PSU: a hub for community service

Emblazoned in gold letters on the Montgomery Street pedestrian bridge on campus is the slogan “Let Knowledge Serve the City.”

Portland State’s proximity to downtown, reputable College of Urban and Public Affairs, and senior capstone project all contribute to making the school a dynamic source for community service.

Sona Andrews, Portland State’s newly hired provost and vice president for academic affairs, said many urban universities show a high level of commitment to service, and PSU is no exception.

“We recognize that everything that students learn does not take place in the classroom,” Andrews said. “Community service develops a great sense of civic responsibility.”

Andrews added that the backgrounds of PSU students, many of whom grew up in the city, make them particularly rooted to their community.

Student Activities and Leadership Programs is an effort to foster such attachments.

According to Jessica Conley, program coordinator at Student Leaders for Service, which aligns itself with SALP, the student-led organization provides an introduction to community engagement.

She cited several events that SLS has created, such as the Viking Days of Service—where students congregate on the PSU campus and go on volunteer trips—as being great ways to navigate both the school and the city.

On campus, several student support services, such as the Queer Resource Center and the Women’s Resource Center, also provide ways for students to connect through service.

“[Volunteers] come from all backgrounds: black, white, gay, straight, transgender,” said Jayvin Jordan, volunteer coordinator for the QRC. “They really help get things done.”

The QRC provides academic success classes that help queer students achieve success in higher education.

“Volunteers are what make the place go,” said Bridge D’Urso, director of the WRC. Volunteers operate the front desk and plan events and projects for the center. They can even receive credit for various service contributions.

PSU’s ethic of community service is inherent in its senior capstone project, a mandatory requirement for most undergraduate students.

Seanna Kerrigan, capstone program director, said her dissertation’s research into the impact of capstones suggests the program gives students “a sense that problems aren’t too big an overwhelming that one person can’t make a difference.”

She also said requiring students to complete academic coursework in correlation with service in the community can provide a greater sense of confidence in career options.