Student representatives from UO Portland academic programs have joined forces to create the UO Portland Student Council, an advisory group dedicated to creating a welcoming and inclusive community on the Portland campus.

The volunteer group, led by Assistant Dean Linda Favero, will meet monthly to plan events and coordinate programs to enhance the student experience.

“In my new role as assistant dean of students and career services I want to understand directly from our students how we can make this growing Portland campus more connected, welcoming and inclusive,” Favero said. “I hope the UO Portland Student Council will be my eyes and ears to help me see and hear the critical needs our students face, so they can be successful in their academic and professional pursuits.”

The council has two representatives from each of the six UO Portland academic programs: law, allied arts, sports product management, journalism and communication and Oregon Executive MBA. In their push to create a closer-knit community on the UO Portland campus, the group aims to create innovative programming for Portland students, increase interprogram communication and foster collaboration across disciplines.

“The first meeting I just kept thinking, wow, I wish we’d done this sooner,” said student Tiara Darnell, who represents the School of Journalism and Communication on the council. “It was evident that within our programs we had all been thinking and talking about the need to be a better-connected campus community overall; we just hadn’t sat down to talk to each other about how to accomplish that. Now we’re on the right path, but we’ll need the input and support of all Portland students and staff throughout the process.”

The Portland Student Council’s meetings, held the first Wednesday of each month from 5 to 6 p.m. in Room 241, White Stag, are open to UO community members.