Building our Purpose and Guiding Commitments

STRATEGIC PLANNING

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PROCESS:

1. Review existing values and determined what needed to change
2. Conduct Heart of PSU Engagement
3. Develop themes to guide further discussion on living up to our values
4. Synthesize community conversations around values
5. Leverage learning to create campus-wide guiding commitments and purpose statement

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Key Questions Asked (through multiple activities):

• What do our community members think PSU’s core values should be?
• How is PSU living up to the values our community members see as priorities?
• What are the foundational commitments we are making to students, faculty, staff, and the community?

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OBJECTIVE: Create foundational commitments to the PSU community that connect core values with practical actions and a purpose statement.

Developing Guiding Commitments and a Purpose Statement

Strategic Planning

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Action-oriented pledges that we make to adhere to its strategic goals, bridging the gap between values and practical actions.

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Specific and actionable, outlining how we intend to achieve our vision and mission through concrete actions.

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Strategic Planning

Role and Focus

About Guiding Commitments

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We asked:

• Why did you choose to come to PSU?
• What do you love about PSU?
• What do you think PSU’s most important values should be?

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848 Complete Survey Responses from

Students, Staff, and Faculty

The Heart of PSU Engagement

(January 2024)

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• PSU’s Regional Research Institute analyzed responses

RRI Heart of PSU Survey Report

• Vision, Mission, Values Work group identified themes from the survey results focused on values

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Building toward additional learning through community engagement

The Heart of PSU Engagement

(January 2024)

Strategic Planning

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(From RRI Report) Most Important Value

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(From RRI Report) Second Most Important Value

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(From RRI Report) Third Most Important Value

Strategic Planning

Affordability and accessibility

Future focused

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

Quality education that prepares students for the future

“Excellence in teaching and research,” recognizing and supporting excellence in teaching and scholarship, “Equipping students with skills to help not only with job, but also life,” fostering a supportive learning environment

Community

Accountability & Trust

Campus Culture of Care

Welcoming and valuing diverse perspectives, equality of opportunity for all community members, “actually living into values of social justice and equity”

Engagement, service, leadership, collaboration and partnerships with the local community, service-oriented approach to education and research, “Serving the city/community through quality education and applied research,” embracing important societal issues through research and outreach

Providing affordable and flexible educational experiences, “keeping a low cost with many options for students,”

Research & innovation, adaptability, sustainability, climate resilience, “sustainable future for all - climate action and education”

People first environment - ensuring policies and practices are aligned with student needs and aspirations, supporting well-being of students and employees, creating a safe learning environment for all, “take care of everyone who works [here] and attends classes”

Integrity, justice, openness, “honesty and transparency with students and the community”

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• Participants invited to select a topic and gather in breakout groups focused on that topic.
• Volunteers facilitated conversations and took notes on the following discussion questions:
• How would you know when you see this being lived out?
• How is PSU living up to this value and what opportunities for institutional growth do we have?
• Notes gathered and synthesized across all 3 events and with virtual participant data
• February Engagement Events Synthesis

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Community Conversations about Values

Campus Engagement Events

(February 2024)

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• >375 students, staff, faculty, and community partners attended in-person engagement events. Participants connected their personal experiences and vision for PSU to the questions posed and focused their feedback on building the future.

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• 27 students, staff, faculty, and community partners participated asynchronously through a virtual engagement website.
• Participants asked to help make meaning out of these themes and identify opportunities for institutional growth.

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• Strategic Planning Campus Engagement Webpage

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Outputs

Campus Engagement Events

(February 2024)

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Strategic Planning

February 12 (N=52)

February 15 (N=90)

February 21 (N=145)

Virtual (N=27)

Question asked during events: Which themes resonate most with you today?

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What is one action oriented pledge PSU could make to reflect our values?

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How could/should PSU demonstrate this commitment?

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Strategic Planning

Committee members drafted guiding commitments and discussed the following in small groups.

Steering Committee Brainstorming (3/7/2024)

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Strategic Planning

What is one action oriented pledge PSU could make to reflect our values?

Build a campus community of care

How do you think PSU should demonstrate this commitment?

Prioritize wellbeing of all community members

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Building trust through open communication

What additional definitions do you need to clarify?

Wellbeing = “foundational supports” - basic needs, a safe campus, holistic health, advising.

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Open communication = shared understanding of PSU’s mission and involving the community in decision-making processes

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Guiding Commitments Framing Questions

+ Example Guiding Commitment

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• What are the foundational commitments we should make to students, faculty, staff, and the community?

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Create foundational commitments to the PSU community that connect core values with practical actions

Vision, Mission, Values Work Group (March 2024)

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• Review feedback from student engagement around value propositions - does this change what we should commit to?
• Review/ finalize PSU’s statement of purpose
• Discuss building dialogue on campus around how to hold ourselves accountable to these commitments

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Finalize PSU’s Purpose and Guiding Commitments

Vision, Mission, Values Work Group (May-June 2024)

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Let Knowledge Serve the City

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Portland State University, Oregon’s most diverse and only urban public research university, was founded in 1946 to serve veterans returning from World War II.

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PSU provides access to a top-tier education as a key driver of economic and social mobility, a source of growth for the diverse communities in the region, and a catalyst for social progress. And this isn't just what we do – it’s who we are.

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Much has changed in our world since 1946, and our communities face profound challenges. With Our Future in Focus, we express our unwavering purpose: to support learners to follow their dreams and achieve their goals for a better life for their families and communities.

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As we remember our institutional founding with pride, we embrace our future as an urban minority-serving research institution, inspiring each other to create new opportunities for our region and our world.

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Our Purpose

Strategic Planning - Purpose Statement - REVISED 7/15/2024

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Welcoming and Supporting All Learners

We commit to nurturing and championing a diverse and dynamic community of learners seeking to make a difference in their own lives and the lives of their families and communities through excellent, responsive teaching and comprehensive, culturally-affirming student services.

Our Guiding Commitments

Strategic Planning - Guiding Commitments - REVISED 7/15/2024

Building a Community Ethos of Care and Well-Being

We commit to establishing, nourishing, and maintaining an ethos of connection, care, and well-being for and among our campus community, including students, staff, faculty, administrators, alumni, and Trustees.

Co-creating the Future of Our Region

We commit to working collaboratively through trust-based, reciprocal, equitable partnerships to make life better for the individuals and communities in our region through community-engaged learning, teaching, research, and service.

Providing Equitable Access to Quality Education

We commit to offering students accessible pathways to high-impact learning experiences, degrees, and credentials for meaningful careers, social and economic mobility, and thriving into the future.

Modeling Responsible Stewardship

We commit to carefully managing our financial, natural, and cultural resources to achieve our aspirations and continue our important work for our students and communities long into the future.

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WE COMMIT TO…

Strategic Planning - Guiding Commitments

REVISED 4/6/2024

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Strategic Planning - Guiding Commitments

by nurturing and champion a diverse and dynamic community of learners seeking to make a difference in their own lives and the lives of their families and communities through excellent, responsive teaching and comprehensive, culturally-affirming student services.

Welcoming and Supporting All Learners

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REVISED 6/5/2024

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by offering students accessible pathways to high-impact learning experiences, degrees, and credentials for meaningful careers, social and economic mobility, and thriving into the future.

Providing Equitable Access to Quality Education

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Strategic Planning - Guiding Commitments

REVISED 6/5/2024

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by establishing, nourishing, and maintaining an ethos of connection, care, and well-being for and among our campus community, including students, staff, faculty, administrators, and Trustees.

Building a Community Ethos of Care and Well-Being

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Strategic Planning - Guiding Commitments

REVISED 6/5/2024

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by working collaboratively through trust-based, reciprocal, equitable partnerships to make life better for the individuals and communities in our region through community-engaged learning, teaching, research, and service.

Co-creating the Future of Our Region

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Strategic Planning - Guiding Commitments

REVISED 6/5/2024

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by carefully managing our financial, natural, and cultural resources to achieve our aspirations and continue our important work for our students and communities long into the future.

Modeling Responsible Stewardship

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Strategic Planning - Guiding Commitments

REVISED 6/5/2024