Spring20_Mag_Combined_WEB_single_pages

park blocks NEW STUDENT SAFETY AMBASSADORS sporting Viking caps and fluorescent vests began patrolling campus this February after completing basic training. A key part of Portland State Interim President Stephen Percy’s plan to bolster campus safety, the paid students will answer questions, refer people to campus resources and provide assistance. “They’ll be the eyes and ears for us and for the community,” said Joe Schilling, interim chief of Campus Public Safety. The first safety ambassadors are students Liam Cole, Camila Oliveira and Aseel Alattabi (pictured here), as well as Briana Benson. They’ll be joined by six more in months to come. Other elements of the initiative include increased oversight of Campus Public Safety Office training and investigations, and improvements to campus buildings and physical security. AMBASSADORS BOOST CAMPUS SAFETY WISE INVESTMENT In 10 years, students graduating from PSU earn a higher return on the investment from their degree than their counterparts at Oregon State University and University of Oregon, according to a study by Georgetown University. TRANSFORMING TRANSFERS The new Transfer and Returning Students Resource Center in Fariborz Maseeh Hall (formerly Neuberger Hall) offers enhanced services from advisers who spend half their time at community colleges. Sixty percent of PSU’s student body is transfer students— more than any other Oregon university. MORE YEARS FREE PSU’s popular Four Years Free program for income-eligible students lowered its GPA requirement from 3.4 to 3.2, which means more Oregon high school students can attend PSU without paying tuition and fees. 60% 3.2 10 NEWS BY THE NUMBERS BRUCE BRADBURY 4 // PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE