Academic Involvement | University of Portland

Academic Involvement

We believe that residence life should support our students in their academic endeavors. Below are some of the ways we've incorporated faculty and support for academics into the life of our halls.

  • Christie Mentors: Need help with homework? Got a question about your classes? Christie Hall residents can meet up with other Christie residents to talk 1-on-1 about anything academic.
  • Fields Hall Fellows: Select faculty and staff members take an interest in Fields Hall and participate in special hall activities.
  • "Best Study Habits" presentations by Brother Thomas Giumenta can be found throughout the year in multiple residence halls.
  • Shipstad Trivia Night: Shipstad prepares for finals with a trivia night that has categories based on core curriculum and fun. Questions are submitted from the greatest minds across campus.
  • ReadUP: Book discussion groups in multiple residence halls participate in this campus-wide annual program to read and discuss the same book.
  • Academic Coordinator: This pilot program in Villa Maria Hall has a student leader focused on encouraging residents' study habits and connecting them to academic resources around campus.

All of our residence halls have dedicated study rooms to allow students a quiet study space outside of their own room that doesn't require traveling across campus. We institute "23-hour quiet hours" during finals week, with an hour each night for residents to take a study break and come together to hang out. Many resident assistants also find their own ways to support the academics of their residents, whether it's instituting special study hours or connecting residents with older students who can tutor them in particular subjects. We're always open to more ideas of how to support the work of the classroom in the life of the residence hall.