Portland State University Oregon’s largest and most diverse public university is a center of opportunity for 25,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Located in Portland, Oregon, one of the nation’s most livable cities, the University’s innovative approach to education combines academic rigor in the classroom with community-based internships and projects. It serves as a catalyst to the six-county metropolitan area’s economic and cultural vitality and a gateway to international understanding and development. Established in 1946 to meet the educational needs of GIs home from World War II battlefields, the school found its first home in a former federal housing project in North Portland known as Vanport. The campus moved to Lincoln Hall in Portland’s South Park Blocks in 1952. Since then, it has grown to embrace almost 50 city blocks, retaining a park-like beauty within its urban setting. Recognized for its academic strength, Portland State has received national awards for its distinctive approach to teaching, learning, and service. Its faculty conducts research that addresses some of society’s most perplexing challenges and offers promising solutions. With 125 degree programs, the University offers both breadth and depth for scholarly pursuits. Also, its extracurricular opportunities provide students a wide arena for personal growth and life-long community connections. Green is more than our school color, it’s our school spirit. Portland State strives to harness the strengths of the University with new ideas. innovative partnerships, and academic rigor. Working with like-minded sustainable businesses, individuals, and organizations, faculty and students are performing valuable research on alternative energy sources such as solar panels; aggressive waste reduction and recycling programs; and sustainable building practices. Armed with this knowledge and experience, our students will join a generation of leaders building a more sustainable world, one idea at a time. At Portland State, the motto “Let Knowledge Serve the City” is its mission, a reminder of its past, and a roadmap for the University’s future. Vision, Mission, Values, and Priorities Our vision is to be an internationally recognized urban university known for excellence in student learning, innovative research, and community engagement that contributes to the economic vitality, environmental sustainability, and quality of life in the Portland region and beyond. The mission of Portland State University 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 metropolitan areas. The University conducts research and community service that support a high quality educational environment and reflect issues important to the region. It actively promotes the development of a network of educational institutions to serve the community. Portland State values learning and discovery, access to learning, a climate of mutual respect, openness and reflection, and community and civic engagement. Engagement among faculty, students, and the community contributes to learning and scholarship that is globally relevant and regionally focused. Sustainability is our selected programmatic focus. The following priorities guide our efforts and direct our resources: ■ Improve student success through engaged learning experiences. • Enhance educational opportunity in the Portland metropolitan region. ■ Expand innovative scholarship and creative activities that address regional issues and have global significance. 16
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