PIVOT Pulse Check

Friday, November 7, 2025

As the first step in PIVOT, we are carrying out self-studies and central review of all parts of our Academic Affairs and Research & Graduate Studies units, which include over 300 academic programs, 60 centers and institutes, and 140 academic support units and administrative structures. 

Below you will find updates on progress to date, what we’re working on now, and what’s coming up next.

In Track 1, we are examining what PSU teaches and how programs are structured and delivered, then we will work to align PSU’s academic offerings with student demand, labor market needs, and institutional mission. 

Over the past two weeks, we've gathered input from our colleagues in academic programs as they work hard to carry out self-studies using instructions provided by the Offices of Academic Affairs and Research & Graduate Studies. In response to requests for more time to complete studies, the deadline for submitting academic program self-studies has been extended to Monday, December 1. This extension is intended to balance, as best we can, this important phase of work with university-wide decision making timelines of our Bridge to the Future 2.0 plan.

All academic units now have access to their preliminary Program Vitality Reports. These initial reports include dashboards of quantitative data pulled from Gray DI, Cognos, and Tableau (all of which programs have had access to since Summer 2025 or earlier). The preliminary report will be integrated with qualitative insights from each program’s self-study to create a single point of reference for program assessment. 

Drop in office hours are being offered for academic program main points of contact (designated by deans) to receive guidance from our data support team on completing self studies. Additional office hours have been added to the calendar for Monday, 11/10, so please check the calendar for details.

→ Data Support Office Hours Calendar 

Up Next: Each unit’s designated point of contact will receive further instructions on submitting self-study responses via a Qualtrics survey. Once complete, this information will be incorporated into the Program Vitality Reports and reviewed by the Council of Deans. 

In Track 2, we will clarify how each unit and administrative structure contributes to institutional priorities and success. Then, we will identify opportunities for improvement or redesign, and ensure that financial resources are aligned with PSU’s most urgent needs and highest-impact strategies.

Instructions for completing the Track 2 self study are now available and academic deans, vice provosts, and associate vice provosts are assigning designated points of contact for each academic support unit, center, institute, and administrative structure to lead their respective units’ review. 

Up Next: Financial and operational data (budgets, staffing, utilization) will be compiled and prepared for each unit. These data sets will be combined with unit self-assessments to form the Unit Vitality Profiles that will serve as the primary evidence base for planning decisions. 

The PIVOT Transition Monitoring Team has been formed and will begin to meet this month to monitor the employee experience, identify emerging concerns, recommend course corrections to engagement strategies, and work to ensure the voices of those most affected by changes are heard. 

Transition Monitoring Team Members:

Questions? Contact Provost Chabon at provost@pdx.edu

More information: Visit PSU’s Bridge to the Future 2.0 webpage for details on the University’s strategic pathway to financial sustainability.

The PIVOT Pulse Check is distributed regularly to Academic and RGS employees by the Office of Academic Affairs on behalf of PSU’s Academic Leadership Team to keep our academic community informed and engaged throughout the PIVOT process.