Academic tips, tackling homesickness, and more!
Academic tips, tackling homesickness, and more!
UP Parent Newsletter: October 2018
We hope that you enjoy this month's Parent Newsletter and discover some valuable insights into how you can support your student through the second half of the semester!

A Window into Campus Life

During the second half of September, Campus Ministry and the Office of Residence Life collaborated to provide each residence hall the opportunity to leave campus for a weekend retreat. These retreats created space for residents to build community, learn about the unique identities of their halls, and engage in meaningful conversations. 

Q & A with a Program Counselor

Is your student maximizing their relationship with their Program Counselor, who can support them in planning for academic success? We asked Annie Popoff, Program Counselor for the School of Education, about academic advising, improving grades, and registering for classes. Read her valuable insights here.

Halfway Point of the Semester

October signals the halfway point of the semester. For your student, this could mean the onset of several emotions regarding midterm tests, papers, and grades. We encourage you to read this helpful information from the Shepard Academic Resource Center on what to expect at midterm. We’ve also put together some points to consider when checking in with your student. 

First Year Focus

Homesickness and loneliness affect approximately 66% of new and transfer students. Read this article from Dr. Carol Dell’Oliver, a licensed clinical psychologist and the Director of UP’s Health and Counseling Center, about how to support students dealing with homesickness. You can also find tips for students here.

Send a Finals Week Survival Kit

Help your student get through finals week by ordering a Survival Kit containing a variety of snacks and fun UP swag! Our Student Alumni Association will be accepting orders until Friday, November 2, or while kits are available. We sell out every semester, so place your order now! Save money by purchasing fall and spring semester kits together. Proceeds support SAA activities, which you can learn about here.

UP Events in Your Area

The Office of Alumni & Parent Relations serves to welcome, connect, and support our Pilot community wherever they are geographically. We currently have 10 communities of Pilot parents and alumni around the country. Visit our Regional Chapters page to see if there is one near you! If you live near Portland or a chapter city, consider attending an upcoming event!

Month of Remembrance

For many centuries, the Catholic Church has dedicated November as a month of prayer for the deceased. The University of Portland and Holy Cross community has observed this ancient custom since 1901. You can be part of this tradition by sharing the names of your beloved departed, whom UP will remember in its Masses and prayers throughout November. You can submit names here.

Upcoming Deadlines and Events

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.

UP News

This fall, the University of Portland has the amazing opportunity to host the 2018 Opus Prize, which is one of the world’s largest faith-based awards recognizing individuals who are addressing important social problems. UP students and faculty have been actively involved in the process of selecting and visiting finalists.
All finalists will take part in a week-long celebration in Portland from November 11-15. Some of the special events will be open to the public or available for live stream, so we welcome parents to participate.
Daniel and Avitha Victor of the Agape Rehabilitation Centre in Chennai, India.
Dr. Rami Nashashibi of the Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN) in Chicago, Illinois. 
José Antonio Patrón Quispe and Rev. Daniel Panchot, C.S.C. of the Yancana Huasy in Lima, Peru.

What We're Reading

"A Better Way to Discover Your Passion, According to a Stanford Study"
Choosing a career path or major is not always an easy task, but the concept of a “growth mindset” may help students discover their passions.
Read the article here.
parents@up.edu | 503.943.7328 | 5000 N. Willamette Blvd., Portland, OR 97203
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