The partnership, which revives a previous agreement between the two schools, reflects their shared identity as institutions sponsored by the Congregation of Holy Cross.
Stonehill College and University of Portland (UP) students seeking academic and personal growth on the opposite side of the country now have an accessible pathway through a new study away partnership.
The UP/Stonehill Study Away Program allows Stonehill students to spend a semester taking classes and living in Portland, while UP students can study and experience life just outside of Boston. This partnership reflects the shared mission of the two schools, which are both Catholic universities sponsored by the Congregation of Holy Cross.
“One of the strengths of a comprehensive education at a Catholic college is that it connects students to a broader community of institutions that share common values while offering distinctive opportunities,” said Peter Ubertaccio, Ph.D., Stonehill’s vice president for academic affairs. “I am grateful to our colleagues at UP for their partnership and look forward to seeing Stonehill students take advantage of this exciting new opportunity.”
Stonehill and UP are reviving a partnership that existed between the two schools more than a decade ago. The program will leverage each school’s unique course offerings to provide students with access to new fields of study. According to UP Provost David Mengel, Ph.D., a semester spent more than three thousand miles from their home campuses will foster in students greater independence, a deeper understanding of diverse cultures, and valuable academic and professional insights.
“We are eager to welcome Stonehill College students to the Pacific Northwest and our beautiful campus overlooking the vibrant city of Portland,” said Dr. Mengel. “In reviving and expanding this program, we heard from UP alumni who fondly recall their study away semester in New England and the relationships they developed with Stonehill students and faculty. We are thrilled to bring the people of our two great Catholic, Holy Cross institutions closer together, exposing our students to educational and co-curricular experiences they will cherish long after graduating.”
While studying away, students maintain their status as a Stonehill or a UP student. Participants continue to receive financial aid as well as faculty and staff support from their home institutions while they earn credits toward their college degrees. At the same time, participants enjoy full access to their host school’s residence halls, dining services, academic advising, health and wellness resources, student organizations, recreational facilities, and campus events.
Participation in this program fulfills the requirements of Stonehill’s Experiential Education Guarantee (EEG). A pillar of Stonehill 2030: Building Together, the College’s strategic plan, the EEG ensures that all students who graduate from the institution will have had at least one practical hands-on experience.
At the University of Portland, the renewed UP/Stonehill Study Away Program exemplifies two pillars of its own strategic plan: Hope, Renewal, Transformation, namely “Community Rooted in Catholic, Holy Cross Identity” and “Engaged Learning and Experiential Education.”
“These opportunities are designed to help students apply knowledge outside traditional educational contexts, reflect on their personal and professional growth, and contribute to a more just and compassionate world,” said Dr. Ubertaccio.
The UP/Stonehill Study Away Program is open to undergraduate students of all majors. Interested students may apply to take part in the program starting in the spring semester of 2027.
University of Portland is an independently governed Catholic university guided by the Congregation of Holy Cross with a mission focusing on teaching and learning, faith and formation, and service and leadership. Currently celebrating its 125th anniversary, UP is the only school in Oregon to offer a College of Arts & Sciences, a graduate school, and nationally accredited programs in the schools of business, education, engineering, and nursing. A premier national university, University of Portland is consistently ranked as one of the top institutions in the American West.
