University of Portland
The year 1901 marked the opening of Columbia University on Waud's Bluff. Fifty-two young men entered its doors on September 5th that same year. Eight Catholic priests from the local archdiocese served as professors for this new institution. Archbishop Alexander Christie had spotted a large building called West Hall while aboard a ship on the Willamette River. He learned the structure sat unoccupied after Portland University closed following financial setbacks in 1893. The Archdiocese purchased West Hall with help from the Congregation of Holy Cross. They named the new school Columbia University after the nearby river. In 1902, the Congregation assumed ownership at the request of the archbishop. Two decades later, the school achieved junior college status. A class of seven men received the first bachelor's degrees in 1929. The name changed to University of Portland in 1935. The St. Vincent Hospital school joined the university in the 1930s as the School of Nursing and Health Innovations. The School of Business also formed during that decade.
Six divisions of study define the academic landscape today. The College of Arts and Sciences houses seventeen departments including Biology, Chemistry, and Theology. The School of Business Administration offers undergraduate and graduate degrees accredited by AACSB. The Shiley School of Engineering provides Bachelor of Science degrees in mechanical, civil, and electrical fields. The School of Nursing and Health Innovations awards both baccalaureate and master's degrees. The Graduate School oversees post-bachelor programs embedded within other schools. Popular majors for undergraduates include Nursing, Biology, Marketing and Management, Finance, Elementary Education, Psychology, and Spanish. The Communication Studies department offers a Master of Arts in communication. The Performing and Fine Arts department holds accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Theatre. The Theology department runs a three-year Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry program started in 2000. The PACE program allows teachers to earn graduate degrees while gaining classroom experience across multiple states. The Doctor of Education degree is available at the graduate level alongside various certificates in neuroeducation and special education.
Waud's Bluff overlooks the industrialized Swan Island and the Willamette River. The campus sits in the University Park neighborhood of North Portland. Three residential quads surround the main academic building known as Franz Hall. East Quad contains Shipstad Hall, Kenna Hall, and Christie Hall. Villa Quad houses Mehling Hall, Corrado Hall, and Villa Maria. North Quad includes Fields Hall, Schoenfeldt Hall, Haggerty and Tyson Halls, and Lund Family Hall. Shiley Hall stands as the largest building on campus after receiving a $12 million gift in 2007. Donald and Darlene Shiley donated funds for its expansion and improvement. A bell tower completed in September 2009 reaches 100 feet into the sky. This structure became the tallest building in North Portland. The Beauchamp Recreation and Wellness Center opened in May 2015 with state-of-the-art training facilities. Construction began on Dundon-Berchtold Hall in September 2017 to provide 65,616 square feet of classroom space. The Shiley-Marcos Center for Design and Innovation cost $40 million to build.
Clive Charles started coaching the men's soccer team in 1986 before adding the women's head coaching job in 1989. He led both teams until his death in 2003. The women's team won NCAA Division I National Championships in 2002 and 2005. Christine Sinclair played for the winning squads during those years. Megan Rapinoe helped secure the 2005 title. Home matches take place at Merlo Field within the Clive Charles Soccer Complex. The program dates back to 1910 when it operated as a club sport. Full varsity status arrived in 1977. The Pilots cross country team won 31 straight West Coast Conference Championships through 2010. They finished seventh nationally in 2008 and again in 2013. A third-place finish occurred at the Division 1 national championships in 2014. Second place marked their highest ever finish in 2017. Basketball, baseball, volleyball, track and field, tennis, and rowing also compete as varsity sports. Women's Rowing joined effective with the 2011-12 academic year. Beach Volleyball became the 16th varsity sport in 2017. Football disbanded in 1950 due to lack of funding.
The University of Portland enrolls approximately 3,700 students today. Admission is rated as selective by U.S. News and World Report for Fall 2022. An acceptance rate of 95% applied that fall semester. Half of admitted applicants scored between 1160 and 1360 on the SAT or between 26 and 31 on the ACT. Standardized test scores are not required for application. Undergraduate demographics from Fall 2020 show a mix of White, Asian, Hispanic, Black, Pacific Islander, and foreign national students. Economic diversity data tracks low-income versus affluent backgrounds. The Air Force ROTC detachment known as Detachment 695 numbers nearly 4% of the campus undergraduate population. It received the Right of Line Award in both 2004 and 2012. The Army ROTC program includes over 70 cadets and seven faculty members since 1996. These programs operate out of Kenna Hall basement and Villa Maria respectively.
University of Portland serves as North Portland's largest corporation with an annual economic impact of $170 million. More than 17,000 alumni live within the Portland metropolitan area. Donald Shiley arrived at the university in 1948 when the School of Engineering was founded. He graduated in 1951 with a bachelor's degree in general engineering before inventing heart valves and medical devices. His $12 million gift to the engineering school stood as the largest donation in UP history until that time. An additional $8 million followed later for the same school. The institution hosts two detachments of Reserve Officers Training Corps. The Air Force unit is one of the oldest on campus established in 1951. The Army unit has grown to include over 70 cadets since 1996. The Chiles Center became the designated training facility for the Rip City Remix NBA G-League team in 2023. It also trains traveling teams who battle the Portland Trail Blazers.
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Common questions
When did the University of Portland open its doors to students?
The University of Portland opened on the 5th of September 1901. Fifty-two young men entered the institution that year as Columbia University before it changed names in 1935.
What are the main academic divisions and popular majors at the University of Portland today?
Six divisions define the academic landscape including the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business Administration, Shiley School of Engineering, School of Nursing and Health Innovations, Graduate School, and Performing and Fine Arts department. Popular undergraduate majors include Nursing, Biology, Marketing and Management, Finance, Elementary Education, Psychology, and Spanish.
Where is the campus located and what are the key buildings on Waud's Bluff?
The campus sits in the University Park neighborhood of North Portland overlooking Swan Island and the Willamette River. Three residential quads surround Franz Hall while Shiley Hall stands as the largest building after receiving a $12 million gift in 2007.
Which sports teams have won national championships for the University of Portland Pilots?
The women's soccer team won NCAA Division I National Championships in 2002 and 2005 with players like Christine Sinclair and Megan Rapinoe. The cross country team finished seventh nationally in 2008 and 2013 before achieving second place at the Division 1 national championships in 2017.
How many students attend the University of Portland and what is the acceptance rate for Fall 2022?
The University of Portland enrolls approximately 3,700 students today with an acceptance rate of 95% for Fall 2022. Half of admitted applicants scored between 1160 and 1360 on the SAT or between 26 and 31 on the ACT during that semester.