February 17, 2025

The 2025 Winter Administrative Briefing is this Wednesday, Feb. 19. Agenda items include updates on the budget and federal funding for research activities, details about the new plan for 2025 commencement ceremonies and other news from various corners of the university. There will also be time for Q&A. This briefing is hybrid, but those who attend in person will get to enjoy treats for National Chocolate Mint Day!

Date: Wednesday, Feb. 19
Time: 3 - 4:30 p.m.
Location: Zoom or ASRC 515

Join the Office of Global Diversity and Inclusion (GDI) for a celebration of PSU’s Time to Act Three-Year Plan for Equity & Racial Justice, which commenced in November of 2021 and sunsetted in December of 2024. During the celebration, reflect on the accomplishments of the past three years and outline the next steps in the university’s ongoing commitment to equity and racial justice. Your presence will be a meaningful part of this important milestone.

For more information about the Time to Act Plan, please visit the Acting on Equity and Racial Justice webpage.

Date: Thursday, Feb.  27
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Location: SMSU Ballroom

The award-winning indie film, “Inward”, will make its Portland State debut this Friday at Lincoln Hall. Following the short film will be a discussion between director Chad Brown and the artist and star of the film, Michi Meko. Discussion will be moderated by Kalimah Abioto. This event is free and open to the public.

Date: Friday, Feb. 21
Time: 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30)
Location: Lincoln Hall 075

Sponsored by PSU's School of Earth, Environment and Society in collaboration with the Veteran's Resource Center, School of Film, College of the Arts Dean’s Office, Dept. of Black Studies, WGSS Mellon Grant, Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design, Office of the President and Office of Global Diversity and Inclusion.

The Committee on Socially Responsible Investment & Partnerships has reopened its survey to gather more feedback from the PSU community. The committee, convened by President Ann Cudd, is tasked with examining PSU’s practices around investments and partnerships and making a recommendation for a model that aligns with the university’s mission and values.

The PSU Graduate School has moved to the first floor of the Richard & Maurine Neuberger Center (RMNC) on Fourth Avenue, and you're invited to an open house celebration! Enjoy light refreshments and beverages while you meet the Graduate School staff, including members of the Admissions and Academic Services teams. This move brings together essential services in one central location, enhancing access and support for graduate students, while improving coordination between the Graduate School, Research and Graduate Studies (RGS) and the Office of Academic Affairs.

Date: Wednesday, Feb. 26
Time: 2 - 4 p.m.
Location: RMNC 110

Curious about what it's like for our students to live on campus? This week, you can visit any of our six residence halls and tour a variety of room types. This is the only time of year when all of the residence buildings are available for viewing. Raffle prizes and free swag available! Check-in at Montgomery or St. Helens lobbies for building maps and unit-specific information.

Date: Wednesday, Feb. 19
Time: 3 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Location: Check-in at Montgomery or St. Helens

Exciting news! The Disability Resource Center (DRC) is now part of Student Academic Support Services, a department within Student Success. Aligning these services elevates the critical work of the DRC and collectively enhances the university’s ability to provide inclusive, accessible and comprehensive academic support. This partnership will strengthen the collaboration between the DRC and Academic Testing Services to provide a more seamless approach to accommodations and testing.

There are millions of dollars in scholarships available to PSU students through the university’s portal, Scholarship Universe. The portal is open for the 2025-2026 academic year. Deadlines for scholarships run from April 1 through May 15. Please tell your students about this amazing opportunity!

The PSU URISE (Undergraduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement) program is recruiting for their fifth cohort of scholars. Students accepted into URISE will learn foundational skills of research and experience a one-year paid placement in research learning communities focused on solving some of the world’s most pressing health issues! Students are also offered monthly stipends and a percentage of tuition is paid. Applications are open now — they close this Friday, Feb. 21 at noon. Please share the URISE page with your students and encourage them to apply!

This week, the University Career Center is hosting a special virtual panel for students who are interested in careers in Public Health. The panel features professionals from public service, healthcare, nonprofit organizations and education. Participants will gain valuable insights and get practical advice on navigating their job searches and achieving their career goals.

Date: Thursday, Feb. 20
Time: 12 - 1 p.m.
Location: Virtual
Share the registration link

PSU Eats, the university’s catering and dining vendor, is looking for employees to participate in focus groups next week. The goal is to receive feedback on how PSU Eats can better serve the faculty and staff at PSU. Participants will be asked to give their opinions about current offerings, food options on campus and what they’d like to see in the future. Those who participate get the chance to win Airports and a free meal!

Dates: Wednesday & Thursday, Feb. 26 & 27
Time: 1 - 1:45 p.m.
Location: SMSU 323

The Northwest Science Expo is April 11 at the Viking Pavilion. Volunteers are needed to judge middle and high school projects in a wide range of categories. The day starts at 8:30 a.m. and most are finished by 3 p.m. In addition, judges score slide decks the week prior to the fair on their own time. 

Organizers are seeking lab visits or activities for middle school students from 12:30 - 2 p.m., science or engineering based preferred. Tabling opportunities from 9 - 10 a.m. or 2 - 4 p.m. are also available. Please contact Stephanie Jones (sjones@pdx.edu) for more information.

If it sounds fun, but you are not available that day there are several other Oregon fairs also needing judges.

This is a reminder that Staff Fee Privilege Tuition Discount forms are due two days before the start of the term. Your staff fee form can be uploaded beginning Friday, Feb. 28.  For Spring term this means that you need to upload your Staff Fee Forms for use at PSU by the end of day Saturday, March 29. Deadlines for the other Oregon universities vary — please check their websites for more details. Please email askhrc@pdx.edu if you have any questions about this process. Happy Studying!

Campus Rec Personal Training supports the PSU community in achieving their health and well-being goals in a safe and engaging environment. With a focus on fostering an active and balanced lifestyle, offerings include individual and buddy sessions, virtual group training programs and exercise videos. Campus Rec members can get started by reviewing trainer bios, submitting an interest form and scheduling a free 30-minute consultation.

History Professor Marc Rodriguez talked with KGW’s Straight Talk about why strikes are increasing and the potential impact on consumers; Chuck Knepfle, vice president for enrollment management, discussed PSU’s new Park Blocks scholarship with KXL; and Richard Tankersley, vice president for research and graduate studies, spoke with OPB about challenges facing universities as the National Institutes of Health introduced caps for research funding.

All week

Boliglaboratorium: A Danish Housing Lab Exhibition

Arlene Schnitzer Visual Arts Prize Exhibition

Just Playin’ Around

City of Possibility: Portland Seen Through Architectural Models, Past, Present, Future

Monday, February 17

Biology Seminar Series: Giants of the Bermuda Triangle: Rhizaria Ecology of the Sargasso Sea

Basketball Shooting Challenge: Hot Spot

Tuesday, February 18

Supersymmetry Launch Party

Wednesday, February 19

Academic Integrity and AI

Thursday, February 20

Noon Concert Series: Kerry Politzer Quartet

Show & Tell Design Lecture Series Presents Naily Nevarez

The Princess Bari Myth: On Death, Ritual, Han, and Language in Korean Culture

Women’s Basketball vs. Idaho State

Friday, February 21

Diverse Pathways to a Professional Music Career

VRC Advisory Board

Fridays @1: Rooting Communities in Portland

Inward: An Evening of Film and Discussion with Artist Michi Meko and Director Chad Brown

Saturday, February 22

Women’s Basketball vs. Weber State

Sunday, February 23

Alumni Piano Recital

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

People

Martín Alberto Gonzalez, Lisa K. Bates, Kate Friedman, Jacen Greene, Mark Leymon, John Ott

Published/Exhibited

Jingjing Chen, Jack Straton, Gerry Sussman

Presented

Nicole Rigelman, Suwako Watanabe

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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.