PSU Magazine Winter 1987

v 1986-1987: A SAMPLER In legislative actions, in support from corporations, foundations and many generous individuals, in academic affairs and faculty accomplishments, in the arts and the sciences and community pro– grams, across the University and in affili– ates throughout the metropolitan area, 1986-87 was a year of activity and accomplishment. The 1987 Legislature: ''A Spectacular Year'' The 1987 session of the Oregon State Legislature was not only "spectacular," in the words of President Sicuro, but "the best for higher education I've experienced in my nine years in Oregon '.' Sicuro thanked metropolitan-area legislators and the newly formed Advisory Board for their help in advancing Portland State's cause at the session. Legislative approval of funding for the Millar Library addition will bring long– awaited relief to the over-strained facility, nearly doubling its size and restoring its ability to answer the growing needs of students and faculty. Funding for the $11 - million project was part of a package of higher education capital construction projects endorsed by the governor. Work on the addition is scheduled to begin in the Spring of 1988. The legislature also approved contin– ued funding for several programs desig– nated as "Centers of Excellence'.' The Center for Urban Research in Education (CURE) will receive $490,000 over the next two years for projects to develop ways to improve the educational envi– ronment for "at risk" students. The School of Engineering and Applied Sci– ence was granted S400 ,000 , also over two years, to add faculty, particularly in electrical engineering. Funding of SS00 ,000 over two years was approved for PSU 's International Trade In~itute to continue its programs at the University and to tie in with Governor Gold– schmidt's Oregon Trade and Marketing Center soon to open in downtown Portland. The only disappointment of the 1987 session was the area of faculty salaries. President Sicuro pledged renewed inten– sity in the 1989 session to bring salaries back to par with other institutions of Portland State's kind and quality. Private Funding and Gifts Ahistoric benchmark was established at Portland State University in 1986 when Herbert Retzlaff presented the University with its first endowed professorship. The Herbert Retzlaff Chair of Management Accounting, in the School of Business Administration , will foster the concept of accounting as a valuable management tool with the accountant as a key player in developing management strategy. Mr. Retzlaff, who was born in Germany in 1903 and came to Portland in 192 5, was treasurer of Fred Meyer, Inc. , for over 30 years. Explaining his choice of Portland State as the recipient of his generous gift, Mr. Retzlaff said that Portland had been his home for 60 years, that PSU has the largest business school in the state and that it has the type of students- "older and more likely to be working already "-who would be receptive to the leadership ideas behind the Chair. Portland State "has been of great help to Oregon in clarifying our ideas;' he said, "so it's kind of a cooperative venture'. ' In another boost for academic devel– opment the Chiles Foundation has con– tributed first-year funding for the establishment of a Sponsored Professor– ship in Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility. The gift is the first contribution toward an anticipated three– year commitment to the professorship. Steven Brenner resigned his post as Associate Dean for Graduate Programs in the School of Business Administration to take on the new research and teaching position. Brenner is currently teaching at the graduate level and will begin a study of Portland-area business leaders with Oregon Governor Neil Goldschmidt chose the Portland State campus as the site for signing several bills relating to higher education, including the bill authorizing construction of the Millar Library addition.