UP Parent Newsletter: November 2019

The Office of Alumni & Parent Relations sends you our warm thoughts and well wishes for a joyous Thanksgiving next week! We are filled with gratitude for the partnership and support of our Pilot families. We hope you find the content in this month’s newsletter helpful as your student prepares for a successful end of the fall semester!

Sincerely,
Katie Seccombe
Associate Director, Parent Engagement
parents@up.edu

A Window into Pilot Life

Senior Soiree

Thank you to the more than 1000 juniors, seniors, and family members who spent the weekend of November 1–3 on The Bluff for Junior & Senior Family Weekend! Families spent time being immersed in their student's daily life and joined us for events such as the Welcome Dessert Social, Junior President's Luncheon, and an inaugural Senior Soiree at the Nines Hotel in downtown Portland. If you attended, be sure to fill out our surveys!

Junior Family Survey

Senior Family Survey

Welcome Dessert Social

Men's Soccer Game

Maximizing Holiday Breaks to Plan for Summer

As students head home for the holidays, it is common for family and friends to ask them questions such as “What are you going to do this summer?” or “Have you thought about a summer internship?” While well-intended, questions like this may feel unsettling or stressful to students, especially if they do not yet have an answer. Amy Cavanaugh, Director of the UP Career Center, offers helpful tips for parents in approaching this topic during holiday breaks.

The Importance of Faculty Connections

As your student prepares for finals and plans ahead for the next semester, take a moment to share with them the importance of making meaningful connections with their professors. Heidi Parrett ’20, education major and current president of "Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow," explains why these relationships not only impact current students on The Bluff, but will also assist Pilots in their careers after graduation. Read her insight here.

Preparing for Finals

Finals week begins only one week after the end of Thanksgiving Break! Whether you will see your student in person for the Thanksgiving break or not, now is the perfect time to encourage your student to finish the semester strong. Read our tips for supporting your student during the final stretch.

Practicing Self Care

As we approach the end of the semester, your student may be starting to feel the stress of final projects and exams. Megan Cohara from the UP Health & Counseling Center provides some insight into practicing self-care and achieving school/life balance that you can share with your student. Click here to read her suggestions!

Important Reminders from Financial Aid

The University of Portland Office of Financial Aid would like to remind you that the 2020–2021 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opened on October 1, 2019. The FAFSA is required every year to determine eligibility for federal student aid, including federal student and parent loans. Click here for some useful resources!

National FGEN Day

November 8 was National First-Generation Day, and UP spent the day highlighting the experiences of students who are the first person in their family to attend college. Approximately one-fifth of the student body at UP are First-Generation (FGEN) students, and at least 65 UP professors and staff members self-identify as former FGEN college students. Click here to read The Beacon (student newspaper) article highlighting some of the experience and resources offered by FGEN faculty.

Important Dates and Deadlines

Need to know upcoming financial, academic, and residence life deadlines for students? Click here.

Curious about upcoming fun and educational events available to your student? Learn more here.

Looking for UP events that you can participate in? Check out these upcoming local and regional events open to parents.

What We're Reading

Believe it or not, on-campus housing applications for next academic year will become available December 1, which means that it’s time for your student to start thinking about their plan for next year and who they want to live with. Our friends at CollegiateParent share some practical advice for discussing this topic with your student, which hopefully will set them up for a more successful college experience.

parents@up.edu | 503.943.73285000 N. Willamette Blvd., Portland, OR 97203

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