PSU Magazine Spring 1997

R 0 M T H E Ti1ere has been a tremendous amount of "reinvention" at Portland State in the past seven years, and it makes a remark– able story. It is the story of a group of people learning through their experience together– at our University and in our community– how to think about the good of the whole, h w to exercise responsibility for others, how to deal with conflicting interest , how to express ur own views clearly and ethically while respecting the view of others, and how to act in a principled way. During that time we have developed a new University mission, designed a new curriculum, reinterpreted our concepts of scholarship, and changed our ways of work– P R E ing, both within the campu and in ur collaboration with others. Portland State University is not alone among universi– ties in rethinking its mission and the way we do things, but we are in the forefront of what is becoming a national movement. Much of the impetus for these change sprang from a growing public disenchantment with many of its institu– tions, public and private. David Mathew , pre ident of the Kettering Foundation, aid in a recent article, "[Citizens] don't feel they have control over them; they aren't even sure that the professionals who manage them are really in control. The systems appear to have minds of their own , all with an anti-public bias." He said people resent the "professionals" who relegate the public to roles as patients, upplicants, clients, consumers, audiences, and students. The change agenda at PSU reflects our de ire to rebu ild those connections between the public and its institutions, while at the same time providing student with the kind of educational preparation they will need to be succe sful. It has b en our belief that to respond to these concerns, we need new ways of thinking, new paradigms, new approaches to learning that will be better for students, that will enhan ce the ability of our communities to address their concerns, and that will help to build trust and a sense of common purpose. Over these seven years, our institution has been engaged in what is called "transformative learning." This is learning that cau es us to examine our assumptions, our habits, our prefonned exp lanations of reality in positive ways, and we have found that nothing more powerfully opens up the possi– bility of transformative learning than community involve– ment. The realities of daily experience that come from direct work in the community with fellow faculty, students, and T community participant offer a rich array of challenges that move people to a thoughtful reconsideration of long-held assumptions– a boon to the learning experience. We have chosen to embrace community– based scholar hip in both our curriculum and our research programs as the primary mean to achieve our mission. The con tant constructive and transforming interactions that go on when PSU concentrate on the community and its concerns and then links those concerns to our educational g als are the keys to ur future. We are learning how to hold this complex scholarly work up to rigorou standards that include both our perspective and that, of our community partner . While other institutions are doing this, what di tin– guishes Portland State is the extent of our effort. As you know, our work here has not gone unnoticed nationally. We have been honored with awards for educa– tional leadership and management excellence by organiza– tions such as the Pew Charitable Tru t , the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the American Association for Higher Education, and the National As ociation of College and University Business Officers. These awards matter deeply to us becau e they show the value of our work in the national context and they should be a source of pride for all O regonian . They will be glad to know that our experience benefits not only the citizens of this state, but also is helping to shape a national reform movement in higher education. But the real reward is that our succes can be seen in the quiet stories of people whose lives have changed becau e f the education they have received. Now, as I prepare to take on new responsibilities in an opposite comer of the nation, I want to thank you for what truly has been a busy and very gratifying seven year . Portland State is the product of all the people who plan, develop, and participate in its activities. PSU's excellence is in its people, it program , in its vision and confident spirit. My association with this wonderful place and this community has been transformative for me, as it has been for many others, and I will always be grateful for the time I have pent here. Portland State University is your institution. Be proud of it. Nurture it. Help it stay the course on the way to the new millennium. Portland State University and this region will remain with me in many ways. Thank you, Judith A. Ramaley, President SPRING 1997 PSU MAGAZINE 5