News

President Daniel O. Bernstine

Convocation Speech

September 19, 2006

Welcome to the beginning of the 2006-07 academic year. Please give Mike Lane a hand for the work he did in putting together the pictorial review of last year. The music that accompanied the video was popular in 1946—the year this great institution began. Sixty years was not really that long ago, yet so much has changed at Portland State University and in our world during that time.

Let's take a moment to consider what was happening in 1946. GIs were returning from World War II. Those GIs have been called the greatest generation ever in large part because of their ingenuity, their commitment to family, and their success in the industrial economy. When the war was over and these men and women returned to the United States they arrived with a purpose aimed at realizing the American dream. It was the first year of the baby boom, the beginning of my generation. Besides the growth in population, what else was happening in the nation at this time?

The Boomer Initiative Web site is a great resource and this is what they report was happening in 1946. The UN General Assembly met for the first time, the federal government took control of the railroads, and Joe Louis defended his heavyweight title for the 23rd time. These two songs were popular: Frank Sinatra's “September Song” and Louis Armstrong's “Linger in My Arms A Little Longer.” People were watching television shows like the Gillette Cavalcade of Sports and they were reading Baby and Child Care by Dr. Benjamin Spock. New products were hitting the market like, "Tide," suntan lotions, and the bikini.

In 1946, the only president of the United States to hold a PSU degree was born.

Times were different then, compared to today. Working families faced a reality of opportunity, of economic growth and prosperity, of living the American dream. Education was important for many of these returning GIs and it was a time of birth for Portland State University.

Let's hear about Vanport from some familiar faces. [Video.]

It is our birthday and we do have reasons to celebrate. Portland State University has been true to the vision and mission developed by our founders. Early Vanporters had a vision for higher education in Portland that was tied to achieving economic stability for families and for communities. As we know from Gordon Dodds' book about PSU, the early days were difficult. For example, new employees at the Vanport Center received a letter of welcome that said, "As you know, we are starting from nothing."

Administrators, faculty, staff, and students all made sacrifices to start this great institution, and fought against those who believed that higher education should remain the purview of the wealthy, and not be expanded to support low income and middle income families. They worked to bring higher education to the people, rather than requiring students to leave their families, their jobs, their homes, and their communities to get a college degree.

The university they envisioned was a place where students of diverse backgrounds and life experiences would realize their dreams—a place of academic excellence and opportunity. The university they envisioned is today's Portland State University.

This year, I want to spend some time talking about Portland State University's core mission and values and how we energize ourselves and our work by reaffirming these values and our mission. I want to use the occasion of our 60th anniversary to do what many people do on their 60th birthdays or their 60th wedding anniversaries, which is to review, renew, and recommit.

I've spent some time reviewing our history, now let's focus on principles that define PSU and renew our sense of what it means to be an international urban research university.

The first principle is: Portland State University is essential to providing students with economic opportunities and access to the American dream.

Portland State University is a place that provides more than 25,000 students with access to education and an opportunity to realize their fullest potential. What does that really mean? Why is it important? We know that educational attainment is directly related to economic security. Simply put, a college degree increases the odds of obtaining a family wage job. The Oregon University System estimates that a college graduate will earn about 78 percent more than those with only a high school diploma. By 2010, six out of ten new jobs in Oregon will require a bachelor's degree. Therefore, the work we do, the educational services we provide at Portland State are key to the region's economic stability and growth, and its families.

Many economists have written about the fact that America in the 1960s was defined by middle-class families; there were few very wealthy people and those in lower-paying jobs knew that a strong work ethic, combined with a growing economy could mean financial security and greater opportunities for their children. Today, our national and even state economic policies are making the very rich even wealthier and putting working class families one paycheck or health crisis away from poverty.

The answer to this polarized economic data is, in large part, an expansion of educational opportunities. That is why the work you do is so essential. Take a moment now and think about students you have known throughout the years who are first generation college students and think about where they are today.

I think of Gary Salyers, class of 1957, who is a retired elementary school principal. Gary has spent his life working to increase educational opportunity for all. He served as the national president of the elementary school principals association where he worked on national policy to improve education and support students and teachers. Today he is an avid Viking fan and active with the alumni association.

I think of Bob Watrus, class of 1979 who came to PSU as a traditional-aged freshman from The Dalles. During his time at PSU he was the editor of the PSU Vanguard and graduated with degrees in general studies and political science. He is the only member of his family to graduate from college. Today he runs a consulting business in Seattle and works with organizations such as the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Northwest Area Foundation, and other groups on issues related to expanding economic opportunity, workforce and economic development, and social policy.

I think of Mary Cunningham, class of 2002, who is also the only person in her family to graduate from college. Mary has a degree in community development and served as student body president. Today she is working in Washington, DC for Congressman David Wu on transportation and energy issues. These three faces of PSU are emblematic of the effect that your work, your dedication to students, and your commitment to excellence can have on individuals, on their families, and on communities.

The second principle is: Portland State University is essential to the overall economic well-being of the metropolitan community and is connected to the region through academic programs and as a resident of the central city.

PSU's commitment to Portland and to the metropolitan region is reflected in our motto, "Let Knowledge Serve the City," and our success in the region is attributable directly to our faculty and staff. This year we produced an economic impact statement of the University. You can access this report on the Web, and I urge you to review it. This report assesses the University's role as the economic engine of the region. PSU's economic impact on the region is over $1 billion! The report also shows that partnerships are the heart of our connection to the city, and the value of that contribution is more than $20 million annually.

The study also shows that faculty research contributes substantially to the overall economy of the region. Over the last five years, PSU research funding has increased by 60 percent. Growth in research has occurred in nanometrology, transportation, social work, engineering, the sciences, and more.

Finally, PSU makes a major contribution to the economy of the region in the way we manage and develop the University District. This past year we dedicated the NW Center for Engineering, Science and Technology. We began work on renovating Shattuck Hall. We gained initial funding for redevelopment of the PCAT block and renovation of Science Building II. Soon, construction will begin on light rail and PSU will truly be a multimodal campus with direct access to MAX, the streetcar, bus, automobile, pedestrian, and bicycling services.

PSU has gained regional and national distinction for our commitment to sustainability, which is not only integrated into our academic programs, but is also a key feature of the way we develop our buildings and operate our campus. Earlier this year, our work in sustainability was featured in The New York Times; we gained a Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating for the Engineering building; and in August we were the first university in the nation to be certified salmon-safe.

The third principle is: Portland State University is committed to preserving the traditions of innovation, excellence and change established by its founders.

In his book about Portland State, Professor Gordon Dodds writes about our University community as believing that better days are ahead. Despite the challenges PSU and Oregon universities have faced throughout the decades, one consistent theme emerges over time -- that PSU faculty, staff, and students have been and are resilient, forward thinking, and committed to the future.

I know that we have weathered budget cuts and, when combined with enrollment growth, increased research work, and community partnerships, we have had a difficult five years. Our current state appropriation of $127.4 million is less than the 1999-2001 funding of $128.3 million. State funding cuts have been off-set in part by tuition increases. This strategy flies in the face of our commitment to access and to affordability. State funding cuts have also meant that faculty salaries are still not competitive with those at peer institutions. I want to thank everyone who participated in the budget reduction process. I know it wasn't easy, but I think we set a new standard in terms of campus participation and attention to the entire University.

While times have been tough and each of us has done our part to contribute to the success of Portland State University, I realize that five years of declining state funding has had its toll on all of us. Does the future look better for us? I wish I could say that it does. I urge each and every one of you to cast an informed vote on the measures that are before the voters in the November election. Become engaged in those measures that will directly affect your lives and our livelihood. Certainly, November 7, 2006 could be definitive in terms of the future of Oregon and of Portland State University. On a related point, the discussions about government services and advertising aimed at denigrating public employees does not improve or add anything to the public debate about tax reform and essential services. Those who don't support the basic role of government and don't respect state employees are just plain wrong.

The work we do everyday is a testimonial to the commitment and dedication of state employees and to the excellence of Portland State.

Stable state funding is clearly needed in order for PSU to realize its full potential over the next 20 years. The budget prepared by the OUS Board and presented to the Governor for 2007-09 calls for an ambitious investment in higher education; one that will provide tuition stability for students and parents, funding for faculty salaries, targeted investments in programs, and new funding for capital construction. Yet, state funding alone will not sustain the Portland State University of the 21st century. Key to sustaining PSU is a commitment from every faculty, staff, student, alumni, and community partner to innovation, excellence, and change.

Let me speak about two examples. First, Portland State University must continue on its path to expanding and diversifying its funding base. This past June, PSU completed its first ever comprehensive campaign. Thanks to the work of faculty, staff, alumni, and friends, we not only reached our goal of $100 million, we exceeded it. When the books were closed on the campaign, we raised a total of $114 million and these funds are going to support student scholarships, faculty, research, new construction, laboratories, equipment, and athletics. Every facet of the University has contributed to the campaign and every area has benefited. This is only the beginning of our work to diversify our funding and I have always said that this campaign was a warm-up to an even more ambitious effort. We are now in the early phase of the next comprehensive campaign and we know that private fundraising and research funding are essential to a strong PSU in the future.

Second, we must strive to be excellent in all aspects of our work and find ways to share our expertise and excellence with others. While traditional measures of excellence are important, we must continue to pursue recognition for the excellence that uniquely defines our international urban research university.

Some examples include the national Environmental Protection Agency award that went to students in the Graduate School of Education for their work in sustainability; federal legislation sponsored by Congressman Wu highlighting the work PSU's Institute on Aging does with seniors living in urban areas; the $1.6 million NIH grant that chemistry Professor Kevin Reynolds received in conjunction with the University of Michigan; the NSF Career Award that Prof. Lisa Zurk received for her work to research terahertz imaging; the top 20 worldwide ranking by Beyond Grey Pinstripes of the School of Business Administration for preparing graduates with social and environmental stewardship; the number 2 ranking of the Master's in Public Health program that PSU participates in with OHSU and OSU; and the funding from Google for the PSU and OSU partnership in open source efforts.

Excellence requires innovation and a commitment to change. Funding challenges require us to be willing to change. Earning excellence demands a fundamental understanding that change is endemic to the mission of an urban university. However, change for the sake of change alone will obviously not result in positive outcomes, yet change in the way we deliver programs and do our work can result in greater access, greater recognition, and greater support.

This year we launched an online Bachelor of Science degree completion program in Criminology and Criminal Justice; Portland State University and four of the region's community colleges formed the Portland Area Higher Education Consortium, which builds on our co-enrollment programs that began nearly 10 years ago and allows students to take classes among the institutions while working toward degree completion; and, PSU is developing a new approach to interdisciplinary and inter-institutional transportation research.

Finally, one of the biggest changes that happened this past year is the way we communicate about the University to the community. I am very excited that today we are launching a new identity for Portland State University with a new logo that signifies our dynamic and progressive mission.

However, this effort goes beyond a new logo, because we are also launching a comprehensive, university-wide identity program that brings all areas of the University together so that we can tell the story of PSU's success more effectively. Working together with a consistent voice about this great University will deliver greater support for the work we do. I urge you to join me in wearing your new PSU pin with pride!

As we forge ahead toward our 61st anniversary, I would like to close this speech by reflecting again on the lessons of our founders and their core belief that higher education should be accessible to all who can benefit, not just the wealthy and social elite. That is our mission as a public international urban research university and that is what motivates all of us. We offer students an excellent education and our work is integral to the economic vitality of the region. We are truly a place where opportunity and excellence define our mission, our work, and our success.

Today I have reviewed our past and outlined reasons for renewal. Now, it is time for all of us to recommit to our mission and to our work.

Thank you and let's have a great academic year.