Editorial

Ten thousand. It’s a number larger than the populations of Seaside, Astoria, Baker City, Newport, Lincoln City, North Bend, Madras, Hood River and more than 20 other Oregon cities.

It’s also how much Portland State’s enrollment has grown since 2000.

The Office of Institutional Research and Planning expects enrollment to top 27,000 students by the end of fall term, which would make PSU the 17th largest city in the state. For a university finally starting to come into its own and gain increased legitimacy, it is exciting and welcome news.

Portland State is building incredible momentum. The arrival of President Wim Wiewel, the announcement of the $25 million grant for sustainability, and the continuing renovations and construction on campus have made this a hopeful time to be a Viking.

More students on campus signify that more people are finding ways to access education. It means more voices will have a place in an already diverse community. It means more people are willing to put in hard work and long hours to better their lives.

However, it also means that our campus will face a host of challenges–some obvious, some unforeseen–as enrollment skyrockets toward 30,000 students.

PSU must temper its enthusiastic growth with a realization that there are some harsh realities that come with being Oregon’s largest university but not its best funded.

For years the Oregon University System used outdated enrollment numbers to determine PSU’s funding, resulting in inadequate allocations for the university. While that situation has improved in recent years, PSU must be proactive in its effort to garner public funding and private donations in order to keep up with its expanding student population.

Classroom sizes, already ballooning, will continue to increase. Students that learn best from individual attention may soon have to adapt to a new learning style or risk being left behind.

The demand for affordable downtown housing is on the rise and that need is not being met. Student housing serves just 2,300 students, a number that was inadequate 10 years ago and is almost intolerable in 2008 as PSU continues to serve more and more traditional students.

Despite numerous challenges, Portland State has been able to support the influx of students. However, for that to remain true the state Legislature must step up and continue to fund the university at an appropriate level–one that recognizes PSU’s growing size and prominence.

We remain excited about Portland State’s continued growth and its fight to ascend to its rightful place among the nation’s best public universities, and we remain hopeful that PSU will garner the resources necessary to achieve that laudable goal.

By the end of the term, we will be citizens of a city of 27,000.

With that said, we caution that the university contains its growth within the boundaries of its city limits. Otherwise, we risk making Portland State the most insignificant hamlet in the state of Oregon rather than its largest university.