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More than 375 academic leaders and faculty members from across the country sought advice from Portland State University on how to integrate civic engagement into their universities at the American Democracy Project's "Moving Beyond Projects: Institutionalizing Civic Engagement," hosted by PSU and the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AASCU) on June 16.

George Pernsteiner, Oregon University System interim chancellor, spoke to conference participants about the importance of Portland State's community work.

"PSU started out and continues to serve the needs of Portlanders, Oregonians, and students from other states and countries who want a quality education that connects them to both their present and their future place in the community and society," said Pernsteiner.

The University's leadership in civic engagement was also acknowledged by George Mehaffy, AASCU vice president for academic leadership and change.

"When the history of higher education is written about the latter part of the 20th century and the early years of the 21st century," said Mehaffy, "I believe historians will look back to institutions such as Portland State University and Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis as the leaders who redefined institutions of higher learning, no longer as ivory towers separated from their communities, but instead as institutions of their communities."