Introduction

The special characteristics of the Portland State faculty and institutional directions for the future are set in a complex public university operating with limited financial resources and constrained by state mandates that control some institutional processes. State funding has decreased dramatically in the ten-year period since Portland State's last accreditation visit, while state-mandated restrictions have remained in place. For faculty, this means challenges in sufficiency of numbers, rewards and vitality, recruitment and retention, and the quality of professional life. Given limited resources, it is especially critical for the University to address faculty needs and to align expenditures and reward structures carefully with its mission, vision, and values.

Growth remains the central question facing faculty at Portland State. Portland State is growing and it is clear that the number of faculty needs to grow as well. How will the faculty develop as it grows? Central questions about the relationship of growth to academic quality, and about the reasons for growth, affect almost every aspect of faculty life at Portland State. Nearly every discussion of faculty issues returns to the question of growth.

Portland State is a well-established institution that is almost sixty years old. The University has policies in place that address virtually every issue that arises under the NWCCU Standards. Supporting documentation for Standard Four addresses these and other related matters.

Accomplishments

• Well articulated and implemented policies related to faculty reward and recognition are in place.

• The number of faculty has grown in response to enrollment growth.

• The quality of faculty and programs has increased as evidenced in national rankings, awards, and growth in funded research.

• Portland State's urban location attracts diverse faculty.

Challenges

• Enrollment growth has had a differential impact across the campus.

• Growth in tenure related faculty has not kept pace with enrollment growth.

• Faculty salaries lag behind salaries for faculty at comparable institutions.

• Increased emphasis on research and scholarly activity may not be balanced with teaching loads.

• Salary compression is a growing issue.