by President Ann Cudd
November 5, 2025
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We often reference it as a point of pride: Portland State was founded in 1946 to serve veterans returning from World War II. To me, sharing that piece of history is a convenient shorthand for talking about what PSU is all about — opportunity, access, community connections, social mobility, and career preparedness.
As we celebrate Veterans Day as a campus community this month, I hope that we will take a moment to remember all the veterans who have passed through this university including the roughly 600 individuals who are veterans or otherwise military affiliated students who are currently enrolled. PSU remains committed to supporting our Veteran students and their families, as they embark and continue on their educational journeys.
Many of those students have found a PSU home at the Veterans Resource Center where weekly coffee chats connect them with Veterans Affairs experts and wellness resources including yoga and acupuncture sessions.
I’m proud that the VRC is seeing more and more students take advantage of these services, but I’m also tracking veterans benefits that are under threat as this year’s federal government shutdown stretches on. While most financial benefits appear to be intact, PSU’s VetSuccess Coordinator has been furloughed and I’m concerned that future benefits may be delayed or denied altogether.
U.S. Congresswoman Janelle Bynum, who has been raising the alarm about cuts to veteran’s services for several weeks and recently visited our VRC to talk with students — both military dependents and veterans alike.
Congresswoman Bynum enjoyed interacting with our students and was impressed with our resource center, especially the mind spa. As for me, as I am every time I have the opportunity to visit the VRC, I was impressed by our students and their grace under pressure, especially this year as they navigate the uncertainties of the federal shutdown as they pursue their education at PSU. Please join me in thanking our PSU veterans — including faculty and staff in addition to students — this Veterans Day.
PSU remains committed to supporting its Veteran students now and into the future.
Photo caption: Oregon Rep. Janelle Bynum visited the Veterans Resource Center with PSU President Ann Cudd in October.