UPbeat

News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.

Health and Counseling Center

Coronavirus: UP Monitoring Outbreak, Minimizing Risks

Recent announcements issued by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) indicate that transmission of Coronavirus has continued to spread and will likely affect the United States, however the immediate health risk to the general US public remains low. We encourage students, faculty, and staff traveling for spring break to closely monitor travel advisories through the CDC and State Department.  The following travel notices are already in effect:

  • Level 3 (avoid all nonessential travel): China, South Korea
  • Level 2 (practice enhanced precautions):  Iran, Italy, Japan
  • Level 1 (practice usual precautions): Hong Kong
  • Other Destinations with Risk of Community Spread: Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand

Oregon health authorities announced over the weekend of February 28-March 1 that a person who works at Forest Hills Elementary School in Lake Oswego had tested positively for the Coronavirus. One other Oregon case has been announced in Washington County.

Any UP employees with children at Forest Hills Elementary School should work from home – or use sick time and stay at home – until Thursday, March 5, per the school’s guidance. Please do the same if  you’ve been in contact with anyone from the school.

As needed, employees should follow UP’s sick time policies. The sick time policy for staff is available at: www.up.edu/hr/benefits/sick-time-and-vacation.html

If you have health/medical related questions, please contact your health care practitioner. Staff with Kaiser health insurance can call the KP Nurse Hotline at 1-800-813-2000.

The University continues to closely monitor this outbreak and has taken steps to reduce the risk of community member exposure to the Coronavirus. A University-run program scheduled to travel to South Korea and Japan over spring break has been redirected elsewhere. The University has contacted faculty and students who are currently abroad and advised them on precautions they should take to minimize the risk of exposure. Currently, there are no plans to cancel spring or summer 2020 study abroad programs.

The Health and Counseling Center continues to screen all students seeking medical and counseling services for symptoms consistent with Coronavirus. Finally, multiple groups across campus will continue to monitor the outbreak and determine any additional steps the University should take to reduce the risk of community member exposure.

Additional information on this outbreak is provided below:

  • The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) have declared a global health emergency; and international governments are taking decisive action in response.   The CDC website is being updated frequently with information about Coronavirus as more becomes known.
  • Symptoms of Coronavirus include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.  They can surface up to 14 days after exposure.
  • Anyone experiencing symptoms consistent with Coronavirus should contact their healthcare provider.  Current UP students should contact the campus Health and Counseling Center (HCC) at x7134.  After hours, students can access ProvRN or Providence Express Care Virtual to reach a healthcare provider for immediate assessment. Instructions for accessing these services are available on the HCC website using this link.
  • Precautions to decrease the transmission of Coronavirus are like those for preventing the spread of other respiratory illnesses, including colds and flu. Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough; wash your hands frequently; and stay home if you are ill. As noted above, the HCC is taking additional precautions with patients, including providing masks to students with symptoms of respiratory illness or fever; and screening all students seeking medical and counseling services upon check-in for risk of exposure to Coronavirus. If any students exhibit a history or symptoms consistent with Coronavirus, we will work with the Oregon Health Authority and the CDC to care for the student and UP campus.

Again, our guidance for now focuses on caution and prevention. For further information or questions, please contact any of the following resources:

 

 

Faculty & Staff Green Dot Training, June 12

All faculty and staff are invited to join the Health and Counseling Center for Green Dot Training on Wednesday, June 12, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Terrace Room. This training will introduce the basic elements of Green Dot, focusing specifically on the vital role University employees play in establishing and reinforcing the culture that students and colleagues exist within. This training is designed to help employees understand the expanded definition of “bystander” and to equip all employees to integrate their jobs with key behaviors that establish two norms: (1) power-based personal violence won’t be tolerated, (2) everyone does their part to keep the UP community free from violence and fear of violence.

Please register by contacting Megan Cohara, Health and Counseling Center, at coharam@up.edu or x8125.

UP Named First Forward Institution by Center for First Generation Student Success

The University of Portland has been honored as a First Forward institution by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Center for First Generation Student Success, according to Matt Daily, Health and Counseling Center. The First Forward designation recognizes institutions of higher education who have demonstrated a commitment to improving experiences and advancing outcomes of first-generation college students. Selected institutions receive professional development, community-building  experiences, and a first look at the Center’s research and resources.

Daily notes that UP is one of three schools in the Pacific Northwest to be selected (UW and WSU), and the only private/Catholic school. UP is also the only school (2 or 4 year) of the 91 total schools in the state of Oregon to receive the honor.

Selected institutions will send representatives to the First Forward Workshop to be held in Orlando in June and will participate in monthly phone calls, virtual professional development, goal setting, blog development, annual reporting, and more. After two successful years in the program, institutions are eligible to apply for the Advisory leadership designation.

For more information, contact Daily at x7895 or daily@up.edu.

Faculty & Staff Green Dot Training, March 6

All faculty and staff are invited to attend a Green Dot training session on Wednesday, March 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., in Franz Hall room 120.

This training introduces the basic elements of Green Dot, focusing specifically on the vital role employees play in establishing and reinforcing the culture in which students and colleagues live and work. This program is designed to help employees understand the expanded definition of “bystander” and to equip all University employees to integrate within their current job functions key behaviors that establish two norms:

  1. Power-based personal violence won’t be tolerated
  2. Everyone does their part to keep the campus community free from violence and fear of violence.

To register, please email Megan Cohara at coharam@up.edu.

 

Bystander Intervention Training, Nov. 11

Green Dot is hosting the next Bystander Intervention Training for students on Saturday, November 11, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to Tiger Simpson, Health and Counseling Center. Nominations are being collected for student leaders to attend the training and help UP decrease violence in its community. This link connects to a nomination form which only takes about 30 seconds to fill out, and there is an option to remain anonymous if desired.

Each nomination goes a long way in ensuring that the University community is free of violence, and also creates lasting change to ensure future Pilots enter into a community where violence is not tolerated.

For more information contact Simpson at x8125 or simpsont@up.edu.

Flu Shots for UP Students on Sept. 15

The Health and Counseling Center is hosting a flu clinic for students (there will be opportunities in the future for faculty and staff to receive flu shots) on Friday, September 15, in the Mehling Ballroom. The flu shots will be free with most insurance providers (students with Kaiser and Group Health must utilize Kaiser facilities). Please spread the word (not the flu) and help us keep our community healthy. For more information or ADA accommodations, please contact the health center at x7134 or health@up.edu.

Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Training, Feb. 22

Please join the Wellness Education and Prevention Program in the Terrace Room on Wednesday, February 22, from 1 to 3 p.m., for a mental health and suicide prevention training. Known as QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer), this training focuses on giving campus community members a baseline of foundational knowledge to best assist students when they are struggling with suicidal ideation. Drinks and light snacks will be provided. For questions or accommodations, please contact Tiger Simpson, Health and Counseling Center, at simpsont@up.edu. Future versions of this training will follow, as well as more in-depth sessions.

Name Change for University Health Center

please_noteThe University Health Center is now named the Health and Counseling Center, according to director Margaret Trout. Other programs and offices have made adjustments to their names in the past year, including the Pamplin School of Business (was Pamplin School of Business Administration) and the Career Center (was Career Services).