Portland State University
PAE-2: Strategic Plan

PSU’s vision is to become a leading public urban university “known for excellence in student learning, innovative research, and community engagement that contributes to the economic vitality, environmental sustainability, and quality of life in the Portland region and beyond.”

Goal 1.1 Objectives:
1.1.2 Build-out strategic partnership frameworks, including action plans in four key areas:
• Regional Economic Development (industry clusters, entrepreneurship, innovation)
(see also Goal 1.2 below)
• Urban Sustainability (built environment and ecosystem services)
• Urban Sustainability (education and social services)

Goal 3.2: Establish PSU as a recognized regional resource for globally relevant:
research, practice, and education in sustainability
3.2.1 Enhance PSU’s reputation as a leader in sustainability by inventorying and publicizing
current examples of globally relevant research, practice, and education in sustainability.
3.2.3 Support development and enhancement of teaching sustainability across the
curriculum.
3.2.4 Increase the regional and national visibility of PSU’s role in sustainability research
by participating in development of the Oregon Sustainability Center

Goal 5.4: Expand and upgrade campus facilities to meet current and futuredemands in the most cost-effective and sustainable manner possible

Ultimately, PSU’s goal is to link its research so inextricably with the Portland region that both entities are branded as top sources of knowledge for improving the efficiency, economic competitiveness, quality of life and sustainability of the urban experience locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.

The mission of Portland State University is to enhance the intellectual, social, cultural and economic qualities of urban life by providing access throughout the life span to a quality liberal education for undergraduates and an appropriate array of professional and graduate programs especially relevant to metropolitan areas.

Priority/Theme 4: Enhance Educational Opportunity: Ease the transition and create more effective pathways for students to move from K-12 to higher education.

Goal 2.5: Increase campus engagement and satisfaction for students. Educational research has shown that on-campus engagement and satisfaction are important
contributors to student success, retention and graduation. To increase on-campus engagement and satisfaction for students, PSU will improve strategic communication and partnerships with students.

Goal 3.3: Establish an environment at PSU that is welcoming, inclusive and diverse. In announcing the hiring of the university’s first Chief Diversity Officer in Summer 2010, President Wim Wiewel remarked that the position had been created “because as a society and as an institution, we all still have much to learn about how we practice and live diversity.” That sentiment drives efforts at PSU to improve the cultural competency of faculty, staff and students and ensure that the learning and working environment at the university is welcoming, inclusive
and diverse.

Goal 3.4: Recruit and retain cross-culturally sophisticated faculty, staff and students. While PSU is the most diverse public university in Oregon, many populations are still underrepresented
among faculty, staff and students. This is a problem not just of recruitment, but also
of retention.

The mission of Portland State University is to enhance the intellectual, social, cultural and economic qualities of urban life by providing access throughout the life span to a quality liberal education for undergraduates and an appropriate array of professional and graduate programs especially relevant to metropolitan areas.

Goal 1.2: Given continued high unemployment and other economic challenges in the Portland metropolitan area, place particular emphasis on working with regional stakeholders to develop and implement strategic initiatives that will promote regional economic development.

GOAL 1.3: Enhance PSU’s collaborations with OHSU, community hospitals and health and bioscience businesses/organizations to foster economic development,
improve efficiencies and improve health status in the metropolitan area and throughout Oregon

Goal 2.1: Develop and implement a five-year strategic enrollment management plan that supports the academic and fiscal goals of the university

Goal 4.3: Address financial challenges to maintain and expand access

PRIORITY/THEME 5: EXPAND RESOURCES AND IMPROVE EFFECTIVENESS: Expand resources in each of the funding streams (state, private, business partnerships, research, and tuition), manage resources effectively, engage employees, and match investments to strategic priorities.