City building to house PSU engineering, computer school The Portland City Council has offered the former Water Service Building at 1800 S.W. Sixth to PSU for use as an engineering and computer science education and research center. University President Joseph Blumel, in accepting the offer, said classes will begin in the building spring term. The University will lease the building from the city for a year at a cost of $1, allowing immediate use of the facility while developing plans for permanent acquisition of the $3.5 million property. At a January news conference held al the building, Mayor Frank Ivancie said the center would be a boost for economic development and will provide expanded educational opportunities for the region's students. President Blumel said, "Acquisition of this facility by the University will make a tremendous contribution to development of programs in electronic and electrical engineering. and computer science. It will enable us to do some things we regard as critical in the development of these programs." He pointed out that 1he engineering and compute'r programs now will be housed in the same facility and added that the 20,000 square-foot building is flexible and ideally sui~ed to the proposed use. Blumel indicated that the University intends to grow "from solid undergraduate programs into graduate education in engineering and computer science ... reaching a research capacity that is significant in terms of industry." While initial classes will be held this spring term in the new center. the engineering and computer science programs will receive a major boost in the fall with the addition of nine new faculty. This year, there are some 400 majors in electrical/electronic .engineering and a similar number in computer science. In addition, hundreds of students are turned away from the programs due to lack of space. University advocate longtime friend of PSU, community As the newly appointed Interim Assistant to the President for University Relations at PSU, Phil Bogue has assumed the role of active advocate for the institution. While his appointment to the University administration is recent, his record of support for PSU is long. Four years ago, speaking as a private businessman and a member of the Portland State Foundation, Bogue told the State Board of Higher Education, "Portland State will develop into a metropolitan institution of distinction .. . it will become a major urban university because the people demand it." Bogue first became interested in the development of Portland State soon after arriving in Portland in 1961 to establish an office for the accounting firm of Arthur Andersen & Co. He recently retired as Regional Managing Partner of the firm. Beyond his service on the PSU Foundation, Bogue has been active in other community work. He has served as president 01 United Way, the Portland Chamber of Commerce, Oregon Society of CPA's, the Oregon Symphony Association, Metro Private Industry Council, World Affairs Council and the Friends of Pioneer Square. He also is a member of the Burnside Consortium Board of Directors. His commitment to community service earned him the University's Distinguished Service Award in 1979. That award saluted him as "A business executive by profession. civic leader and patron of the arts by avocation, and optimist, friend and volunteer by nature." Phil Bogue Bogue's advocacy 01 the arts is reflected in his often voiced concern to maintain a balance between the demand for highly specialized technological education and a good, broad liberal arts education. A native of the Seattle area, Bogue frequently cites the impact of the University of Washington on that city as one goal for his continued involvement with the development of Portland State. Among Sogue's responsibilities as interim assistant to the president are alumni relations, news and information services, university events, publications, and the foundation. At the same time, he has a major responsibility for legislative relations for PSU. The City's Water Service Building, vacated in December, will be leased by PSU for one year for $1 to house Its engineering and computer departments. The btue Ine bUilding, originally built for Blue Cross, wilt need littte alteration before classes start their spring term, Briefly. .. Plan said IImHlng to PSU Public hearinas wer$, held statewide during January on a proposed strategic plan for the state system of higher education. At the Portland hearing Jan. 18, local business and government leaders joined PSU faculty in questioning the sections of the plan outlining PSU's role. About thirty people testitied before state officials and a crowd of 150, many saying that the plan unnecessarily limited PSU's growth. Mayor Frank Ivancie stressed the need for more high-technology education in the metropolitan area. Multnomah County Executive Dennis Buchanan said that limited graduate level programs at PSU would be a deterrent to economic development. PSU Foundation President Howard Hubbard called the plan a reflection of the status quo, inhibiting change. Public suggestions will be considered and a final version of the strategic plan will be presented to the State Board of Higher Education at its Feb. 25 meeting. The original draft was prepared by the Chancellor's office. ROTC decision appealed A 30-29 decision by the PSU Faculty Senate last December to support placement of an ROTC detachment at PSU, was appealed by a petition signed by more than the ten percent required by the faculty constitution. Proponents of ROTC on campus say the program would bring students and doliars to the University; opponents object to the teaching of military values in the halls of higher learning. President Blumel called a meeting with faculty for Jan. 31, but the faculty's final decision on the matter was not known by press time. Governor wants higher ed increase Governor Atiyeh's proposed 1983·85 state budget called for a 22 percent increase in funds for higher education. The additional $63 million request includes salary adjustments, the enhancement of programs that will have an effect on economic development, and a recommendation for freezing tuition at its current level, according to information from the Executive Department. Most other state services would be maintained at the January 1982 level. Atiyeh estimates that most of the revenue for higher ad funds could be raised by a 1 percent net receipts tax on personal and corporate income. Tektronix gives money, equfpment A $3.5 million grant was awarded to higher education technology programs by the Tektronix Foundation in November. The grant, which consists of funds and equipment spread over a five-year period, is for the development of electrical engineering and computer science education in the Portland area, Chancellor William Oavis said this grant will enable state system schools to develop specific programs to meet the demands of the BO's. A significant portion of the funding will go to PSU, as soon as suitable programs in this area are developed, according to Tektronix University Relations. 11
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