UPbeat

News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.

Bryn Sopko

New Title IX Coordinator Appointed

FrederkingDec2Lauretta Frederking, acting assistant provost and professor of political science, has been appointed as the University’s new Title IX coordinator. Frederking will work with Fr. John Donato, C.S.C., in his capacity as deputy Title IX coordinator for students; Matt Baasten, associate provost, in his position as deputy Title IX coordinator for faculty, and Bill Jenkins, human resources, as deputy Title IX coordinator for staff. Bryn Sopko, departing associate vice president for human resources, will complete all Title IX cases currently open and Frederking will assume responsibility for all new cases effective immediately.

Additional information regarding the Title IX process, resources, and contact information can be found at this link.

Apply For Summer Tuition Remission By April 3

please_noteEligible employees who intend to use their tuition remission benefit during the summer semester are encouraged to apply using the online request tool no later than Friday, April 3, according to Bryn Sopko, human resources. It is required that remission requests be approved at least 2 weeks before the first class, or late charges may be applied to an employee’s account.

There are separate application forms for undergraduate and graduate course work tuition remission. Any graduate level tuition remission benefit will be taxable to the employee on the value above $5,250 for attempted credits and subject to applicable withholdings and will be reflected on the W-2 of the tax year the remission was applied. Time away from an employee’s regular work day must be approved in advance by the employee’s supervisor. Tuition exchange at other universities is not available to employees.

See the Tuition Remission Policy Summary at http://tinyurl.com/czyvnrb for further details.

Retirement Brown Bag Series: Understanding Social Security Income, Nov. 4

hThe Office of Human Resources is coordinating a five part series focusing on developing a holistic approach to retirement readiness. This series is geared towards faculty and staff who are 55 years of age or older. The next session, “Understanding Social Security Income,” will take place Tuesday, November 4, noon to 1 p.m., in the Terrace Room in Bauccio Commons. Please feel free to bring your spouse or significant other. Refreshments will be provided. For more information about this educational series visit the hr website at http://tinyurl.com/oeuop5w.

Tuition Remission Due Nov. 15

please_noteFaculty and staff applications for tuition remission can be accessed through the human resources website at www.up.edu/hr/, according to Bryn Sopko, human resources. The application deadlines match deadlines in student accounts, so please keep these dates in mind:

  • Spring term: November 15
  • Summer term: April 5
  • Fall term: July 1.

Please note that there are separate tuition remission application forms for undergraduate and graduate course work, and that any graduate level tuition remission benefits will be taxable to the employee on the value above $5,250 for attempted credits and subject to applicable withholdings, and will be reflected on the W-2 form of the tax year the remission was applied. A summary on tuition remission and links to the online forms are available at http://tinyurl.com/c8f6j2x. For more information contact human resources at 8981 or hr@up.edu.

Nominate Colleagues for Annual Staff Awards, Oct. 13-30

awardsThe nomination period for staff awards will be October 13 to October 30, with the winners announced at the Staff Christmas Luncheon on Thursday, December 18, according to Bryn Sopko, human resourses. The nomination form can be found at http://tinyurl.com/ousfjpd.

For more information contact HR at 8981 or hr@up.edu.

University names three Title IX deputy coordinators

University of Portland, upThe University of Portland is committed to ensuring equal access to education in an environment free from discrimination, including sexual harassment and interpersonal violence. Anyone impacted by violence is encouraged to contact the Title IX coordinator, Bryn M. Sopko.  The Title IX resources will now include representation for students, faculty and staff.  Beginning immediately, the new Title IX deputy coordinators will be:

  • For students: Rev. John J. Donato, C.S.C.,  associate vice president for student development (donato@up.edu)
  • For faculty: Matt Baasten, associate provost and Graduate School dean (baasten@up.edu)
  • For staff: Stacey Watanabe, human resources employee relations and training manager (watanabe@up.edu)

As a reminder, all inquiries concerning the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations may be referred to the University’s Title IX coordinator, Title IX deputy coordinators, or to the assistant secretary for civil rights of the Department of Education. The University’s Title IX coordinator is Bryn M. Sopko, director of human resources, 8987 or sopko@up.edu. For further information, please review the Title IX homepage: http://www.up.edu/titleix.

New Title IX Coordinator

University of Portland, upEffective July 1, Bryn Sopko, director of human resources, will become the University’s Title IX Coordinator. Bryn will replace Elayne Shapiro, who has filled the role since July 2011. As a reminder, all inquiries concerning the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations may be referred to the University’s Title IX coordinator, deputy Title IX coordinator, or to the assistant secretary for civil rights of the Department of Education. The University’s Title IX coordinator and deputy Title IX coordinator are:

  • Bryn M. Sopko Title IX Coordinator, Director of Human Resources 501 Waldschmidt Hall, MSC 168 (503) 943-8987 or sopko@up.edu
  • Kristina S. Houck Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Training and Education Kenna Hall 027, MSC 147 (503) 943-8125 or houckk@up.edu

For more information contact Danielle Hermanny, general counsel and executive assistant to the president, at 7401 or hermanny@up.edu.

Tuition Remission Applications Due July 1

please_note feb 24Faculty and staff applications for tuition remission will only be accepted via online forms and can be accessed through the human resources website at www.up.edu/hr/, according to Bryn Sopko, human resources. The HR office will no longer accept paper forms.

In addition to easier access, HR has updated the application dates for remission to match deadlines in student accounts, so please keep these dates in mind:

  • Spring term: November 15
  • Summer term: April 5
  • Fall term: July 1.

Please note that there are separate tuition remission application forms for undergraduate and graduate course work, and that any graduate level tuition remission benefits will be taxable to the employee on the value above $5,250 for attempted credits and subject to applicable withholdings, and will be reflected on the W-2 form of the tax year the remission was applied. A summary on tuition remission and links to the online forms are available at http://tinyurl.com/c8f6j2x.

For more information contact human resources at 8981 or hr@up.edu.

Apply For Summer Tuition Remission By April 4, Please

hEligible employees who intend to use their tuition remission benefit during the summer semester are encouraged to apply using the online request tool no later than Friday, April 4, according to Bryn Sopko, human resources. It is required that remission requests are approved at least 2 weeks before the first class, or late charges may be applied to an employee’s account.

There are separate application forms for undergraduate (http://tinyurl.com/42haqs2) and graduate course work tuition remission (http://tinyurl.com/7sx5zs8). Any graduate level tuition remission benefit will be taxable to the employee on the value above $5,250 for attempted credits and subject to applicable withholdings and will be reflected on the W-2 of the tax year the remission was applied. Time away from an employee’s regular work day must be approved in advance by the supervisor. Tuition exchange at other universities is not available to employees.

See the Tuition Remission Policy Summary at http://tinyurl.com/czyvnrb for further details.

2013 University Staff Awards

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Employee awards for 2013 were presented at the annual employees’ holiday banquet on Thursday, December 19. The winners are:

Emmy Rosinbum, nursing, who won the Margaret W. Henzi Award for outstanding office/clerical employees, and was cited as “a quiet, unassuming glory who does eighty things with amazing skill, calm, and precision…she evinces a deep passionate faith by being herself, a wonderful exemplar of Christlike compassion.”

Walter Torres, physical plant, won the Ted Deiss/ Joyce and Virgil Dodson Outstanding Physical Plant Employee Award. He was praised as “the guy who loves to do just about anything, who is always smiling, who you can count on, and who will go the extra mile to get things done right.”

The winner of the Hooyboer Outstanding Professional Staff Award is Jason Brough, athletics. The Hooyboer Award honors the sort of dedication and commitment that drives and infuses the University’s best and most creative and visionary staffers. Jason was cited in part for “the same calm, and cheerful attention to detail, energy, and relentless curiosity he evinced as a freshman” in the performance of his duties as a director within the athletics department.

Winning the Father Charles Miltner, C.S.C., Award was Brenda Greiner, who was lauded as “an employee of absolute integrity, creativity, responsibility, and meticulous care for every student in her charge,” to thunderous applause, we might add. Beginning with the late Fr. John Hooyboer, C.S.C., the first recipient, the award has been presented to diligent and creative men and women who have gone to sometimes extraordinary lengths to further the mission of the University. It is the highest employee honor bestowed by the University.

Employees were also honored for milestone years of service to the University, including Emily Bridge, Thomas Stuyvesant, Tucker Brack, Brandon McNeil, David Taylor, Eric Barger, Brian Foster, Leanne Goolsby, Mary Dolan, Allen Hansen, Janet Turner, Kim Nguyen, Melissa Peterson, Dawn Lloyd, Daniel Kabele, Michael Minor, Anne Rasmussen, and Jim Ravelli (5 years); Connie Tamashiro, Ken Hallenius, Jason Brough, Melissa McCarthy, Angelique Sahnow, Krista Kennedy, Anthony Torres, Manu Jauregui, and Belinda Chamness (10 years); Jason McDonald, Marty Williams, Aimee Davidse, Karen Lee, Jamie Strohecker, Sharon Haner, Karen Nelson, Laura Steffen, Catherine Coulter, Thomas Greene, and Brenda Greiner (15 years); Garrett Smith, Beth Rumely, Debbie MacKinnon, Nanette DeRouse, and Cat Nguyen (20 years); Dave Doe (25 years); Wendy Delong and Victoria Hamilton (35 years); and Dan Reilly (40 years).

For more information contact Bryn Sopko, human resources, at 8987 or sopko@up.edu.