April 3, 2024
PSU Community,
Happy Spring Term to everyone. I hope the start of this term brings new energy for learning and engagement, and for those of you embarking on the last term of your current academic adventure, I wish you heartfelt congratulations.
As promised, I am back with an update for the campus community ahead of our upcoming Board of Trustees meetings. This week, we will host four committee meetings and our full board meeting.
On Thursday, April 4, board committees will discuss the role of the board around diversity, equity and inclusion, hear overviews from the School of Business and Research & Graduate Studies, have a presentation from the Student Fee Committee, and receive an in-depth update on the strategic planning process. During the full board meeting on Friday, April 5, we will hear updates from the Higher Education Coordinating Commission and an update on Year Two of the Time to Act plan. Additionally, at this meeting, we intend to move forward with the implementation of Senate Bill 273 and approve the tuition and mandatory enrollment fees for the 2024-25 academic year and the 2025 summer term.
I want to remind you all about the coffee hour hosted before the full board meeting on April 5 in the Academic and Student Recreation Center (ASRC) 515 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. as a way to connect and engage with board members and the campus community. Please RSVP by the end of today, April 3, if you will be joining us for coffee.
For each term update, I share with you information about one of our trustees. As Board Chair, I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and tell you about why I care so much about PSU.
Get to know Chair Benjamin Berry
Why did you apply to serve on the PSU Board, and how has that perspective changed since serving on the Board and now as Board chair?
With a service ethic in mind, I have served on about 10 boards. This includes for profit, nonprofit, public-sector boards, and universities. When the opportunity to serve as a Board of Trustee for PSU came knocking, I immediately knew it was a call that I needed to answer. I have always had a sweet spot in my heart for PSU. I watched my mother take classes at PSU and graduate with a master’s in education.
During my undergraduate work at the University of Portland, I managed to take 21 PSU credits during the summers so I could graduate on time. Having a fiduciary responsibility to the students, faculty, staff, the administration, and President is especially important to me. Conducting crucial conversations and decisions are my highest responsibilities as your Board of Trustee Chair.
What most excites you about the work so far this year and the future of PSU?
What is exciting and important now and for the future, is setting the course for PSU’s fiscal sustainment. It is balancing how we create programs and outreach to attract more students to PSU’s higher education programs at a pace that is within our means and is sustainable. To have this is a collaboration in shared governance across all aspects of our institution: Our administration, faculty, students, unions, the Oregon Legislature, the PSU Foundation, and our community stakeholders and donors. The promise of education excellence must be the North Star of our mission to “Let Knowledge Serve the City.” So far, we are on track in this process!
You recently attended the National Conference on Trusteeship. Can you tell us one thing that you took away from that conference that you would like to share with the PSU community?
One of my takeaways was during a breakout session called, “Presidential Turnover; Presidential Renewal.” Essentially, boards of trustees should not only be concerned about the retention of their students. They should also be asking themselves how they can retain their capable presidents who are serving shorter terms in office than ever before, with real costs for colleges and universities. Why are presidents departing after only a few years in office? What are some of the leading reasons they choose to leave for another opportunity? What might a board do to avoid this unwelcome, and often unexpected, turnover at the top? And how can a board work with its chief executive to renew their leadership for the increasingly elusive strategic advantage: presidential second act?
As the chairperson for PSU’s Presidential Search Committee, I recognize that it is the collective wisdom from all of us that brought President Ann Cudd to PSU. Our President represents the BEST, and it is up to all of us to collaborate with her on our crucial conversations. This may come in the form of shared governance debate and reconciliation, staying engaged, recognizing final decisions, and even prayer!
As always, the Board webpage has various resources that you may find helpful, including the yearly calendar, meeting notices, meeting recordings, and other information.
Lastly, thank all of you for your commitment, dedication, and time this year to support the renaissance of Portland State University and the City of Portland. Again, I enthusiastically welcome you to the spring academic term — Go Viks!
-Chair Ben Berry
If you want to invite the Board of Trustees to a campus event, email trustees@pdx.edu
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