UPbeat

News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.

Provost's Office

2021 Commencement Honorees: Nominations Welcome

The University of Portland invites nominations for the 2021 Commencement speaker(s), Christus Magister Medal recipient, and honorary degree recipients. All nominations should be emailed to University Provost Herbert Medina (medinah@up.edu) and Evan Leadem, President’s Office (leadem@up.edu) and should contain the following information:

  • Name of nominee.
  • A paragraph or two answering the following questions:
    • If a nominee for Commencement Speaker: Why would this nominee be an exceptional Commencement Speaker? What sort of message would this nominee deliver to the graduates of the University and their families?
    • If a nominee for Christus Magister Medal: How has this nominee evinced a vigorous spiritual life and an accomplished professional career in service to others? How has this nominee been a source of inspiration and consolation to the world? How has this nominee illustrated and enhanced the mission of the University of Portland?
    • If a nominee for Honorary Degree: How has this nominee contributed to the University’s values of teaching and learning, faith and formation, and service and leadership? What impact has this person had on his/her local community and/or the world? Is this a person that the University would like for its students and faculty to imitate in their own lives?
  • Any contact information for the nominee (if possible).
  • Any connection between the nominee and the University of Portland (if applicable).

For a list of past honorees, please use this link.

2020-2021 University Bulletin Online

The Office of the Provost is pleased to announce that the 2020-2021 online University Bulletin is now available. You may access the Bulletin on the registrar’s website, or directly at “University Catalog: The Bulletin.” Smartphone users can also access the Bulletin using its mobile site.

For more information contact Jericho Knight, associate provost’s office, at x7848 or knight@up.edu.

Sabbatical Applications Due to Deans by June 15

Applications for sabbaticals for the 2021-2022 academic year are due along with faculty development plans to faculty members’ respective deans by June 15, 2020. All materials, including the letter from the dean to the provost, are due to the provost’s office by September 1, 2020. Faculty eligible to apply for a sabbatical must have completed seven years of full-time teaching at the University of Portland, or have completed at a minimum an additional seven years of full-time teaching since a previously funded University of Portland sabbatical.

Sabbatical requests are coordinated with departmental planning as well as the individual faculty member’s annual development plan. With careful planning the academic units have been able to take into consideration the needs of both the individual faculty member and the department or school. Additional information about sabbatical leaves can be found on page 42 of the Faculty Handbook.

For more information contact the provost’s office at 7105 or staten@up.edu.

2020 Retiring Faculty Ceremony, April 15

The following faculty members have announced their retirement at the conclusion of the spring 2020 semester, according to Kathleen Staten, provost’s office:

  • Robert J. Albright, Professor of Electrical Engineering, 50 years
  • Robin D. Anderson, Dean of the Pamplin School of Business and Franz Endowed Professor of Entrepreneurship, 22 years.
  • James B. Carroll, Professor of Education, 27 years
  • Frances Simmons, Instructor, School Nursing, 31 years
  • Thomas G. Greene, Provost and Professor of Education, 37 years

A ceremony and reception for all 2020 retirees will take place on Wednesday, April 15, at 3:30 p.m., in the Bauccio Commons board room. For more information contact Staten at x7105 or staten@up.edu.

Rank & Tenure: 2020 Tenure, Promotions

The provost’s office has announced the following promotions and grants of tenure, effective July 1, 2020:

  • Alexa Dare, communication studies: promoted to associate professor, granted tenure
  • Christopher Lee, mathematics: promoted to associate professor, granted tenure
  • Susan Murray, biology: promoted to associate professor, granted tenure
  • Natalie Nelson-Marsh, communication studies: promoted to associate professor, granted tenure
  • Nicole Ralston, education: promoted to associate professor, granted tenure
  • Shazib Vijlee, mechanical engineering: promoted to associate professor, granted tenure
  • Halina Wyss, nursing: promoted to associate professor, granted tenure.

For more information contact the provost’s office at x7105 or staten@up.edu.

 

Provost’s Initiative for Undergrad Research: New Deadline

John Orr, Assistant ProvostFaculty members are invited to apply for one of ten spring 2020 Provost’s Initiative grants for support to collaborate with an undergraduate on a co-designed research project during the spring semester 2020. Students are expected to meet and work with the faculty member weekly. Students will enroll in a 493 course and will earn a minimum of 1-credit for their work on the project and produce an artifact (research paper, lit review, or presentation etc.) appropriate to the discipline. (Note 1 credit hour typically requires 45 hours of work on the project, which includes faculty meeting time). Faculty members who are new to undergraduate research at University of Portland will receive $1,500 for mentoring the student in research, while experienced faculty members will be compensated $1,000.

Applications are available here and are due November 15, 2019. Email ur@up.edu with questions or call John Orr, assistant provost, at x7857.

Thomas G. Greene, Thank You

University of Portland provost Thomas G. Greene will retire from his position effective June 30, 2020, according to University president Rev. Mark L. Poorman, C.S.C. According to Fr. Poorman, “In our University’s proud 118-year history, there are few individuals whose devotion and love for UP matches that of Dr. Greene’s.  He is the epitome of what a twenty-first century Provost should be.  Our institution’s sadness to be losing such an admired and transformational leader is surpassed only by our gratitude to have counted him as one of our own and our joy for the promise of his happy retirement spent alongside family and friends.”

Greene joined UP in 1983 as an adjunct instructor in the School of Education. Before joining the UP faculty full time in 2004, Green had a long and distinguished career in public education. Among many other posts, he served as principal of East Orient School in Gresham, superintendent of the Orient School District, and assistant superintendent of the Beaverton and Gresham-Barlow School Districts. At UP he held leadership positions as associate dean of the School of Education (2004–07), associate provost and dean of the Graduate School (2007–12), interim dean of the School of Education (2009–10), and interim provost (2012–13) before being named the University Provost in 2013. A brilliant and dedicated teacher who is devoted to his students, Greene has carried a credit hour load every fall and spring semester since 1983 in addition to his significant administrative leadership duties.

He has overseen approval of several new degree programs, guided the University’s sustained successes in undergraduate enrollment, supervised the University’s rise in graduation rate, established and revitalized centers and institutes, hired and mentored critical senior academic leaders, coordinated complex reaccreditation, compensation, and curriculum projects; and assisted with the development of various capital projects. In addition to his immense leadership talents and dedication to mission, many across our University community will miss his quick wit, his warm smile, and the sheer, unabashed joy he brought to his work on The Bluff.

Further details regarding the national search for Greene’s successor will be communicated in the months ahead. Please join the the University community in sending best wishes to Tom, his wife Shannon, and his family for a retirement filled with happiness.

For more information contact the president’s office at x7101 or president@up.edu.