Founded in 1991, the PSU Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies (IMS) serves as a “front door” to the Portland community through:

• Engagement: IMS helps community and regional partners connect with PSU faculty and students around issues related to urban and regional development in the Portland metropolitan region;
• Research: IMS supports engaged research that leverages PSU’s faculty expertise and resources around important issues facing the Portland metropolitan region; and 
• Convening: IMS convenes partners and stakeholders to promote dialogue around important policy and planning issues facing the Portland metropolitan region. View our upcoming and past convenings here.

IMS receives funding support from the Oregon Legislature, and its purpose is established in ORS 352.703 to “build partnerships between Portland State University’s urban studies programs and the surrounding communities of metropolitan Portland and to sponsor public service research.” 

IMS is housed within the Nohad A. Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning, a unit of the College of Urban and Public Affairs.