by University Communications
March 31st 2022
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Sen. Rob Wagner, Rep. Teresa Alonso Leon, Sen. Michael Dembrow and Rep. Ricki Ruiz tour PSU's campus on March 30. | Photo by Smith Memorial Student Union
The Oregon Legislature’s Joint Task Force On Student Success for Underrepresented Students in Higher Education visited Portland State’s campus this week for a full-day visit to better understand the challenges and opportunities that students — in particular underrepresented students — face in higher education.
The nine-member task force spent Wednesday at PSU, starting the day meeting with university and community leaders and ending with a public hearing in the Smith Memorial Student Union where students, employees and members of the public were invited to share their perspectives on how to make college more affordable, accessible and equitable for continuing and future students.
During the course of the day, members of the task force held listening sessions with faculty members and students as well as touring parts of the PSU campus to get a firsthand view of student spaces and services.
Perla Pinedo, director of Multicultural Retention Services, shows the Joint Task Force On Student Success for Underrepresented Students in Higher Education PSU's Multicultural Student Center.Michele Toppe, PSU’s Vice Provost for Student Affairs, kicked off the tour, which highlighted spaces that give students a sense of belonging, at PSU’s Multicultural Center in Smith. Toppe shared that when she first joined PSU in 1995, on-campus resources and spaces for students were limited.
“We’ve seen a tremendous growth of services for students,” she said.
Legislators got a look at resources centers including PSU’s newly opened Basic Needs Hub and heard from the Basic Needs Navigator, Lee Phillips.
Basic Needs Navigator Lee Phillips introduces PSU's new Basic Needs Hub to the task force.The legislative task force is chaired by Representative Teresa Alonso León of Woodburn. Alonso León was the first in her family to pursue higher education and got her masters in Public Administration from Portland State in 2013.
“We want to know about your lived experiences and what barriers are getting in the way,” she said in a video to encourage participation in the public hearing. “It will help us shape good policy for years to come.”
Students and members of the public are invited to share their experiences and opinions with the task force via email at JTUSHE.exhibits@oregonlegislature.gov.