MAKING CAMPUS MORE WELCOMING AS PROTESTS SWEPT the nation in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd and individuals across the campus community called for more action against racism, President Stephen Percy made equity and racial justice his top priority.The decision was motivated by the local and national urgency of that summer, but it was also strategically intertwined with his other priorities of elevating student success and more deeply engaging with the community. What’s the vision? Simply the success of every Portland State University student and employee—from every background. In concrete terms, that means equitable retention and advancement toward graduation for students, as well as a stable career path and sense of belonging for employees. Late in 2021, Portland State launched a three-year equity plan and a scorecard to track the University’s progress.The work is backed by the $1.5 million Racial Justice Fund, matched by a PSU Foundation fund and supported by a number of grants from the Higher Education Coordinating Commission and the Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities. Early wins are already having an impact on the student experience. For example, in fall 2021, Portland State launched an initiative to support undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children (known as “Dreamers” after the 2001 DREAM Act). Plans for study abroad heritage trips oriented toward students who identify as Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) are also in the works. A new BIPOC Student Advisory Council will ensure that initiatives will center student voices and that there is an open line of communication with University leadership. A new Summer Bridge Scholars program, put in place last summer, helps students— including those who are the first in their families to go to college—get familiar with campus and learn skills for successfully transitioning from high school. To ensure students don’t miss internships and research opportunities because of financial concerns, park blocks A LEG UP A new CollegeNET ranking places Portland State University in the top 10% nationwide—and No. 1 in Oregon—for the upward mobility of its low-income students, as judged by metrics including graduation rate and early career salary. DESTINATION OREGON COVID-19 lockdowns didn’t deter people relocating to Oregon. The state added roughly 29,304 residents between April 1, 2020, and July 1, 2021, according to PSU Population Research Center estimates—an increase over the year before. WAVE POWER A $4.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy will fund PSU researchers’ work on an electromagnetic device that turns ocean waves into a source of renewable energy up to 10 times more effectively than current technology. 29,304 $4.5 M No. 1 NEWS BY THE NUMBERS NASHCO 6 // PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE
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