January 17, 2022

News

PSU’s 'Living the Legacy' series honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Celebrate Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s impact and achievements with “Living the Legacy,” a virtual series starting this week. Organized by PSU Global Diversity and Inclusion, the series of events will honor the great civil rights icon and explore racial justice and Black student success. Events are on Jan. 20, 28 and Feb. 1. Register and learn more at MLK: Living the Legacy.

PSU named among top places to work in IT

For the sixth year in a row, Computerworld magazine has named Portland State University as one of the top places to work in IT. PSU's Office of Information Technology (OIT) is one of only three higher education institutions on the list. Computerworld evaluates organizations based on the following categories: DEI, employee engagement, hybrid work, benefits, career development, and IT growth. Read more at the Currently News Hub.

Student Success launches new emergency aid fund

The Undergraduate Emergency Aid Fund assists students who are on the verge of pausing their educational pursuits due to a financial emergency. The application is quick and easy and students may request up to $1,000. Visit the website for more detailed information. Please consider sharing the website with your students or in your departmental communications.

National grant funds 6 new courses for Higher Education in Prison

New funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities will allow PSU to expand its Higher Education in Prison (HEP) program and offer additional courses focused on identity, transformation and agency. The $150,000 grant, announced Jan. 10, specifically funds a 6-course humanities sequence to be taught at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, Oregon’s only correctional facility for women. The interdisciplinary courses will be taught by six PSU faculty from Anthropology, Black Studies, Chicano and Latino Studies, English, Philosophy and Indigenous Nations Studies.

Introduction to Exercise: Free on-demand training program

Are you interested in becoming more active, but don't know where to start? Kick off 2023 with Campus Rec's free Introduction to Exercise on-demand training program! This seven-week series of beginner-friendly workouts is completely free; no PSU email or Campus Rec membership required. The program includes weekly exercise routines and short, instructional videos with simple movements that can be done anytime and anywhere. Explore all of our free virtual training programs today!

Winterfest kicks off next week

Organized by the Student Activities and Leadership Programs (SALP) and Campus Rec, Winter Fest is packed with three days of events focused on getting students engaged in a variety of ways. Events include dancing and board games, as well as opportunities to learn about leadership activities, volunteering, internships and on-campus jobs. While the event is focused on student success, faculty and staff are invited to join in and make connections! Winter Fest is Jan. 26-28.

Announcements:

Register for Lab Safety Training (required annually for all who work in research labs)
Board of Trustees committees meet this week:
- Academic & Student Affairs (ASAC): Tuesday Jan. 17, 1-4 p.m.
- Finance & Administration (F&A): Thursday, Jan. 19, 9 a.m.-Noon
- Governance: Thursday, Jan. 19, 12:30-2 p.m.
The deadline is approaching to nominate colleages for PSU Excellence Awards
Mark your calendars for PSU President candidate visits in February
Stop by the Learning center this Thursday for hot cocoa
We know we’re late, but PSU is finally on TikTok!

PSU in the news

Virus expert and Professor of Biology Ken Stedman advised KATU about concerns with the latest Covid-19 variant; Ethan Seltzer, emeritus professor of urban planning, spoke with Willamette Week about downtown activation; and PSU’s Population Research Center Director Ethan Sharygin gave the Oregonian insight into population discrepancies in the census count.

Accolades

People

Sarah Dys, Clive Knights, Katie Sinback, Jack Straton, Ozcan Tunalilar

Presented

Kathi Inman Berens, Janet Cowal, John Hellermann, Cynthia Carmina Gómez, Carlos Mena, Jenny Mittelstaedt, Ryan Petteway, Lynn Santelmann, Steve Thorne

Published/Exhibited

Ted Khoury, Jennifer R. Perlmutter, Ryan Petteway, Katie Sinback, Eva Thanheiser

Events

Additional Links

Currently is Portland State University’s weekly faculty and staff newsletter. It is published online every Monday during the academic year by University Communications. News items should be emailed by noon the Tuesday before publication. See the Currently website for submission guidelines and schedule.