When Portland State President Wim Wiewel took the stage last Tuesday in the packed ballroom of the Smith Memorial Student Union for PSU’s convocational address, he called the university a place of “struggle and hope.” Speaking without notes and avoiding the podium, Wiewel began his address with highlights through PSU’s history. From the very beginning, Wiewel said, the university had to struggle to find space, faculty, students and funds–and has still managed to become a recognized university. “None of these things come easy,” Wiewel said. “We’re not the stepsister, we’re not the younger sibling, we’re not the also-ran.”
PSU: A new era begins
When Portland State President Wim Wiewel took the stage last Tuesday in the packed ballroom of the Smith Memorial Student Union for PSU’s convocational address, he called the university a place of “struggle and hope.”
Speaking without notes and avoiding the podium, Wiewel began his address with highlights through PSU’s history. From the very beginning, Wiewel said, the university had to struggle to find space, faculty, students and funds–and has still managed to become a recognized university.
“None of these things come easy,” Wiewel said. “We’re not the stepsister, we’re not the younger sibling, we’re not the also-ran.”
In his speech, Wiewel addressed the current challenges at Portland State, breaking them down into five categories.
To begin with, Wiewel said that higher education simply costs too much money-couple that with skyrocketing enrollment and suddenly universities aren’t able to keep up with financial demands, Wiewel said.
“Old institutions have trouble adjusting,” Wiewel said.
At the same time, Wiewel said, Portland State must be held accountable for actions when it comes to the university’s health and progress, and needs to stay up to date with technological advancements in and around campus.
Wiewel also outlined five guiding themes which he said would improve PSU in the future: providing civic leadership, improving the student experience, striving for continued national and international recognition in key fields such as sustainability, facilitating more cooperation with local schools and acquiring more resources and funding.
“This truly is a place ready for glory,” Wiewel said. “The expectations are very high, and with your help I hope to meet them.”
The annual Faculty Excellence awards were also presented to four recipients at the convocation. Eileen Brennan, professor and associate dean of social work; Linda Absher, assistant professor and humanities reference librarian; Dee Thompson, director of PSU’s career center and sociology professor; and Grant Farr, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences received awards for their service to the university.
WIEWEL’S FIVE CHALLENGES AND FIVE GUIDING THEMESIn his convocational address, PSU president Wim Wiewel outlined five challenges facing Portland State and offered five themes to address them in the coming years:
The Challenges1. Affordability: Because student fees rise with necessary cost increases, PSU should focus on making school more affordable for students.Tuition has increased by 92 percent over the last 20 years, while per-student aid has decreased by 29 percent.2. Access: With ever-increasing enrollment, PSU needs to address how effective the university is in keeping up with financial and institutional demands.3. Accountability: PSU needs to be held responsible for its actions over how budgets are spent and how the university is serving students.4. Rapid technological change: Changing technology in classrooms and around campus can be a challenge to deal with, but it is also an opportunity to increase PSU’s recognition worldwide.5. Increased societal expectations: Across the globe, universities are being expected to solve the world’s problems. PSU needs to step up and take on other challenges expected of a community leader–and not just in the field of education.
The Themes1. Provide civic leadership through partnership: PSU must lead by example and become an integral, necessary part of the community.2. Improve student success: PSU must focus on its core mission and increase the number of students that stay at PSU past freshman year, as well as the graduation rate.3. Achieve global excellence: By funding research and striving for excellence, PSU can attract talented, motivated faculty and students, and become distinguished both nationally and internationally.4. Enhance educational opportunity: By working with public schools, PSU can increase enrollment and ease the transition from K-12 to higher education.5. Expand resources and improve effectiveness: PSU should actively seek new sources of funding, but should also learn to intelligently use the funds we currently have.
