| Dear Pilot parents and families,
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We are thrilled to be welcoming over 800 students back to campus and into our residence halls starting today, and we look forward to a successful start of the semester with ALL students as Spring courses kick off on January 25. As we begin another semester, please remember to reference helpful resources such as the Pilots Prevent website for the latest information regarding COVID-19 and the Spring semester.
No matter where your student is residing this semester, please let us know how we can be a resource for you. We recognize that every family’s situation is different, but we want to meet you where you’re at. We have immense gratitude for your partnership as we continue to navigate a school year unlike any other.
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Sincerely,
Katie Seccombe
Associate Director, Parent Engagement
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The Office of International Education, Diversity, and Inclusion invites you to join the UP community for MLK Day On 2021 as we celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Hear a virtual keynote from UP alumnus Taylor Stewart ’18, whose work confronts the legacy of racism in Oregon by marking the site of Alonzo Tucker’s lynching in Coos Bay, OR. Register for tonight’s event, which is free and open to the public. If you’re not able to join us for the virtual event, you can read more about Taylor Stewart’s work in the Portland Magazine or through the Oregon Remembrance Project.
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We hope that you have enjoyed reading the weekly Helping Pilots Prevent newsletter. It contains helpful information and resources for keeping the UP community healthy and safe as we continue to face COVID-19. If you missed last week’s issue, we encourage you to learn about UP’s new partnership with Carbon Health and to review COVID-19 screening and testing details with your student, which will differ depending on where they’re residing or what activities they plan to participate in this semester.
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| STUDENT CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY
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No matter where your student is living this semester, they can still look forward to opportunities to connect with peers this semester! Students can create connection with peers by forming study groups, attending Mass or exploring their faith through Campus Ministry, participating in programming in their residence hall, or discovering clubs, organizations, and upcoming events on the Engage platform. The key is to develop connection and healthy coping skills now, so that when the stress of the semester kicks in your student will feel supported.
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| STUDENT ADVICE FOR FAMIILIES
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Every student’s situation is different this semester depending on their class year, living situation, major, or other factors. This variety of situations may make navigating parenting even more challenging (and sometimes rewarding) than usual. We spoke with three different students – one living on campus, one living off campus with roommates, and one living at home with their family – to hear how they’ve made the most of their current situation and what their advice for parents is.
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| ACADEMIC SUPPORT RESOURCES
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It’s a new year, which means a new semester and a new opportunity for your student to invest in their education and to excel in their studies. While not comprehensive, we’ve compiled a short list of resources that would be helpful to remind your student of as they begin a new set of courses. It’s never too late (or too early) for students to get a head start and set themselves up for success, which is especially important in the virtual learning environment.
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We are excited to be welcoming a large percentage of our first-year class on to The Bluff for the first time this semester! As this new chapter begins, we want to remind our first-year families about important offices to know, as well as conversations parents can have with their student to help them prepare for this transition. For families of first-year students (both on and off campus), now is a good time to have your student reflect on the fall semester, establish new goals, and to keep up your encouragement.
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| HELPFUL SPRING SEMESTER COURSES
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Encourage your student to explore these 1-credit courses available this semester, which can support your student’s growth and development both inside and outside of “the classroom.”
- CAS 197 - Internship & Career Preparation
- CAS 291 - Career Planning + Life Design
- ED 102 - University Success
- LDR 225 - Foundations of Leadership
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| IMPORTANT DATES & REMINDERS
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- January 25: First Day of Classes
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ReadUP is University of Portland's annual celebration of literature in which the entire campus community is invited to read "one book together” and participate in discussion groups. This year's selection is How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi. For students, a limited number of print copies will be available, or they can access a virtual copy through the Clark library. We invite you to read along!
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