Spring Brings New Opportunities
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Dear Colleagues,
Spring brings with it a renewal of energy and a reminder of the cycles of growth and change, and this month has been one of many ‘firsts’ at PSU. We can see beyond the clouds and eagerly anticipate a season of opportunities for collaboration and celebration.
This month and next, our campus will continue hosting the finalists for deans in the College of Education, College of Urban and Public Affairs, School of Business, and School of Social Work. I invite you to participate in the dean search process by attending open forums listed on the 2024 University Dean Searches webpage, and in Currently each Monday in April. I am grateful to our many colleagues serving on the dean search committees, engaging in interview meetings, and escorting our candidates. We will soon have our first cohort of six new academic deans.
We look forward to the Investiture of President Ann Cudd scheduled for Friday, May 10, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the Viking Pavilion. All PSU faculty and staff are invited, and you can reserve a free ticket to the ceremony by logging into the PSU Box Office. We will hold a second Administrative Briefing on Wednesday, May 15, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in person in ASRC 515 and via Zoom. You can find more information about the Administrative Briefing by visiting the Employee Events webpage. I encourage you to RSVP and submit questions for the briefing.
In keeping with my goal to increase opportunities for connection and collaboration, I continue to meet with schools, colleges, and departments to learn the issues and topics that are top-of-mind. Faculty and staff are welcome to join me for Common Grounds, a coffee hour scheduled once each term with colleagues, or for my bi-weekly office hours. For more information, visit the Academic Affairs website and scroll through the web page slider for links to sign up for both opportunities.
Although the past few weeks have been challenging, I hope the coming weeks bring brightness and sustained optimism. As I meet with colleagues from across campus, I am struck by your kind concern and care for your colleagues, students, and the PSU community. Thank you for your unwavering dedication to our community.
Sincerely,
Shelly Chabon, Ph.D. Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
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Office of Academic Affairs News
Xan Arch named University Library Dean Xan Arch will serve as the next Dean of the University Library starting on August 1. This appointment is the result of a robust and rigorous national search process. Arch is a proven leader in library services, and her expertise in serving first-generation students is especially well-suited for the Portland State community as so many of our students are the first in their families to attend college. My heartfelt appreciation to search chair Leroy Bynum, Dean of the College of the Arts, and the Library search committee. Special thanks to Michael Bowman for his outstanding leadership since 2020 as Interim University Library Dean. For more information about Dr. Arch and a list of the search committee members, click the “Learn More” button below.
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Provost Fellows to Study Re-engaging Faculty and Staff After Time Away Cynthia Mohr, Professor, Psychology, and Shannon Yentzer, Marketing and Communications Manager in the Maseeh College of Engineering & Computer Science, were selected as Provost Fellows to explore and identify options to guide faculty and staff upon re-entry to work following leave. Both fellows will work collaboratively with Academic Affairs and Human Resources over the summer to develop our first model for re-engaging faculty and staff after time away from their roles.
Initiation of Attendance (IoA) Update In response to requests made by individual faculty members and at the October Faculty Senate meeting, the IoA workgroup added a new 'Check All' feature that allows faculty to enter the IoA checkmarks to the entire class list simultaneously rather than one by one. The new feature is expected to be available in time for the summer term.
Faculty Retirement Reception - Save the Date Academic Affairs is excited to announce the first-ever (as best we know) Faculty Retirement Reception. Join us for a drop-in reception on Wednesday, May 22, in Smith Memorial Union, Room 328/329, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Campus colleagues are invited to celebrate and honor our retiring faculty for their dedication to PSU and commitment to students. More information and an opportunity to RSVP will be posted in the coming weeks.
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Faculty Support News and Resources
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New Academic Freedom Website Launched OAA launched our first Academic Freedom website. Designed as a go-to hub for faculty and staff for resources about academic freedom at Portland State University. The material on this website provides access to a deeper understanding of academic freedoms and responsibilities. A key component is the "Academic Freedom: Responding to Challenges and Threats" resource guide. This guide provides actions and steps for faculty, administrators, and other offices when academic freedom is perceived as threatening. To review the website, click the “Read More” button below.
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New Disability Resource Center (DRC) Faculty Portal The Disability Resource Center’s (DRC) first Faculty Portal was developed to streamline the accessibility process for faculty members by providing easy access to information regarding DRC-approved accommodations for classes. It also allows faculty to view which DRC-approved accommodations have been activated, a convenient way to ensure that faculty know the accommodations students require to succeed in their courses. As a reminder, students are responsible for activating their disability-related accommodations. Should you have any questions or need assistance with the portal, click on the “Learn More” button below to visit the Disability Research Center or contact them via phone at 503-725-4150 or via email at drc@pdx.edu.
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Refine Your Teaching Skills with OAI's Course Observation Services Sign up with the Office of Academic Innovation (OAI) to receive personalized course observation services. OAI will work with instructors to pinpoint areas of interest or concern and offer a follow-up collaborative discussion after observing a class. Each instructor will receive a comprehensive summary of this discussion in a letter, which can be included in promotion and tenure portfolios or remain confidential. Click the “Sign Up” button below to request a course observation.
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Register for the "Navigating Difficult Classroom Discussion and Disagreement" Workshop Join fellow PSU instructors for a valuable discussion on strategies for managing challenging conversations in the classroom. Hosted by the teaching staff in the Office of Academic Innovation, this session will concentrate on effectively navigating difficult situations and disagreements during class and will cover techniques for assessing and regulating the "emotional temperature" of your classroom when tackling sensitive topics. This virtual event takes place on Friday, April 26, from 11:00 AM to Noon. Click the “Sign Up” button below to register for this workshop.
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Student Success News and Resources
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Dr. Randi Petrauskas Harris will lead Academic Advising After an internal search, Dr. Randi Petrauskas Harris was hired as the Associate Vice Provost of Academic Advising. Harris has been at PSU for 15 years, most recently, she was the Director of the Transfer and Returning Student Center, and she has been a member of the Advising and Career Services leadership team for the last five years. The search committee expresses its confidence in Harris’ ability to lead the academic advising department and continue to strengthen relationships with school and college leadership. Harris began her new position on April 1. For the full announcement, click the “Learn More” button below.
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Student Success Data Champions Pilot Program Concluded
Last winter, the Office of Student Success successfully launched their first Student Success Data Champions pilot program. This one-term-long program was designed to build skills in data literacy, promote equity-minded analysis, and expand the capacity of PSU’s faculty, staff, and administrators to make data-informed decisions. Twenty Data Champions presented their research to the campus community on April 11, and you can view the one-pagers of their work by clicking on the “Learn More” button below. Participants of the program will receive a micro-credential and badge for successful completion of the program. This program will be held annually, and more information will be shared with the campus community about how to participate in the next program.
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Student Affairs News and Resources
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Faculty and Staff Resources for Supporting Students
Visit the Dean of Student Life Faculty/Staff Resources webpage for answers to frequently asked questions about how to support students. There, you will find a link to the Student Life Resources webpage organized by topic and department. It was “created to assist PSU faculty and staff to more easily access resources, programs, and services designed to aid students toward greater personal and academic success.” To learn more about resources for supporting students, click on the “Read More” button below.
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Change to 24/7 Mental Health Support at PSU
TELUS Health (formerly MySSP) is no longer an option for 24/7 mental health support as of April 1 due to the end of funding for this pilot mental health service. Student Health and Counseling (SHAC) services staff are still available to assist students experiencing a mental health emergency. To review SHACs comprehensive list of culturally specific crisis service options, click on the “Learn More” button below to visit the Emergency and Crisis webpage.
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Wellness Resources Corner
Family Friendly Resources
Spring is here, and summer is just around the corner. If you are looking for resources to support your family over the next few months, check out PSU’s Family Friendly Resources webpage. The page lists resources for children and childcare, elder care, homeownership, Portland community and campus activities, recreation, and diversity resources.
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