PSU Magazine Spring 1997

- Written by Melissa Steineger and Clarence Hein '65 Under President Judith Ramaley Portland State has come to expect more of itself-a spirit of innovation that will continue after she leaves. Judith Ramaley often chamtedm P0<tland State as a "sha<ed inven– tion," a University created and nurtured through the combined influ– ence of faculty and staff, students and alumni, and the aspirations and involvement of the metropolitan community. This was her vision in 1990 when, at her inauguration, she said, "Everyone associated with this University will help to shape its future. Because we are a people and not just a place, because our work occurs throughout the metropolitan community and in communities linked to this one through social, cultural, and economics ties, we invent the University afresh every day." President Ramaley plans to see the class of 1997 graduate this June before she takes the helm of the University of Vermont. During the past six years, Portland State has seen many milestones of progress, but the true legacy of Judith Ramaley's leadership is a strong and confident University with an exciting vision for the future and the institutional courage to pursue it. With her leadership, PSU has over– come severe fiscal and organizational challenges to become a national model for higher education. She has done this by encouraging the open– ing of the institution to intellectual challenge, to new partnerships, to new levels of faculty-staff-student accomplishment, and by creating a campus climate that fosters academic entrepreneurship. Today, thanks to President Ramaley, Portland State is an institution with a clear sense of direction, one that strikes a balance between the scholarly integrity of a traditional university and the new imperative for higher education to become fully engaged with its communities. University District Plan Ramaley's Role ~~~~~~~~~ One of the hallmark of an urban university i its physica l integration with the surrounding community. It may hare block , even bu ildings, with schoo ls, apartment , retail shops, or private offices. Ramaley enthusiastically seized on this idea and champ ioned the concept both internally and to the wider community. With her support, the PSU District tee ring Committee fo rmed and collaborated with the city, neighborhood groups, and businesses to develop the University District Plan, a blueprint for creating an invig– orating salsa of private and University offerings in the 52-block area includ– ing and surrounding Portland State. "The University Di trier Plan is not a plan just fo r Portland State," says Ramaley, "it' a plan fo r a University– community partnership that has a ense of place-of be ing an educating and educated environment that people will be drawn to because of what's ava ilab le here." The Future A lready the plan is mov ing from concept to concrete. Harrison Hall opened la t year, and the Uni versity Plaza-a bricked, open-air community gathering place-and the new Urban Center Building will soon be off the drawing board . Ramaley recently approved a proposa l fo r a Univers ity District Deve lopment Corporation. If approved by the city, the corporation could seek pri vate and public money to complete the University District Plan within the next 10 years. "The next step is to get the University District Development Corporation established," says Nohad Toulan , dean of the College of Urban and Public Affairs. "We are advancing in e tablishing that, but the final details are not yet worked out. O nce that i in place, the district will become a reality, not just an idea." SPRING 1997 P U MAGAZINE 7