Internal Management Directives Introduction

Introduction to PSU's legal and regulatory framework

(Approved June 2003)

Portland State University (PSU) is a public higher education institution operated under the auspices of the Oregon University System (OUS), formerly know as the Oregon State System of Higher Education. As such, the policies and procedures directly guiding this campus can be found in the Higher Education chapters of the ORSs - Oregon Revised Statutes (Higher Education Chapters 351, 352 and 354), and the Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs), in particular chapters 580 (OUS) and 577 (PSU). All PSU employees and students are expected to adhere to applicable rules and regulations governing their relationship with PSU.

ORSs and OARs carry the force of law. In addition to this legal framework, OUS has promulgated Internal Management Directives (IMDs) detailing universal policies governing its operations. Similarly, Portland State University also has developed a body of PSU IMDs governing its operations.

In addition, PSU also has contractual obligations in the arenas of collective bargaining (AAUP contract, AFT contract, OPEU contract, and Promotion and Tenure Guidelines). Its faculty also has its own governance structure as set forth in the Faculty Constitution. As such, action by PSU employees need to take into consideration applicable contractual obligations as well as PSU's legal and regulatory framework.

PSU's IMDs have undergone significant revision in 2002-2003, resulting in a leaner policy structure. The principles underlying the revision were to retain only policies universally applicable to the campus, and to implement only the most limited and flexible set of rules consistent with our obligations under state and federal laws. Many previously existing IMDs were repealed outright as outdated or replaced with policies appropriately handled at a PSU department-internal level. The PSU IMDs posted on this web-site constitute the authoritative reference of all IMDs currently in force for PSU.

Questions regarding these matters are best directed to the appropriate administrators(s) on the PSU IMD Committee:

• Rod Diman, Special Assistant to the President (503-725-4411)
• Roy Koch, Provost, OAA (503-725-5256)
• Lindsay Desrochers, Vice President for Finance and Administration (503-725-4444)
• Debbie Kirkland, Executive Assistant to the Vice President (503-725-5878)