A New Year Brings New Opportunities
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Dear Colleagues,
Happy New Year! I hope that, for those of you still experiencing the effects of last week’s snow and ice storm, recovery comes swiftly and smoothly. I want to express gratitude to the PSU employees who had to make tough decisions regarding campus closures, and appreciation for those who came to or remained on campus to ensure that essential operations continued to run smoothly.
I know the weather is not the only focus of our attention. We have a number of exciting opportunities on campus this month including the start of the Presidential Speaker Series that explores practices and ideas to help PSU become our region’s model majority BIPOC institution. The first session with Dr. Angélica Garcia takes place tomorrow, Tuesday, January 23 at 5:30 p.m. in the Smith Memorial Student Union Ballroom.
PSU welcomed Emily Ackerland as the new Director of the Disability Resource Center and the DRC has moved from the Office of Global Diversity & Inclusion (GDI) to the Office of Academic Affairs, reporting to the Provost. A top priority is to fill vacant positions and to identify additional resources so that students can meet with access counselors and receive accommodations in a timely manner. And, work has already begun.
As we fully return to Winter term after last week’s interruption, I encourage each of you to actively engage in upcoming activities to envision and build our university’s future. Your insights are essential to our strategic planning process, so I hope you take the Heart of PSU Survey, and participate in one of the strategic planning forums on February 12, 15, or 21 (RSVP). The Winter Budget Forum on February 21 will provide a platform for further exploration of participatory budgeting activities.
I hope that you and your families are healthy and safe and continue to be so. Thank you for your ongoing dedication to Portland State University. I look forward to a term filled with sunshine and meaningful collaboration and growth.
Shelly Chabon, Ph.D. Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs
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Office of Academic Affairs News
The Office of Academic Affairs Welcomes New Staff
In support of Interim Provost Chabon’s goal to create a high-functioning team with the purpose of providing more coordinated and timely services to the campus, the Office of Academic Affairs announces two new staff appointments to the team. Phil Lesch joined the Academic Employee and Labor Relations (AELR) team in November 2023 in a part-time role as Special Advisor for Academic Labor Relations. Phil brings a wealth of expertise in labor relations, labor law, knowledge of PSU’s processes, and collective bargaining agreements to the AELR team. Brenda Glascott was named Interim Dean of the University Honors College on October 1, 2023. Brenda joined PSU leadership in 2017 as Director of the Honors College and led the college in developing student success support, such as an Honors writing center staffed with peer tutors, and leadership opportunities for students. You can find a list of the interim deans and Brenda’s biography on the Interim Dean Appointments for 2023-2034 webpage linked below.
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Faculty Support Resources
Reminder: Faculty Development Grant Applications Due February 5
The PSU Faculty Development Grant submission deadline is February 5, 2024. More information, including the call for proposals, templates, and FAQs, can be found on the OAA Faculty Development Opportunities webpage linked below
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New Office of Academic Innovation Faculty Support Form
Your experience requesting help with teaching looks slightly different in 2024. As part of the Office of Academic Innovation's ongoing commitment to enhancing your teaching experience, OAI launched a new support form. Visit the Office of Academic Innovation “Your Teaching Support” page linked below and click on the green “GET HELP VIRTUALLY” button at the top of the page.
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School, College, and Center News & Resources
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Assistant Professor of Choir named a finalist for the GRAMMY 2024 Music Educator Award
Coty Raven Morris, the Portland State University Hinckley Assistant Professor of Choir, Music Education and Social Justice, faculty in the School of Music & Theater, has been named one of 10 finalists for the prestigious GRAMMY 2024 Music Educator award. Morris was selected from an initial 2,000 nominated music teachers from across the country, progressing from quarterfinals to semifinals and now on to the finals. The ultimate winner of this highly sought-after award will be announced in the week prior to the GRAMMYS, in early February 2024.
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New Center for Excellence in Behavioral Health and Aging Grant
Portland State University, in partnership with Oregon Health & Science University, received a $1 million, two-year grant from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to establish a Center for Excellence in Behavioral Health and Aging, designed to address growing mental health crises among older adults, including expanded access to care and resources. The center is a collaboration between the PSU School of Social Work, the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health, the OHSU School of Medicine, and the OHSU School of Nursing.
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Oregon Summer Fellowship and Hatfield Resident Fellowship.
The Center for Public Service, Hatfield School of Government is gearing up for their Oregon Summer and Hatfield Resident Fellowship. The Center for Public Service is recruiting both currently enrolled and recently graduated Master's and Ph.D. students to serve as project managers with Oregon's public agencies and organizations in 2024. Start dates range between May and September, depending on project needs and candidate availability. The priority deadline for applications is February 27, 2024. Please contact Meaghan Lingo at mlingo@pdx.edu, register for an information session, or visit the “Fellowship Opportunities” webpage by clicking on the link below to learn more.
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Student Success & Student Affairs News
University Career Center Kickstart Event Series Report Now Available
In order to engage students and local employers in a more direct way, the University Career Center hosted four Kickstart Events in January-June of 2023. Based on their area of interest, students were paired with a local employer for a resume review, and to practice mock interview questions, network with local employers, and attend workshops led by industry experts to learn how to navigate a job search. UCC plans to host more events in the coming months. To review the report for more information, click on the link below.
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Winter Fest 2024
Cold days are made warmer by friendship and community! Organized by the Student Activities and Leadership Programs and PSU Campus Rec, Winter Fest is Portland State University’s annual decentralized winter engagement fair. From February 14th to the 16th, students are encouraged to participate in three days of fun and informative events hosted by student organizations and campus partners, and learn about how to get involved with clubs, find leadership opportunities, on-campus jobs, internships, and more. Once the complete festival schedule is made available, you will be able to find it on the Winter Fest website linked below.
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University Housing and Residence Life Open House
PSU students, faculty, and staff are invited to University Housing and Residence Life's Open House from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 21. Housing staff will be available for exclusive room tours and to talk about on-campus housing options for this summer and the 2024-2025 academic year. Check in at Montgomery Lobby if you would like to participate, or visit the University Housing and Residence Life website linked below to learn more about the various residence halls.
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