Community Engagement
Activities in this category engage students and faculty in course-based or community-based participatory teaching, learning and research activities. These partnership activities are typically initiated and sustained by an individual faculty member. Over time, some partnerships that begin with an individual faculty member expand to involve multiple faculty, students, courses, capstones, and sponsored research. Several of these long-term partnerships have been institutionalized — e.g. the Community Watershed Stewardship Program.
Co-Curricular Student Engagement
Students voluntarily engage in service opportunities either independently or with student groups (i.e. athletics, student organizations, etc.). This may also include participating in a campus-wide one day service event, an alternative spring break, or a service commitment that takes place over the entire academic year. Co-Curricular Service-Learning is a service opportunity for on-campus clubs/organizations or individual students to participate in meaningful community-based service experience with a community partner organization. Co-curricular student engagement provides personal and professional development to the students involved while fulfilling a community need. Participants use their skills to carry out a service in the community that enhances student’s knowledge civically, personally, and academically through service.
Professional Development
Ongoing professional development opportunities and partnerships occur at the college and department level. These opportunities may be required for degree completion or may be designed to produce “work-ready” graduates. This category includes practicum (required for graduation/certification), structured internships, and professional application.
Professional graduate programs at PSU often require applied practice in community-based settings. Pre-service teaching and practicum experience for students in the School of Social Work and Graduate School of Education exemplify this type of partnership. Several undergraduate majors including psychology, women’s studies and family and child studies, also require practicum. PSU schools and departments have formal and informal relationships with community organizations and businesses that enable students to apply their skills in a professional environment. Students in performing arts programs, for example, engage in applied work in a variety of community-based settings — e.g. orchestras, jazz clubs, architectural firms. Computer Science majors are eligible to participate in PCEP — a cooperative education program with local software companies.
Research and Sponsored Projects
A significant share of PSU’s research and sponsored projects portfolio consists of long-term research and professional development partnerships with state and local government. These partnerships are characterized by research and program evaluation, database development, service delivery, staff training and professional development. Examples include Oregon Center for Career Development, Child Welfare Partnership, Population Research Center, and the Center for Lakes and Reservoirs. These relationships are managed by faculty at the college, institute/center or departmental level.
Strategic Partnerships
Strategic Partnerships manages relationships with PSU’s priority business and civic partners. These relationships typically involve multiple colleges and tap into a range of university assets including faculty research, student labor, workforce development strategies, contract research and service, demonstration projects, and planning and development partnerships. Current Strategic Partnerships include OHSU, PGE, INTEL, OMSI, TAO, City of Portland and Port of Portland. These multi-faceted partnerships require coordination, management and regular reporting due to complexity and strategic/political nature of partners.