March 3, 2025

As part of the Bridge to the Future plan, the university is evaluating administrative services in finance, human resources and marketing and communications to identify opportunities for improvement. Workgroups in each area have now outlined key administrative tasks to be reviewed.

The next step is gathering input from PSU employees. If you handle tasks in finance, human resources and/or marketing and communications, your insights are needed! Attend a Listening Session during the week of March 10 to share your feedback. Before attending, please review the list of issues identified by the workgroups.

In accordance with Oregon employment law, following the PSU American Association of University Professors’ (AAUP) declaration of an impasse in contract negotiations, the university has submitted its Final Offer and Cost Summary to the state mediator and the union. Both parties will enter into a 30-day “cooling off” period, during which several negotiating sessions are scheduled.

The Maseeh College is hosting “March Forth - Celebration of Women in Tech” on Tuesday of this week. The event is a celebration of women in technology, featuring esteemed alumni speakers and networking opportunities. The main program is from 5 - 6 p.m. with networking and resource tabling before and after. The event is hosted in partnership with the Center for Women’s Leadership and is open to the PSU community and the public.

The Better Block PSU program has opened its annual call for community organizations to reimagine their streets, bring people together and reclaim public spaces. Community members submit project ideas, and PSU transportation engineering & planning students develop plans and designs. These projects can be powerful demonstrations of community-led ideas, and often lead to permanent installations. Due Monday, March 10.

The Portland State Vikings football team will host the University of Montana Grizzlies at Providence Park on Saturday Nov. 15, for the Viks Homecoming game. The last time Portland State played football in the downtown stadium was in 2018. Hillsboro Stadium remains the primary location for PSU football, but a new contract between the university and the Portland Timbers opens the door for future games at Providence Park.

PSU faculty and staff are reminded to register for the 4th-Annual Faculty/Staff mixed Pickleball Doubles Tournament, being held from 4 - 6 p.m. on March 13 at Campus Rec. Register your team by Tuesday, March 11 to secure your spot. This event is FREE for all employees — a Campus Rec membership is not required.

Enjoy a steep discount on Adidas merchandise at the Adidas Employee Store in North Portland! Be sure to bring your PSU ID to enter. You may bring up to four additional friends or family members per visit.

Dates: March 7 - April 7
Store Hours: Mon-Fri 10 a.m. - 9 p.m., Sat-Sun 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Bring: PSU ID
Location: 2701 NW Vaughn St., Suite 290, Portland

Join the PSU University Choirs and Community Choirs under the direction of Coty Raven Morris, Peter Freeman, and Ian Timmons for "But a Thimble," an evening celebrating the power of collective contributions. Also featuring PSU Vocal Collective and guest artists, the program weaves together music from diverse cultures, offering a rich tapestry of melodies and stories that connect us all. Come sing, share and celebrate the beauty of community.

Date: Friday, March 7
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: First Christian Church, 1314 SW Park Ave.
Cost: $20, $10 students and seniors

Ever wonder what makes PSU’s academic leaders tick? What books line their shelves, what inspired them to pursue their field? Inside Portland State’s new “Deans Decoded” series takes you behind the scenes into the offices of Portland State’s distinguished deans. This edition features Xan Arch, dean of the University Library.

Yuuka Ooka, an Associate Professor at Mukogawa Women’s University in Japan is visiting Trauma Informed Oregon for a few months studying Trauma Informed Communication (TIC). During a presentation today, Yuuka will show the social situation which is related to trauma and stress in Japan and introduce ways supports are provided using a trauma informed lens. Yuuka will share videos and experiences in Japan, and participants will consider differences and similarities to TIC in the United States.

Date: Monday, March 3
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: Virtual

Disruptions come in all shapes and sizes—whether it’s a key team member out sick, a building closure or a network outage. Keeping PSU running isn’t just one department’s job—it’s a shared responsibility. PSU’s updated Continuity Planning page gives departments the tools to prepare for the unexpected and keep instructional, research and operations on track during unexpected disruptions. Planning ahead means fewer headaches and a quicker return to business as usual.

Finals are almost here! Direct students to the many support services available to them for free through Student Academic Support Services. They can meet with academic coaches to learn good study habits, connect one-on-one with peer tutors and join specialized workshops and study groups.  

The ASPSU Elections Committee is holding informational sessions in Smith Memorial Student Union on March 3 and March 5 for students interested in running for student government. Applications are due March 21. You can also nominate students.

Night Shift Café is an up and coming vegan and gluten-free café and kava bar open when most traditional coffee shops are closed, and many bars are still open. The café is run by a group of students and workers who are tired of the limited options available to the wired minds of the night who wish to do more with themselves than just drink away their sorrows. Night Shift Café is a safe third space for students and late-night workers where all are truly welcome to engage with one another holistically. For this pop-up, Night Shift Café is hosting merchandise from Top Shelf Records, kava by Nalu, and coffee from Honey Latte!

Dates: Monday-Thursday, March 3 - 6
Time of event: 8 -11 a.m. & 4 -10 p.m.
Location: KMC Atrium, Center for Retail Leadership Pop-UP space

From wildfire recovery to education reform, Portland State University researchers are tackling real-world challenges across Oregon. Their work spans from understanding extreme weather to improving public policy, all with a focus on community impact. Now, a new bill aims to formally designate PSU as Oregon’s urban research university—an identity it has long embodied.

Associate Professor Walidah Imarisha, and director of the Center for Black Studies, discussed the importance of Black placemaking with Street Roots; Paul Manson, professor of political science, talked about voter confidence after Portland’s first election using ranked-choice voting with Axios; and Professor Deb Arthur, founder of PSU’s Higher Education in Prison program, spoke with the Wilsonville Spokesman about a recent student project at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility.

All week

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

Boliglaboratorium: A Danish Housing Lab Exhibition

Video Disease (ends March 5)

Just Playin’ Around

Arlene Schnitzer Visual Arts Prize Exhibition

Monday, March 3

Jazz Combo Nights 2

Men’s Basketball v. Sacramento State

Tuesday, March 4

Marching Forth - Celebration of Women in Tech

Video Disease: Reception

Melissa Aldana and the PSU Jazz Band

Wednesday, March 5

Tartuffe

Thursday, March 6

Tools for Active Learning and Student Collaboration

Fresh Connections: Joshua Sin

Noon Concert Series: Dreamspace

Maria Judith Feliciano: On the Commercial Movement and Social Lives of Islamic Textiles in Medieval Iberia

Amending the World’s First Ecosystem Management Plan in a Time of Environmental and Public Uncertainty

Matthias Kemeny Design Lecture Series Presents Jen White-Johnson

Tartuffe

Friday, March 7

Co-Housing Projects in Berlin

Russian Club: International Women’s Day Card Crafting

Maseeh Mathematics + Statistics Colloquium Series Presents: Bulge Chasing is Pole Swapping

Turtuffe

PSU Choirs: But a Thimble

Saturday, March 8

Tartuffe

Sunday, March 9

PSU Percussion Ensemble

Florestan Trio

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

People

Akiko Hashimoto, Mary Marshall, PSU Accounting

Presented

William Comer, Aaron Roussell, Hailey Maria Salazar (Yoeme)

Published/Exhibited

Akiko Hashimoto, Jon Holt, Maura Kelly, Maria Talbott, Lindsey Wilkinson

Grants

Kristen Harrison, Sirisha Kothuri

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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.