December 1, 2025

Join the University Communications marketing team for an inside look at PSU’s Be Anything But Ordinary campaign. You’ll see how PSU is being showcased across print, digital and video platforms, learn how the campaign connects with prospective students, and hear directly from the creative team behind the work. Free PSU swag will be available while supplies last.

Wednesday, Dec. 3
12:45 – 1:25 p.m.
Hoffmann Hall

SLS invites alumni, partners, faculty, and staff to its 50th-anniversary open house celebrating five decades of student advocacy and legal support. Explore a retrospective of photos and stories, connect with the SLS team, and enjoy refreshments during this drop-in celebration.

Thursday, Dec. 5
4 – 6 p.m.
Parkmill Suite 184

How green is our campus culture — and how can we make it stronger? The Sustainability Literacy & Culture Survey helps PSU understand what faculty, staff & students know, value and do when it comes to sustainability. Your answers will directly shape future programs, events and initiatives that make campus more sustainable and socially responsible.

The short, multiple-choice survey takes just a few minutes — and there are no right or wrong answers. It’s all about your perspective.

Help PSU recognize individuals who have achieved exceptional accomplishments in scholarship, artistry, public service or leadership. Submit your nomination by Jan. 15, 2026. Only one nomination per person will be accepted.

Honors students from all disciplines will present their senior thesis research projects at the 2025 Fall term University Honors College Thesis Symposium. Faculty and staff are encouraged to attend the presentations in support of the students.

Friday, Dec. 5
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Zoom

This week, the PSU Alumni Association invites you to visit the Viking Made Holiday Market, a pop-up shop featuring gifts and goodies made by local, alumni-owned small businesses. Connect with the PSU community and support Viking businesses while holiday shopping for beauty products, home decor, wine, coffee and much more!

Thursday, Dec. 4 & Saturday, Dec. 6
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Simon Benson House

Good Market is where PSU art & design students and alums come together to sell their one-of-a-kind handmade goods. This year, more than 80 students and alumni will be selling and sharing their goods, with all of the proceeds going directly to the artists. Mark your calendars and support your local makers this weekend at the Lloyd Center Mall!

Saturday, Dec. 6
11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Lloyd Center (former Gap location)

This Friday, wrap yourself in a heartwarming winter celebration that brings together Portland State University’s community choirs and the Rose, Thorn and Briar Choirs. This inspiring program weaves together sacred and secular traditions, embracing the season’s quiet reflection and communal joy through soaring harmonies, spirited rhythms and the unifying power of song. Featuring selections by beloved composers, including PSU’s own Grammy-nominated Coty Raven Morris, this evening will celebrate global carols and festive harmonies.

Friday, Dec. 5
7:30 p.m.
Portland First United Methodist Church, 1838 SW Jefferson Street
Tickets: $5-$20

This winter, Emergency and Hardship Funds will make a critical difference for Portland State students facing unexpected challenges. Many are just one crisis away from pausing their education. Your Giving Tuesday gift helps cover urgent needs — housing, food, childcare, medical bills — and keeps students on track to graduate. Hardship funds are distributed by the PSU Foundation.

Heading out this winter? Rent gear from the Outdoor Program anytime between Dec. 12 – Jan. 5 and keep it for up to 24 days for just twice the standard 4-day rate. Additional days beyond that will be charged at the regular extra-day fee.

PSU President Ann Cudd is hosting one more group run this Fall term:

Friday, Dec. 5
12:45 p.m.
Leave from the RMNC Lobby
5K run at a 10-minute mile pace

Test your balance on Campus Rec’s fully synthetic Key Log—designed to float, spin, and react like traditional cedar without the weight or splinters—at the Log Rolling Competition this Friday! Staff will be on hand to assist and no swim experience is required. For questions, email aquatics@pdx.edu.

Friday, Dec. 5
6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Free for Campus Rec members

Workshops to learn about credit and debt

This Wednesday, Dec. 3 and Thursday, Dec. 4, the Financial Wellness Center is offering a workshop for students (and employees) to learn how to assess their current financial situation, manage debt effectively, and develop a realistic plan for improving credit and overall financial well-being. Register to attend.

Students can attend PSU musical performances for free!

As finals approach, consider encouraging students to take a break from studying and enjoy some live music — for free! Students just have to bring their PSU ID to attend the following performances:

PSU Jazz Band
Monday, Dec. 1

PSU Vocal Collective
Tuesday, Dec. 2

University Band Concert
Wednesday, Dec. 3

Wind Ensemble & Wind Symphony Concert
Thursday, Dec. 4

PSU Orchestra Candlelight Masterworks Series
Sunday, Dec. 7

See the School of Music & Theater events calendar for times and locations.

Note: PSU Faculty and Staff can also attend many of these events for free with their PSU ID card. If the calendar listing says "Free with PSU ID" — that includes you!

Applications open for Winter 2026 on-campus housing

This winter, students have the opportunity to live on campus. To qualify, they must be enrolled in at least 8 undergraduate or 4 graduate credits. Housing Information.

Kate Bingaman-Burt, associate director of the Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design, discussed the impact of the new art building that’s scheduled to open next fall with KOIN; Elise Granek, professor of environmental sciences and management, spoke with OPB about finding solutions to the growing microplastics problem; and first-year student Kayla Sisavat joined Damien Lillard on KPTV to talk about Lillard’s scholarship at PSU (of which Sisavat is the first recipient).

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, Dec. 1

Biology Seminar Series - From Sexy Songs to City Living: The Evolution of Complex Behaviors in Wild Mice

Tuesday, Dec. 2

Open Violin Studio Class

Wednesday, Dec. 3

Portland’s Black Community & The Anti-Apartheid Movement: Thinking Globally, Acting LocallyMor

Women’s Basketball v. South Dakota

Thursday, Dec. 4

KSMOCA Artist Talk and Exhibition: Yoonhee Choi

Faculty/Staff Dodgeball Tournament

Fresh! Fall 2025 Graphic Design Senior Portfolio Showcase

PSU Art Practice: BFA/MFA Open Studios

December PSU Technical Communication Meetup: Docs as Code with Ben Moore

Friday, Dec. 5

Write with the Deans

Music @ Midday: Opera Workshop

Saturday, Dec. 6

PSU Opera Presents: The Eleanors

Sunday, Dec. 7

PSU Opera Presents: The Eleanors

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

Published/Exhibited

Todd Bodner, Paula Carder, Papireddy Kancharla, Jane Kelly, Ted Khoury, Cynthia Mohr, Kevin Reynolds, Yi-Wen Su

Presented

Janet Cowal, John Hellermann, Piman Limpaphayom, Jenny Mittelstaedt, Joel Owens, Lynn Santelmann, Steve Thorne

Opportunities, News & Events: 80–120 words | Horizontal image (600×400 px, no fliers, no QR codes) | Include a webpage link for more information (no direct Zoom links)

Submissions should be: sponsored, hosted, or co-hosted by PSU, open to faculty and/or staff and of interest to PSU faculty and staff.

Accolades general format: [Full Name], [department or school] faculty, [presented/gave a talk/co-published etc.] [title of work, presentation, project etc. in title case] at [conference/event/organization name] in [city, state or country], on [date].

Deadline: Submit by noon on Tuesday before publication.

See the Currently Publication Schedule for more detailed deadlines and dates. Full submission guidelines found here.

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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.