INSIDE STUDENT AFFAIRS

A weekly insider’s guide for those helping students reach their goals toward optimal health and well-being, engagement with learning, and sense of belonging at PSU

Week of November 2, 2020

On Friday, October 30, 2020, Portland State University hosted "Time to Act: Envisioning and Creating a Just and Equitable PSU." This image, which features a quote from MLK, was just one of many visuals provided to the PSU community in the Virtual Equity Summit participant guide.

AROUND THE UNIVERSITY

Mindfulness for Election Anxiety

SHAC is hosting workshops for PSU students who would like support managing anxiety and uncertainty related to the upcoming election. Each group focuses on a different mindfulness skill and talks about how it can be useful in managing feelings before and after the election. While this provides support to one another in managing uncertainty, this is not a space to debate politics. Students can register for the November 5 and November 12 workshops online.

Coming Soon: Coffee Talk

At the All-Student Affairs Fall 2020 Kickoff Meeting, we announced a new series called "Coffee Talk," which will be hour-long conversations around relevant issues affecting our students. The first event will focus on Basic Needs Security and is scheduled for Thursday, November 12th at 10 am on Zoom. Bring your favorite mug and your favorite hot beverage, and we'll see you there! Other event dates will be announced in future editions of Inside Student Affairs.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Meet Susie Romero-Sanchez!

Susie Romero-Sanchez is a fifth-year student majoring in mathematics and science. She is heavily involved with Services for Students with Children, where she has worked over four years as a teacher for Little Vikings/Baby Vikings and currently serves as an RCSC Ambassador. As a first-generation college student, Susie came to PSU for a campus visit and fell in love with the campus as well as the faculty and staff. When asked about her most rewarding experience at PSU, she said it has been "seeing parents graduate and succeed in their goals and dreams... and helping them get there by spending time with their kids as they go to class or study."

Read Susie's full interview.

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Resources to Support Students around the Election

Election Day is tomorrow, and the impact on our community is still to be seen. The PSU community has put out a variety of resources available to help support students in the weeks ahead. The Office of Academic Innovation has assembled a website on how to support students through political discussions. Additionally, staff members from SHAC have been working since the start of the term on providing students with support groups, messaging, and podcasts that can help them during this election season.

SELF-CARE CORNER

Digital Minimalism

"During this time of physical distancing, it’s likely that you are relying on technology more than ever before. While it’s not necessary or feasible to eliminate technology from your life, the key is to establish a healthy relationship with technology. Practicing digital minimalism can help you to reflect on the time you spend utilizing technology and come up with strategies to monitor your screen time and improve your overall wellbeing."

To learn more about how to practice digital minimalism, visit the PDX Campus Well, a resource provided by Student Health and Counseling.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Fall in Oregon is here as evidenced by this pumpkin patch at sunrise with Mount Hood's silhouette visible in the background.

FROM THE VICE PROVOST

This past Friday, I had the immense privilege to spend the day with colleagues from across campus at Time to Act: Envisioning and Creating a Just and Equitable PSU. We were together from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. in small groups and large plenary sessions, listening, learning, thinking, and sharing. I came away with a profound sense of hope and inspiration for our enormous shared capacity, creativity and good will. Thank you to Dr. Ame Lambert, Vice President for Global Diversity and Inclusion, for her leadership and vision. Thank you also to the team who collaborated to create a remarkable event. I encourage you all to visit the link above if you'd like to learn more about the shared set of commitments, priorities and institutional next steps that were created as part of the event.

-Michele

OFFICE OF STUDENT AFFAIRS

SUGGESTIONS FOR A FUTURE EDITION?

If you have something that you think should be included in an upcoming Inside Student Affairs, please email askdos@pdx.edu.

OTHER CAMPUS NEWSLETTERS

Campus Rec Connect
Cultural Resource Centers
Currently
The Smith Scoop

Manage your preferences | Opt out using TrueRemove®
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.

1825 SW Broadway
Portland, OR | 97201 US

This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.