September 28, 2009
President shares plan for University at Fall Convocation
President Wim Wiewel welcomed faculty and staff to the new academic year by thanking them for their "tremendous commitment to this University and this place." The president presided over Fall Convocation for the second time on Sept. 22.
While highlighting accomplishments of the past year, including a 23 percent increase in research project dollars, Wiewel shared a 2009-2010 plan for the University containing 73 action items. The plan focuses on furthering the five initiatives presented by the president last fall: provide civic leadership through partnerships, improve student success, achieve global excellence, enhance educational opportunity, and expand resources and improve effectiveness. Wiewel indicated that working with K-12 partners would come to the forefront as a campuswide initiative this year. Read more >
Puzzle master to keynote PSU Weekend
What's an enigmatologist? It's Will Shortz, the only academically accredited puzzle master in the world and the keynote speaker for PSU Weekend October 9-10, hosted by the PSU Alumni Association.
Shortz, crossword editor at The New York Times and puzzle master on NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday, reaches an estimated 50 million people each week with his and others' brainteasers. He will speak during a noon luncheon Saturday, Oct. 10. Cost is $30 ($10 for the lecture only). The weekend also includes free seminars on topics ranging from Afghanistan to aging brains. To register, visit the PSU Alumni Relations Web site or call 5-4948.
PSU Weekend festivities really get started on Thursday, Oct. 8, with Judaic Studies and Maseeh College lectures, a lecture and opening reception for the Dorothea Lange exhibit, and an Environmental Science-sponsored alumni happy hour. Receptions continue Friday evening for Biology, Geology, and Anthropology alumni. That same evening, a preview party is scheduled for PSU Weekend sponsors with Shortz at the West Café.
Portland State to close for week in December
An announcement that the University will close December 19 through 28 was made by Lindsay Desrochers, vice president for Finance and Administration, on Sept. 21 in an e-mail to all faculty and staff. The closure includes five working days and the Christmas holiday. More information about how these closure days will be applied in conjunction with furlough and leave days will be available when the tentative classified and faculty contracts are ratified. Read the e-mail >
Intel invests in international students
Twenty-eight top science students from Vietnam are studying engineering at Portland State thanks to a $2 million investment from Intel.
The Intel Vietnam Scholars program is paying for the students' tuition, fees, books, room and board, and other expenses. Upon graduation in 2011, Intel expects to employ the new electrical and mechanical engineers at its largest global assembly and test site, slated to open soon in Ho Chi Minh City. Read more
Accolades earned
"Best" and "Best in the West" rankings were conferred upon Portland State in recent months by two nationally recognized reviews.
U.S. News & World Report's 2010 edition of America's Best Colleges singled out the University for its commitment to engaged learning through community classes and programs, and Princeton Review selected PSU as one of 123 institutions it recommends in its "Best in the West" review. Read more >
Health plan enrollment mandatory this year
Eligible faculty and staff must enroll in the new 2010 medical plan Oct. 1-31 at the comprehensive Public Employee's Benefit Board (PEBB) Web site. Those who do not enroll will automatically be enrolled in the employee-only tier of PEBB's Statewide Plan effective January 1, 2009, and dependents will lose medical coverage beginning on that date.
The 2010 medical plans are Kaiser Permanente HMO, Providence Choice in Portland, and the new PEBB's Statewide Plan. Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon and Kaiser Permanente Added Choice plans will no longer be offered. The dental and vision plans remain the same.
The PSU Office of Human Resources is sponsoring open enrollment presentations on Oct. 6 and 15, computer labs on Oct. 7 and 20, and a Benefits Fair on Oct. 15
For September 2009
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