Portland State University students, staff, faculty, alumni and supporters raised their hands in quiet celebration at the Oregon State Capitol Thursday morning as Senators voted unanimously to officially designate PSU as Oregon’s urban research university.
The bill, HB 2556, underscores the unique role PSU plays in the state’s higher education ecosystem. Contributing more than $1.8 billion in annual economic impact, Portland State University is committed to educating Oregon’s workforce, engaging in public impact research, and welcoming students of all backgrounds to access the transformative power of higher education.
“For eight decades Portland State has served as Oregon’s urban anchor, creating a pipeline for innovation that serves our largest industries and spurs economic development,” said PSU President Ann Cudd. “We look forward to continuing that work as the state’s designated urban research university, identifying our greatest challenges and finding the solutions that can be scaled across Oregon and move us confidently into the future.”
More than 100 Portland State University students, staff, faculty, alumni and supporters were in Salem Thursday for PSU Day at the Capitol, an opportunity to advocate for support for higher education and programs specific to PSU. The PSU choir performed “Amihan” by Philippine composer Ily Matthew Maniano on the session floor prior to the vote and lawmakers offered their testimonies to the important role PSU plays in Oregon.
“PSU meant everything to me,” said Senate President Rob Wagner, who attended Portland State after initially dropping out of college and interned in Salem as a PSU student. “We’re so proud to have PSU as one of our cornerstone universities in Oregon.”
“This might be a simple bill but it is an incredibly important bill,” said Sen. Kate Lieber whose district includes Portland State’s campus as she introduced the bill for the Senate vote.
Sen. Lieber said the official urban research university designation would bolster PSU’s reputation and make the university more competitive in pursuit of grant funding for research at a critical time.
After passing the Senate, HB 2556 moves to the Governor’s desk for final approval.
“We are excited to continue partnering with the state of Oregon and the Portland Metro region to address the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead,” said Rick Tankersley, vice president for research and graduate studies at Portland State. “Together, we can build a brighter, more equitable, and prosperous future for all Oregonians.”
In addition to cheering on the Senate vote on PSU as Oregon’s official urban research university, PSU Day at the Capitol participants lobbied for full $1.114 billion funding of the state’s Public University Support Fund; full $150 million funding for the Oregon Opportunity Grant program; $85 million in bond funding for PSU’s portion of the planned Portland Performing Arts and Culture Center; and advocating for other student-supporting programs that rely on partial state funding.