FAQs

Most instruction will remain online during the Spring 2021 Semester. A limited number of laboratory, clinical, and experiential courses will be conducted in-person. Residence halls will re-open in a de-densified format. First Year students will be given on-campus housing priority, followed by returning students. Single occupancy rooms are recommended, but double occupancy will also be permitted upon request.

We understand that some members of the community will question the decision to give on-campus housing priority to First Year students. At UP, we regard shared residency as critical to forming community and creating bonds among students. We believe that First Year students should have the opportunity to do so.

The COVID-19 Steering Committee and campus leadership identified several factors that permit the University to resume de-densified on-campus residency in the Spring that were not present in the Fall. First, COVID-19 testing turnaround times are much shorter now than they were in late Summer/early Fall. Rapid turnaround times are critical to successfully controlling the spread of COVID-19. Additionally, supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) and tests are now more stable than they were in late Summer/early Fall. Finally, the University has closely studied how other institutions of higher education have promoted the health and safety of community members and has learned from their experiences.

The library will ​open on January 11 with limited hours for checkout only. On February 1st, hours will be extended, and the main floor will be available as a study space. Visit the Spring 2021 Library Services guide for all the details, including safety practices, laptop checkout, and reserving library seats. We will continue to offer a robust set of services for remote students including ebook purchasing, scanning chapters to send by email, and mailing books.

The Health & Counseling Center (hcc@up.edu) is available to provide further details on the University’s COVID-19 testing protocol.

If a student residing on campus tests positive for COVID-19, has been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, or suspects that they have been exposed to someone likely to test positive for COVID-19, they should contact the Health & Counseling Center of their residence hall staff immediately. The HCC has procedures in place for testing, contact tracing, isolation/quarantine, care, and support.

The Health & Counseling Center will be available for testing on campus, as well as to connect students with local resources for testing should that be a better option for them.

We know that many students and their families are facing financial uncertainty at this time and will have questions about tuition rates. Even though UP is mostly in a remote learning model, we will continue to put the learning experience of students first. It is important to remember that tuition pays for only 67% of the costs of a UP education. The University receives the remaining 33% through philanthropic support, endowment funding, and auxiliary revenue (e.g., room and board, rentals, events, etc.). We project that these sources of revenue will diminish significantly in the months ahead. We also note that many of the University’s costs will not decrease in the remote learning model. For these reasons, and because we plan to provide the same excellent teaching and formation that are hallmarks of the University of Portland experience, the published tuition rates for the 2020–21 academic year will remain the same.

University of Portland offers emergency financial assistance to students who have experienced a financial emergency or unanticipated expenses that cause financial hardship through the Presidential Hope Fund. The goal is to cover expenses that affect a student’s ability to stay in college and complete their education. Emergency funding is not intended to provide ongoing relief of recurring expenses or as a consistent supplement for educational purposes. Awards typically range from $100-$1,000.

University of Portland has been allocated $2,672,004 from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, which provides financial support to higher education institutions for covering expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Fifty percent of these funds in the amount of $1,336,002, will be provided to eligible students who have incurred expenses such as child care, food/meals, housing, technology or travel expenses. Funds will be split evenly among all eligible students who apply.

The deadline to submit a certification application is September 15, 2020. This deadline is final.

Our current projects are all at different construction stages around campus, including some that are nearly complete.  Those projects will be allowed to finish.  We are currently evaluating all other capital projects to determine how or if they should progress.

We know that many students and their families question why the University cannot lower its tuition rates. The University has been widely recognized for its high value in providing excellent instruction at a price lower than most of our peer institutions, while simultaneously providing generous levels of institutional financial aid to students. As noted in Father Poorman’s message, tuition covers only 67% of the costs of a UP education and many of these fixed costs are unaffected by a move to a remote learning model. The University has already engaged in significant cost-reduction efforts to bring our operational costs down to offset increased student scholarships and financial aid; and significant additional cost-cutting will be required due to the closure of our residence halls. Even with these measures, the University will be operating at a substantial financial loss in the coming year. This is not a question of preserving a positive bottom line, but rather of moderating losses and helping to ensure that UP can continue to fulfill its mission. For these reasons, the 2020–21 tuition rates must remain the same.

Yes, your financial aid cost of attendance can be increased to include the cost of purchasing a computer, laptop, tablet, or other technology necessary to participate in classes. In general an increase to your costs will result in eligibility for additional loans, not scholarships or grants. However, if your loan eligibility has been exhausted we will look for other resources to assist you. To request an increase to your cost of attendance, complete a 2020-21 Cost of Attendance Increase Request Form, available in the Financial Aid section of the PilotsUP Portal. You will need to include a receipt with your request.

As stated in the message from Fr. Poorman C.S.C. on Tuesday, February 2, with hope and optimism, the University of Portland is planning to conduct a primarily in-person Fall 2021 Semester. Classes will once again mostly be held in-person in our academic buildings, residence halls will return to close-to-normal occupancy, and most campus programming and events will resume.

Students will need a computer, a camera and microphone, and headphones or headset. For further technology details, please see the Information Services guide for student computing requirements.

Generally, yes. For more information, please contact the Office of Admissions at 503.943.7147 and/or admissions@up.edu.

If you defer for a full year: merit scholarships, Anchor Awards and UP Oregon Success Awards will still be available. Federal, state, and UP Grant aid will be based on the results of your 2021-22 FAFSA application, available October 1, 2020. Direct Loan and Federal Work-Study eligibility would also be determined by the 2021-22 FAFSA. Named endowed scholarships and Pilots First Year Launch Awards will be forfeited.

The UP Bookstore is still here and working to get you your fall books. Simply place an order on the UP Bookstore website. Shipping is free with a $49 order minimum. Please keep in mind that UPS does not deliver to a PO Box, so make sure you enter a valid street address.

You should order your books as soon as possible. Even though the UP Bookstore is shipping daily, transit times will vary based on your location. Ordering early will also help with any unexpected shipping delays or inclement weather.

Yes, used and rental books are available. Please order early for your best chance at used books.

You can contact the UP Bookstore directly at 503.943.7125 or via email at sm796@bncollege.com.

Generally, no. All employees are to continue teleworking unless and until they are instructed otherwise by their supervisor, dean, and/or the Office of Human Resources.

The University is unsure as to when employees can begin returning to on-campus work. UP will contact employees with further information as soon as there is any change in the current policy regarding telework.

If a member of the faculty or staff tests positive for COVID-19, has been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, or suspects that they have been exposed to someone who is likely to test positive for COVID-19, they should seek appropriate medical care and contact their supervisor, dean, and/or the Office of Human Resources immediately. They should not come onto campus unless and until they are permitted to do so by their supervisor, Dean, and/or the Office of Human Resources.

To fight the rapid spread of COVID-19, the governors of Oregon, Washington and California issued travel advisories urging visitors entering their states or returning home from travel outside these states to self-quarantine. The advisories urge against non-essential out-of-state travel, ask people to self-quarantine for 14 days after arriving from another state or country, and encourage residents to stay local.

Oregon’s travel advisory does not apply to people who cross state borders for “essential travel,” including work, study, critical infrastructure support, supply chains, economic services, health, immediate medical care and safety and security.

For more information, visit the State of Oregon website.

Close contacts are people who have been within 6 feet of a person infected with COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes without wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). 

A person with COVID-19 can spread the virus up to two days before their symptoms started until they are self-isolated from others. If you were within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes without proper PPE, you may be considered a close contact. Someone without symptoms is considered infectious for up to ten days before their test date.

Quarantining is designed to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others. Quarantine helps prevent the spread of disease that can occur before a person knows they are sick or if they are infected with the virus without feeling symptoms.