Our Mission

The mission of the Office of Studies Abroad at the University of Portland is to uphold inclusive access, academic excellence, measurable learning outcomes, and the health and safety of our faculty, staff, and students abroad.

• Inclusive Access: We aim to support all students in having a meaningful international experience while at UP, regardless of race/ethnicity, gender/sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status.  
• Academic Excellence: We collaborate with UP faculty and partners to develop a range of study abroad options for students in every college and professional school on campus that meet the University of Portland’s academic standards.
• Measurable Learning Outcomes: We are committed to developing measurable global and intercultural learning outcomes for all study abroad students, and to support faculty in assessing these aims.
• Health and Safety Norms: We regularly assess the health and safety of all of our programs and follow best-practices in the field to ensure the well-being of faculty, staff, and students abroad. 

We work with partners on the UP campus and in the world to support these aspects of our mission.

With all of our work, the Office of Studies Abroad upholds the mission of the University of Portland by supporting faculty and students on international programs that focus on teaching & learning, faith & formation, and service & leadership.  UP international programs strive to develop the whole person and prepare students to respond to the needs of the world.