PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY Thirty-nine years ago 72 students were graduated at Portland State's first spring Commencement. This year approximately 3,000 students will receive degrees, a reflection of the growing importance of the University as a center for teaching, research, and public service. The University was established in 1946 as the Vanport Extension Center to meet the educational needs of veterans returning from World War II. The growth of Portland State, in both size and stature, began in 1955. Years of effort by legislators Richard Neuberger and Robert Holmes culminated that year with the establishment of Portland State College, a four-year, degree-granting institution. Old Main-now Lincoln Hall-was the entire campus, and fewer than 3,000 students were enrolled. By 1961 Portland State had its first graduate program, and in 1968 doctoral programs were added to the programs of study. The next year the institution's name was changed to Portland State University. During these same years both the campus and enrollment were growing. Today PSU is a large urban university Portland State University's mission is to enhance the intellectual, social, cultural, and economic qualities of urban life by providing access throughout the life span to a quality liberal education for undergraduates and an appropriate array of professional and graduate programs especially relevant to the metropolitan area. The University will actively promote development of a network of educational institutions that will serve the community and will conduct research and community service to support a high-quality educational environment and reflect issues important to the metropolitan region. 11 covering 49 acres in the South Park Blocks, one of Portland's most beautiful and historic districts. More than 14,000 students are taught by more than 475 fulltime faculty members. In addition, 36,168 students were enrolled in credit courses during the 1993-94 academic year. The University offers 32 bachelor's and 38 master's degrees in the humanities, sciences, social sciences, and professions, as well as doctoral degrees in seven areas: education, electrical and computer engineering, environmental sciences and resources, public administration and policy, social work and social research, systems science, and urban studies and planning. The University's major academic units are the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; Schools of Business Administration, Education, Engineering and Applied Science, Extended Studies, Fine and Performing Arts, and Urban and Public Affairs; Graduate School of Social Work; and the Library, which holds more than 950,000 volumes and 10,000 serial subscriptions.
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