PSU Magazine Winter 2004

AROUND T H E PA R K Call for black studies major answered Last November Portland State became the only University in the Pacific Northwest to offer a bachelor's degree program in black studies. The degree also holds a unique place nationally with its focus on Caribbean and non– American, as well as American schol– arly examination of African descendants. The new major is the result of a long history of interest in the Depart– ment of Black Studies course offerings and increased student and community support in the past few years. Students circulated petitions calling for the major, collecting over 800 signatures. In addition, letters of support were submitted by student organizations and community members, including Pegge Michal, executive director of the Fair Housing Council of Oregon, Sheila Holden, chairperson of the Board of Directors of the North/North– east Economic Development Alliance, Inc., and state Sen. Avel Gordly. Student demand sparked the creation of the Department of Black Studies in the 1970s. The department will continue to offer a minor in black studies and a post-baccalaureate certificate. Four reg– ular faculty members will teach the core courses. Fifteen faculty from eight other PSU departments will augment the program, as will adjunct instruc– tors. In addition, the department main– tains relationships with universities and museums in Jamaica, Trinidad, Surinam, Curacao, and Ghana. The University anticipates graduat– ing an average of 10 students per year in the black studies degree program, growing to 25 graduates within five years. BLOCKS Tuition formula changed The University's longtime tuition model, in which students pay a flat amount to take from 12 to 18 under– graduate credits and between 9 to 16 graduate credits, is being phased out, with total elimination in fall 2004. This model was slated for full elimi– nation winter term. In discussions with students, PSU administrators agreed to phase in a new tuition structure in two steps rather than one. This winter undergraduate students taking at least 12 credits will pay a flat rate for tuition of up to 15 credits, instead of the pre– vious 18 credits. Graduate tuition will cover 9 to 12 graduate credits. By fall 2004, resident undergradu– ates are expected to pay $99 per credit and resident graduates will pay $244 per credit. On average, two thirds of Portland State's undergraduate students enroll in 13 or fewer credits. Teaching and learning in Guatemalan schools Traveling the primitive and steep roads took an hour one way to get to the rural schools above Panajachel, Guatemala. The rewards made it worth it: providing children with needed supplies, teachers with renewal, build– ings with repairs, and Portland State students with a rich cultural and lan– guage experience. Fourteen advanced students of Spanish and their faculty leaders, Manya Wubbold and Robert Sanders, spent three weeks in a remote area of Guatemala last June serving three of the most needy schools in the country. Wubbold and Sanders are preparing to repeat the PSU Guatemala program this coming summer. Students arrived in Panajachel with 22 suitcases of donated school supplies and $1,200 of donated cash for school repairs. They found many of the chil- 2 PSU MAGAZINE WINTER 2004 dren owned only a pencil and pen. All three schools were in need of new latrines and none had a sink for hand washing. Many of the buildings were missing doors and windows. Painting the schools was chosen as ,- PSU Spanish s tudents were accepted and entertained in the communities they helped this past s ummer. a priority because it would involve the greatest number of participants and present the most visible result. PSU students were joined by male par– ents from throughout the communi– ties and their children in the project. The money brought by the students also provided materials and labor to build new latrines after they left. PSU students and teachers gave lessons in writing, dance, science, geography, drawing, origami, and physical education. They also observed the Guatemalan teach– ers-at their request-and sug– gested new approaches. All the activities were "highly successful and inspired a sense of renewal among the teachers, stu– dents, and parents," says Sanders. For more information about the PSU Guatemala program or to sup– port its efforts, contact Wubbold at 503-725-9589.