by University Communications
November 14th 2016
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The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) has named Portland State University the winner of the C. Peter Magrath Community Engagement Scholarship Award in recognition of its 27-year partnership with Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability.
The annual award, announced Sunday at the group’s annual meeting in Austin, Texas, honors four-year public universities for extraordinary community outreach and comes with a $20,000 prize.
“Portland State is truly honored to be recognized by the APLU for our longstanding commitment to sustainability and civic engagement -- two vitally important missions of the university,” said PSU President Wim Wiewel. “The many accomplishments made through our partnership with Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability have enabled our faculty and students to truly fulfill PSU’s motto Let Knowledge Serve the City.”
PSU and the City of Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability have gained national and international recognition for their long-term partnership that engages faculty and students in education, research and service. Results of the partnership include:
- Collection of longitudinal data on garbage and recycling that shape citywide waste management policy;
- Climate change research and education that informs the region’s Climate Action Plan;
- Planning and development activities that promote an “Age Friendly City” agenda;
- “Smart Cities” research and development focused on transit access and livability issues; and,
- Placement of Portland State capstone students and interns in local programs and community-based classes that work on Planning and Sustainability projects.
“Community engagement is at the very heart of public universities’ missions,” said APLU President Peter McPherson. “Portland State has established itself as a key driver of progress in the Portland area through its partnership with the City of Portland. We applaud their exceptional community engagement efforts, which serve as a model for institutions across the country.”
Since 2006, APLU and the Engagement Scholarship Consortium, with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, have partnered to recognize programs that demonstrate how colleges and universities have redesigned their learning, discovery, and engagement missions to become even more involved with their communities. The national award is named for C. Peter Magrath, APLU president from 1992 to 2005.