October 14, 2024

After more than a year of hard work, PSU’s vision of creating a world-class cultural hub on campus is officially moving forward. Portland City Council approved a resolution to develop two Broadway-capable theaters downtown—one at PSU as part of the university's Performing Arts and Culture Center proposal, and another at the current site of Keller Auditorium. This marks a major step in solidifying PSU’s role as a key player in Portland’s vibrant arts scene.

To learn more about why this is such a transformative opportunity for the university and the community, visit the president’s blog.

Last month, during an employee town hall, PSU leadership presented a plan to address the university's $18 million deficit by July 1, 2025. The plan, called Bridge to the Future, addresses the immediate deficit and strengthens the university's financial footing in order to fully implement the new strategic plan. There are four major components to the Bridge to the Future plan: program revitalization and curricular stewardship, retirement incentives, operational streamlining and immediate growth opportunities. Details of the financial sustainability plan are now available on a new website. When there are significant updates to the plan, they will be noted on the website and announced in Currently.

Financial sustainability, a new performing arts complex and PSU’s legislative priorities are among the agenda items at this Wednesday’s Administrative Briefing. All PSU employees are invited to attend, either in person or online. This is the first briefing of the new academic year. In addition to updates from various corners of the university, there will also be an opportunity for Q&A. If you are unable to attend, a video recording will be available on the Employee Events section of the Currently New Hub.

For the second consecutive year, Coty Raven Morris, Hinckley Assistant Professor of Choir, Music Education, and Social Justice at Portland State University, has been named a semifinalist for the GRAMMY Music Educator Award. She is one of 25 educators selected from over 2,400 nominees nationwide, recognized for her significant contributions to music education. The finalists for the award will be announced in December, with the recipient recognized during the 67th GRAMMY Awards in January 2025.

Portland State University has received the 2024 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, marking its third consecutive year of recognition. As Oregon’s largest enrolling institution of BIPOC students, PSU continues to lead in diversity efforts. The award highlights PSU’s commitment to equity and inclusion, aligning with its goal of becoming the premier Minority Serving Institution in the Pacific Northwest.

The Ronald E. McNair Scholars program application is now open to juniors and seniors who are first-generation and low-income, and/or members of federally recognized underrepresented groups. The McNair Scholars Program has academic-year activities and a part-time summer research internship. Scholars take academic and skills-building seminars and workshops during the year, and each scholar works closely with a faculty mentor on original research in the summer. Scholars present their research findings at the McNair Summer Symposium and other conferences and are encouraged to publish their papers in the online McNair Journal and other scholarly publications. The program, which has been on campus since 2003, is funded by a $1,219,390.00 grant from the U.S. Department of Education and PSU institutional cost-share funds.

Students have the chance to engage with more than 120 employers at the All Majors & Engineering & Technology Career Fair, today in the Viking Pavilion. This event is an excellent opportunity for students to explore full-time, part-time, and internship positions, network with local, national, and global employers, and learn about career paths across a variety of industries.

Event details:

Students can register on Handshake. or PSU Connect.

PSU provides free menstrual products in all student bathrooms across campus, in line with state requirements. You can find tampons and pads in men’s, women’s, and all-gender restrooms in common areas. These products will be regularly restocked, but if you come across an empty or missing dispenser, just let the Facilities and Property Management Work Control Center know by emailing 2fix@pdx.edu. Be sure to include the building, floor, and restroom location when you do!

To celebrate Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the Information Security team has provided six short training modules in KnowBe4 — and two of the modules are games! For each optional training that you complete before midnight on Oct. 31, you'll be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a prize! Log into KnowBe4 before the end of the month and click "Library" to get started. Note: The required annual training is not part of this contest. Contact security@pdx.edu with any questions.

President Ann Cudd formed the F&A Utilization Task Force, bringing together representatives from all colleges and schools to evaluate the use and distribution of F&A funds, also known as "indirect costs". These funds help cover the University's expenses for supporting research projects. The Task Force reviewed how F&A funds are generated, how they are used, and how transparently they are communicated. They also looked at how these funds align with research growth, collaboration, and faculty success, ultimately providing recommendations for improvement.

The Outdoor Program is retiring a wide variety of used outdoor rental equipment at its Used Gear Sale on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. All items are sold as-is. Limit of four of any type of item per customer. Take advantage of these great deals to get ready for your next adventure!

This year's International ShakeOut Day is October 17, when millions of people worldwide will participate in earthquake drills at work, school, or home. PSU Emergency Management encourages employees to practice proactive preparedness by getting informed, making a plan, building a kit, and engaging with community programs like Portland Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET) or joining your local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Preparedness is a shared responsibility, and we encourage everyone to take action to safeguard our community at home and at work.

News Briefs & Announcements

PSU in the News

Chris Shortell, associate professor of political science, explained to OPB why homelessness is such an important issue for young voters; Jason Franklin, associate vice president of Planning, Construction and Real Estate, discussed how student input is shaping buildings at PSU with the Portland Business Journal; and KGW caught up with Coty Raven Morris, PSU’s Hinckley assistant professor of choir, music education, and social justice, to talk about her repeat GRAMMY nomination. 

All week

Deinum Prize Showcase Exhibition: Thương
Portland Fashion in the Aughts
Ed Abroad 101 (Hybrid)
Color Outside the Lines from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation
Walktober 2024

Monday, Oct. 14

Portland State Fall All Majors + Engineering & Technology Fair 2024
Biology Seminar Series | Beyond Symbiosis: Reframing Of The UCYN-A Marine N2-Fixing Partnership

Tuesday, Oct. 15

Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Social @ PSU!
Beginner Climb Night

Wednesday, Oct. 16

Film Screening: Ogigami Naoko's "Rent-A-Cat" (2012)

Thursday, Oct. 17

Noon Concert Series: Nanyi Qiang
Trees as a Tool for Climate and Community Resilience | School of Earth, Environment, and Society Seminar Series
Cello Master Class by Bion Tsang
Going from Student to Company Worker: New-Employee Orientations of Japanese Companies
Violin Master Class by Rachel Lee Priday
Scape, Performed by Mark Stevens on Piano

Friday, Oct. 18

Maseeh College Inclusive Teaching & Mentoring Symposium
Fridays@1 | The Oak Savanna Design/Build: Collaboration Across Disciplines to Achieve a Sustainable Community at PSU
Strange Gothic: Christian Bodies, Islamic Silks
Andries Deinum Prize Showcase: Artist Talk with 2023 Prize Recipient Lillyanne Pham
Matthias Kemeny Design Lecture Series presents Zipeng Zhu

Saturday, Oct. 19

2024 Portland Walk for Apraxia
Used Gear Sale
Exhibition Tour with Featured Artist

Find more events at: PSU Events

People

Ame Lambert, Walidah Imarisha

Presented

Brian Michael Bendis, Mary Duden, Yiping Fang, Jon Holt, Susan Kirtley, Catherine McNeur, Nicole Rigelman, Anousha Sedighi, Sambit Tripathi, David Walker, Douglas Wolk

Published/Exhibited

Jingjing Chen, Lisa Jo Frech, Clive Knights, Max Nielsen-Pincus

Currently  |  Events  |  Athletics News & Schedules  |  Training & Development  |  Vacancies
HR Policies, Contracts and Forms  |  University Policy Library
University Place Hotel & Conference Center

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.