Faculty Resources

PSU's motto of "Let Knowledge Serve the City" could never be realized without the support of faculty dedicated to making a difference in both the lives of students and all of the citizens of Portland. During a recent survey, more than ninety percent of PSU faculty indicated that they feel a responsibility to serve the community. Additionally, PSU faculty indicated, at rates much higher than the national average, that a commitment to community engagement is a high institutional priority.

In order to ensure that PSU faculty are supported in their efforts, the Center for Academic Excellence offers a variety of services, including community-based learning curriculum development, assistance in publishing scholarly works, and access to the latest community-based learning and civic engagement research. Please browse the links below for the full scope of faculty support services offered:

Community-based Learning One-On-One Faculty Support

Kevin Kecskes, Director of Community-University Partnerships, and Assistant Director Amy Spring are available to meet with faculty to offer support for designing and teaching community-based learning and interdisciplinary courses. They are available for one-on-one support including, but not limited to, the following: designing new curriculum, crafting a syllabus, developing instructional strategies, grading collaborative and group learning projects, conceptualizing new interdisciplinary, capstone, and other CBL courses and collaborating with community partners. Contact Kevin at 503-725-5642 or Amy at 503-725-5582 for additional information.

In addition to one-on-one faculty support, the Center for Academic Excellence offers support in the following areas:

Capstone Resources - A clearinghouse for information regarding the Senior Capstone course offered through the University Studies department.

Civic Engagement - Resources for faculty who desire a deeper understanding of civic engagement and the various forms in which it may manifest.

Instructional Resources - Information on designing community-based learning courses, such as syllabus design, the community-based learning course designation process and effective reflection strategies.

Publication Outlets - Our continually updated database of publications that consistently accept scholarly work related to community-based learning and civic engagement.

Published Research - A listing of published works relating to various branches of community-based learning, such as theory, pedagogy and reflective strategies.

International CBL - Expanding community-based learning beyond our geographic borders through PSU President Dan Bernstine's Internationalization Initiative.

Promotion and Tenure - PSU's complete set of guidelines for all issues relating to faculty promotion and tenure.