Developing PSU's vision and articulating its values

Subcommittees of the PSU Planning Committee developed vision and values statements for the University during 2001-02. The statements were approved by the President and the Faculty Senate in 2002.

Vision Statement

Our vision is to be an internationally recognized urban university known for excellence in student learning, innovative research, and community engagement that contributes to the economic vitality, environmental sustainability, and quality of life in the Portland region and beyond.

Values Statement

The pursuit of our vision rests on our success in transforming undergraduate education, our growing research programs, our strong collaboration with the community, and the core values we hold. These values describe not only what PSU is now, but what it will be in the future.

• Learning and Discovery

PSU values intellectual inquiry in its undergraduate and graduate programs, provides leadership in the development of knowledge, and creates opportunities for the application of knowledge to real-world problems.

We maintain a welcoming and stimulating environment that is conducive to success for students, faculty, and staff. We value tenure as an essential component of this environment.

• Access to Learning

PSU is committed to providing access and opportunity to learners from regional, national, and international communities in their pursuit of lifelong learning and diverse educational goals.

• A Climate of Mutual Respect

PSU values diversity and fosters a climate of mutual respect and reflection that supports different beliefs and points of view and the open exchange of ideas.

• Openness and Reflection

PSU endeavors to improve continuously as a university through reflection and open assessment of our activities.

• Community and Civic Engagement

PSU values its identity as an engaged university that promotes a reciprocal relationship between the community and the university in which knowledge serves the city and the city contributes to knowledge in the university.

We value our partnerships with other institutions, professional groups, the business community, and community organizations, and the talents and expertise these partnerships bring to the university.

We embrace our role as a responsible citizen of the city, the state, the region, and the global community and foster actions, programs, and scholarship that will lead to a sustainable future.