Melissa Aguilar & Christine Menges |
From construction projects to new presidents to massive fundraising campaigns, campus has been busy this summer. Here’s a rundown of the most important changes:
Poorman steps in as president
Fr. Mark Poorman became the University’s 20th president July 1, succeeding Fr. William E. Beauchamp, who held office from 2004 - 2014.
Poorman was a theology professor and pastoral resident in Schoenfeldt Hall before being appointed executive vice president in 2011. Prior to joining the UP community, Poorman taught theology at the University of Notre Dame and served as UP’s vice president of student affairs from 1999 - 2010.
An Inauguration Mass is slated for Friday, Sept. 26 in the Chiles Center at 11:45 a.m., followed by a 3 p.m. the Inauguration Ceremony. All classes held after 11:15 a.m. will be canceled.
RISE Campaign ends with $182 million
The University of Portland’s RISE Campaign came to a close June 30, after raising almost $182 million since its inception in 2007. It funded several physical improvement projects included the construction or renovation of 12 buildings, such as the Clark Library, Fields and Schoenfeldt Halls and the Beauchamp Recreation and Wellness Center, set for completion this fall. Additionally, the University purchased 35 acres of land along the Willamette River for future expansion.
The Campaign established 232 scholarships for 5,595 students, provided financial assistance for faculty research and added nine professorships. It also contributed to the Garaventa Center for Catholic Intellectual Life and American Culture, the University’s Honors Program and the Dundon-Berchtold Fund for Moral Development and Applied Ethics.
The RISE Campaign exceeded its original goal of $175 million by roughly $7 million, making it one of the biggest fundraising efforts of any private college in the Pacific Northwest.
Construction begins on Wellness Center
Construction on the Beauchamp Recreation & Wellness Center began with a groundbreaking ceremony on May 9. Donor funds of $23 million to the RISE campaign financed this project.
The Wellness Center, which is located in front of the Schoenfeldt, Fields, Haggerty and Tyson Residence Halls, will include three gyms totaling 23,090 square feet, an outdoor recreation and bike shop and administrative office space. Above the gyms will be a 10,130-square-foot track, an 855-square-foot stretching area and a 1,170-square-foot wellness suite. The center will also include a 2,850-square-foot weight training area and a 730-square-foot rock wall.
The Wellness Center is named in honor of former University President E. William Beauchamp, who left office this summer and long supported the Wellness Center’s construction.
Baseball Stadium renovations begin
Construction began on the first of several improvements to the Joe Etzel Field. Funding for the $850,000 project will come from RISE campaign donations. Installing Astro Turf is the first step.
Other parts of phase one include installing new fencing, a new scoreboard and new lighting. The project's second phase includes adding new grandstands, improving concession and ticketing facilities and baseball-specific programming.
Other improvements are being implemented on The Bluff, such as a beautified front entrance and minor construction inside Franz Hall. Major renovation has been completed at UP’s entrance, and all final landscaping and monument installation is slated for to end within three weeks.
Melissa Aguilar is a reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at aguilarm16@up.edu. Christine Menges is a reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at menges15@up.edu or on Twitter @christinemenges.
