The Shepard Freshman Resource Center (113 Buckley Center) is just for freshmen—a "one-stop" place for first-year students to come for support, counsel, and assistance of all sorts. The center oversees counseling and academic advising, helps students explore interests related to the first year of studies, and works closely with freshmen having difficulty adjusting to college life. The center also provides resources for parents—to help them help their sons and daughters have a successful first year of college. The center provides information regarding the many resources offered by departments all over campus, including residence life, financial aid, the registrar, study abroad, volunteer services, and the career center. If you would like to learn more or schedule an appointment, please call the center at (503) 943-7895. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Orientation for the entering freshman class of 2009 will be held Friday, August 28-Sunday, August 30. Students can begin moving into the residence halls after 9 a.m. on the 28nd and will have many opportunities throughout the weekend to organize their rooms and get to know their roommates. Throughout Orientation there are several activities and sessions available for students and their parents, including informational sessions regarding student housing, finding jobs on campus, studies abroad, and the Shepard Freshman Resource Center. Further, students and parents will be able to pay their tuition, buy their books, and obtain their student ID card all weekend. Students will also meet for the first time with their First-Year Workshop and meet their Freshman Workshop Leader. Activities for parents end Saturday afternoon as returning students begin moving back on campus Sunday. For a complete schedule of Orientation events, contact the Office of Student Activities at (503) 943-7470.

As their students begin life at UP, most parents are curious as to when breaks will be, so that they can make travel arrangements accordingly.

• Usually following midterm examinations, students have a one-week break during both semesters. Fall Break 2009 will be held October 19-23 and Spring Break 2010 will be held March 8-12. During both of these breaks, students are allowed to remain in the residence halls, and food services, although modified for the week, continue as well.

• Both the Thanksgiving and Easter holidays are also recognized by the University of Portland. The University officially closes at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25st, and no classes are held on either Thanksgiving Day or the following Friday (November 26-27). Classes are also canceled on Good Friday and Easter Monday (April 2 and 5) in honor of Easter. The school officially closes at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 9. For both the Thanksgiving and Easter breaks, students are allowed to remain in the residence halls, and food service is provided.

• The only breaks during which students must move out of the residence halls are after the first and second semesters (winter and summer, respectively). After first semester examinations are complete, students must be out of the residence halls by 12 noon on Friday, December 18. They will be fined by the Office of Residence Life for every one half hour they are in the dorms past noon. Students do not need to move completely out of the residence halls for the winter break, but do for the summer break, which begins Friday, Apr. 30 at 12 noon. . For more information about storage availability on campus during the summer months, as well as questions regarding moving out of the residence halls, please contact the Office of Residence Life at (503) 943-7205.

For students who can commute home on the weekends, advise them not to do so during the first 4-6 weeks of their first semester. The first weeks are very important for establishing friendships and connections on campus. Many local universities do not begin classes until mid-September. If students hang out off-campus (with their high school friends) during this critical first-year bonding time, they will be “outsiders” on campus and will find it harder to make friends later in the semester.