News

The Institute for Sustainable Solutions (ISS) seeks to build Portland State University’s capacity to transform our region into a more prosperous place—one that is more equitable, ecologically balanced and economically vibrant. The Miller Foundation’s generous gift enables us to position Portland State for regional, national and international leadership by investing strategically in our sustainability research, education and outreach. Our goal is to harness Portland State’s assets to achieve transformational change in the university and the community.

Since late fall, Acting Director Jennifer Allen and the ISS team have been working closely with the Deans, the Office of Research and Strategic Partnerships, the Academic Council and other university leadership to seek ways to align our sustainability efforts with the goals and priorities across all of Portland State’s schools and colleges.

ISS has also begun crafting a multi-year strategy around several key initiatives:

1. A distinctive undergraduate experience: ISS is engaging partners across campus to create a competitive package of sustainability learning opportunities that knits together our general education program, learning outside the classroom, research experience, internships, study abroad opportunities and career assistance. A successful program in this area will help propell our students to be the leaders, designers and stewards of a livable future.

ISS is working with University Studies, the McNair Scholars program, the Honors program, the Career Center, Study Abroad programs and others to develop a roadmap for integrating these programs around sustainability. We will also identify some targeted majors where we can begin to go deeper in our sustainability curricular offerings.

2. Sustainability research excellence: In the coming decades, Portland State has the opportunity to take its place  as the nation's premier urban-serving university. Getting there means building on existing strengths. ISS is working with Portland State’s Office of Research and Strategic Partnerships to map the university’s assets—faculty expertise, partnerships and opportunities— in several focal areas. These asset maps will serve as the basis of a multi-year strategy for support and investment. As we move forward, ISS will be engaging faculty to help articulate long-term goals and investment needs for the following research areas, and help identify other emerging areas.

• Urban sustainability: Creating smart, livable cities. This includes urban mobility, the built environment, planning, energy, green neighborhoods and other areas.
• Social determinants of health: Issues of place, equity and wellness. This area builds on PSU’s existing strength in social sustainability, combined with our emerging collaboration with OHSU. 
• Coupled human-natural systems: Sustaining people with nature. This includes ecosystem services, climate issues, integrated water resource management and more.

3. International efforts: ISS is working with the Internationalization Council to align PSU’s internationalization and sustainability strategies. We are mapping PSU’s assets in the area of sustainability for the countries and regions where PSU is focusing its international efforts.

With respect to ISS governance, an internal search is underway to hire a permanent Director to lead the Institute. In addition, the Provost, the Office of Research and Strategic Partnerships and a group of faculty advisors are playing an important role in guiding our course. We will be working with the larger group of faculty fellows to clearly define roles and responsibilities going forward to best utilize their expertise and expand overall faculty excellence at PSU.

In short, the Institue for Sustainable Solutions is grounded in Portland State’s identity and regional strengths. We are excited to move the university toward global excellence and emerge as an institution that can serve as a model for catalyzing and deploying solutions for a more prosperous future.