 10 a.m., in Buckley Center room 163, with focus on University personnel; at 2 p.m., in Buckley Center room 163, with focus 0n students and university personnel; and at 5 p.m., in Buckley Center room 163, with focus on students (refreshments provided).

For more information contact Ann Harris, information services, at 8116 or harrisa@up.edu.

Welcome Ann Harris

Harris LinkedIn.jpgInformation services is pleased to announce that Ann Harris has accepted the position of associate director of program management in web & enterprise services (WES). Ann brings 25 years of higher education experience to UP and in her recent capacity as a temporary worker added great value to the WES and to the overall information services division. She will be working primarily with WES, but will also be collaborating with the CIO on several strategic projects.