Introduction

Portland State University has dramatically increased the quantity and quality of its physical resources over the past 10 years. Many new buildings have been completed, classroom space has expanded by almost 100%, and there has been a significant improvement in the expansion of laboratory facilities for both research and education. This physical growth, however, has been accompanied by rapid increases in student enrollment, faculty, community engagement, and externally funded research. The campus has also witnessed a substantial increase in the diversity and internationalization of its resident community.

Over the past five years, enrollment at the University has grown over 33%. It is now the largest institution in the Oregon University System (OUS). While its OUS peer institutions experienced flat enrollment growth in Fall 2003, Portland State experienced a 5.8% increase. With this growth, however, came challenges, including those associated with providing adequate infrastructure to serve the current and future needs of students, faculty, staff, and community. Growth in both student enrollment and research activity is changing Portland State, with potentially profound implications for what it means to work, study, live, and visit the campus.

Accomplishments

Portland State is successfully meeting demands on its physical resources in a number of areas. The most significant accomplishments have been:

• Classroom space on campus expanded nearly 100% in the last 10 years.

• The conception, construction, and development of the Portland State Urban Center has been widely hailed as a paradigm for successful expansion through the leveraging of community partnerships.

• Laboratory and other research-dedicated facilities have been substantially improved in both quantity and quality.

• Capacity to conduct top-quality research and attract faculty researchers and external research funding has improved.

• A residential campus has been successfully developed in a short time, with resulting benefits in the diversity of students and community connections and enhanced alumni relationships.

• Campus expansion in the city's University District is highly creative, despite tight constraints on financial resources.

• Opportunities have been exploited for facilities acquisition through donors and other community partners.

• New construction meeting high architectural standards has been well received in the community, and reflects the University's commitment to fostering sustainable and "green" development.

• A well-operated facilities department coordinates a number of operations across campus and institutional units and maintains a Web-based facilities information system.

• The University has demonstrated an ability to allocate existing space and other physical resources to its greatest advantage.

Challenges

Budget constraints in a period of substantial growth have presented Portland State University with a number of challenges in preserving and developing its physical resources.

• Routine maintenance has been deferred due to lack of resources, leading to the gradual deterioration of some infrastructure.

• Maintenance may not be given adequate priority in areas of high use and public visibility.

• Planning and funding of maintenance may not be congruent with the scale of growth in new facilities.

• Budgeting for maintenance is sometimes decentralized and may not match the needs created by growth.

• Apparent inequities in maintenance have led to considerable variation in upkeep. Many facilities are in excellent shape but coexist with pockets of less well-maintained facilities.

• Although the new construction is attractive, Portland State has yet to establish a coherent and appealing gateway or entry area that welcomes visitors and creates a strong visual image of the institution.

• Laboratories in some instances need to be upgraded in order to fully comply with current regulations and standards for occupational health and safety.