University Studies: The Secret Behind Our Students' Success

Our innovative, award-winning general education program teaches you how to learn.

University Studies provides students with integrated, connected learning experiences that lay the foundation for lifelong intellectual development. Extending through all four years, the program teaches you how to think critically, communicate effectively, and gain a broad awareness of the human experience to instill a deep sense of responsibility to yourself, your peers and your community.

University Studies has won national acclaim and received many awards since its inception. Universities in Oregon and across the country have modeled their programs after ours, and foundations such as W. K. Kellogg and the Pew Charitable Trusts have recognized the work of our University Studies faculty and administrative leaders.

News:

University Studies ePortfolio Resource Website

The ePortfolio Resource Site is a robust website dedicated to exemplary eportfolio development throughout the department curriculum, focusing on technology and media support for the community. The Site offers a sample student eportfolio, numerous resource tutorials, equipment descriptions, an ePortfolio Lab schedule (CH 166), workshop schedules, and additional information describing eportfolio design, development, and thinking process. Students, mentors, and faculty alike will find the site indispensable!

Click the link below to access the ePortfolio Resource Site:

http://sites.google.com/a/pdx.edu/unst-ep-resources

U.Connect Website

As part of our efforts to build resources and capacity to help students succeed, the University Studies has developed the U.Connect, an online learning and resources system, which includes a public website with wealth of information about what students need to be successful and a password protected site as an additional interactive tool to aid students in their academic work. (At this point the password protected site is available for Freshman and Sophomore Inquiry students only.)

U.Connect will allow for greater interaction between students, mentors, faculty and staff, as well as better students' connection to resources and opportunities on campus. Please click on the link below to go to the U.Connect website:

http://www.uconnect.unst.pdx.edu

CP Note - Early Alert System

As part of our retention efforts, the University Studies has recognized a need to address a variety of concerns related to our students’ success. To that end we are introducing the CP Note, an earlyidentification and intervention system.

Read more and view CP Note Tutorial:

http://uconnect.unst.pdx.edu/cpnote/tutorial/index.html

Current Events:

Staffing Initiative to create 25 Tenure Track positions.

In 07-08 University Studies initiated a staffing proposal to create twenty five tenure related positions over three years. This initiative is designed to facilitate shared hiring by the University Studies program and academic units by providing full salary support on an indefinite basis for specific faculty hires. (Read more.)

Change to Transfer Transition requirement for Transfer students.

In its 2008 report to the PSU Faculty Senate, The University Studies Council made the specific recommendation to end Transfer Transition requirement for Freshman transfer students. (Read More.)