November 3, 2025

PSU welcomes 3,175 new undergraduate students this fall! They come primarily from Oregon and the West Coast and from as far away as Ethiopia and Vietnam. More than half our new students are transfers, making PSU Oregon’s top transfer school and continuing our more than 75-year tradition of serving nontraditional students. Meet PSU's incoming class of 2025 — the problem solvers, innovators and creative thinkers who are turning ideas into action in Portland and beyond!

PSU's annual Research Awards recognize the outstanding achievements of research faculty, student mentors and administrative professionals at Portland State. Nominations must be completed Monday, Nov. 17, 2025 to be eligible for review.

During the week of Nov. 3–7, a team from CampusWorks will visit PSU as part of the TRUs+PSU Shared Services Assessment. The team will meet with selected stakeholders to explore ways to improve administrative services, enhance efficiency and identify collaboration opportunities with peer institutions.

If you were invited to participate, please share your honest feedback during your interview. If not, you can still contribute ideas or suggestions about purchasing, IT, HR, legal, compliance or related services by emailing Angie Telford at atelford@pdx.edu by Friday, Nov. 7.

During the 2024-25 academic year, fourteen University Studies first-year Inquiry courses participated in a pilot supported by the Office of Student Success that embeds student support resources into coursework, activities and curricula. The Pilot is an effort to connect students more directly to support services they may need to be successful at PSU, to increase their sense of belonging and ultimately increase their completion of FRINQ.

The first year of the Pilot showed measurable improvements across key indicators of student success outcomes, and University Studies was honored by the Association of General and Liberal Studies with the Association's Exemplary Program Award, recognizing the first year of the Student Success Pilot in FRINQ.

Year 2 of the Pilot (AY 25-26) builds on the successes of Year 1 as well as areas identified for improvement and provides a first-year experience for all Portland Scholars students.

Students face unprecedented food insecurity, especially with the recent SNAP freeze. The PSU Smallwood Food Pantry is a vital resource providing free, nutritious supplemental groceries to Portland State students. We are experiencing a surge in demand and need your help to keep our shelves stocked. Every dollar you donate ensures a student can focus on their education, not their next meal. Give today and nourish our Viks!

Oregon’s public universities, including Portland State University, are the state’s economic engine. Legislators will likely have to make tough budget decisions this February, and we must remind them that higher education is an investment in our future, not a cost to contain. 

We need you to contact legislators today to urge them to protect the investments they’ve made to the Public University Support Fund, the primary state investment that keeps college affordable and opportunity within reach for Oregon students and families. Cutting contributions to higher education will only shift the burden onto students and weaken the state’s ability to grow its economy.

The PSU Advocates have made it easy to do — just click below to send your message!

The Alumni Association invites you to join Vikings on the Vine, a wine club celebrating the spirit of Portland State. As a club member, you receive two annual shipments of four wines exclusively from alumni-owned wineries. Join by November 10 to receive the fall collection featuring wines from Caelestis Cellars and Wild Roots Wines.

Kick off game day with Vikings Fan Fest presented by Ferguson Wellman—an exciting, family-friendly street fair just steps from Providence Park. Enjoy games, food and a cash bar before cheering on the Viks at the Homecoming football game. Faculty and staff are encouraged to bring family and friends and celebrate PSU pride together! Be there at noon when the drumline leads the team into the stadium. The event is free and open to all, but registration is encouraged.

Game Day - Saturday, Nov. 15
Morrison St. in front of Providence Park
12 - 2 p.m.

Start planning your own outdoor adventure for the upcoming Thanksgiving break with an outdoor rental special from the Outdoor Program. Rent gear for 6 days for the price of 4 from Wednesday to Monday over our holiday closure (Nov. 26-Dec. 1)! Any additional days will be charged standard extra day fees. This is a fantastic opportunity for our community to explore the outdoors without breaking the bank during the Thanksgiving break.

Looking for a way to move your body during PSU's community hour? Campus Rec is providing Group X Fitness classes during this time specifically for Faculty & Staff! Join us from 12-12:30 p.m. this Tuesday, Nov. 4 for Full Body Strength 1, and from 12-12:30pm on Thursday for F/S Pilates. Group X classes are free for members, all you have to do is drop in to participate!

Not a member? Explore our monthly Faculty/Staff membership options, or try a 5-visit punch pass!

Enjoy a special community screening of TINA — a moving film exploring connection, identity, and healing through Samoan musical traditions. Still grieving her daughter’s loss, a teacher finds purpose and renewal through song, inspiring her students and reconnecting with her roots.

Date: Friday, November 7
Time: 6–10 p.m.
Location: 5th Avenue Cinema

Seating is limited to 100 attendees — free tickets and popcorn provided!

Scholarship applications are open!

Tell students about Scholarship Universe, PSU's online scholarship portal, to apply for millions of dollars in scholarships—including PSU-specific awards and vetted external opportunities. The general application is open now through March 1, 2026.

There's help available to find scholarships

The Financial Wellness Center is holding workshops to help students find scholarship and apply for them. Sessions are held between November-February. Registration Link

Kickstart Weekend 2025

Enterprising students can kick off their entrepreneurial journey with a fun, two-day immersive workshop this weekend hosted by the Center for Entrepreneurship. Explore Human-Centered Design, the Lean Startup Canvas, and Storytelling while working with mentors from Portland’s startup community. Registration Link

Portland State University stands as a leader in water workforce training, industry preparation and shaping the future of the field. Students gain skills to become water workforce industry employees through hands-on classes and capstones, connect with industry partners to land internships and collaborate with faculty on cutting-edge water research.

Water@PSU is featured in this month's online edition of Portland State Magazine — as an article and a video!

PSU’s historic copper beech tree took a star turn on KPTV; Tomás Cotik, associate professor of violin, was featured in the Violin Channel for his 3D musical performance; and Professor of Political Science Chris Shortell continued to comment on Portland’s place in the national political debate, this time with Politico. 

All week

Storywork: The Prints of Marie Watt, from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation

Deinum Prize Showcase Exhibition: Missing Everglades of the West

Monday, Nov. 3

Physics Seminar Series: Indoor Air Pollution Exposure During and After Fire Events

Biology Seminar Series: Lophocampa Maculata Uses the Annual Variation in Day Length to Regulate its Bivoltine Life Cycle

Friends of Chamber Music: Hermitage Piano Trio

Tuesday, Nov. 4

Bring your Own Lunch with Bowman & Provost

Badminton Doubles Tournament

Friends of Chamber Music: Hermitage Piano Trio

Wednesday, Nov. 5

Words and Other Demons: A Talk by Len Gutkin

Thursday, Nov. 6

Show & Tell Design Lecture Series Presents Brenda Madrigal

Sees Fall 2025 Seminar Series: Rebecca Mclain & Thien-Kim Bui

PSU at Fans Only

Volleyball v. N. Colorado

Friday, Nov. 7

Academic Integrity in the Digital Age

CETI Constellations 2025: Entanglement

Write with the Deans

Music @ Midday: The PSU Chamber Choir

Saturday, Nov. 8

CETI Constellations 2025: Entanglement

Football v. Sacramento State

Volleyball v. N. Arizona

Chamber Music Northwest: Trio Afiori

Sunday, Nov. 9

CETI Constellations 2025: Entanglement

Visionaries and Trailblazers: Gabrielius Alekna (Piano)

Find more events at: PSU Events, OAI Events, Viks Athletics

People (and more)

Elizabeth Almer, David Ervin, Debra Harris, Jack Straton, International Special Programs, The School of Business, Office of Admissions

Published/Exhibited

Paula Carder, Michele Gamburd, Hannah Kravitz, Ryan Petteway

Presented

Liubomir Chiriac, Celine Fitzmaurice, Kimberly Kahn, Annie Knepler, Sue Taylor

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CURRENTLY is a weekly newsletter for the employees of Portland State University, published by University Communications. News items, events and accolades should be sent to currently@pdx.edu. Deadline is noon, the Tuesday before publication. See the Currently website for submission guidelines and schedule.