23-05-2025
Portland State staff, students fight for higher education at State Capitol
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Higher education was the focus of the Oregon Senate on Thursday as Portland State University lobbied for their school and education funding overall.
A number of bills related to higher education still need to be decided during this legislative session. That's why Portland State University brought a large contingent to the capitol for PSU Lobby Day.
It started early in the morning at the PSU Viking Pavilion.
Two busloads, carrying 150 PSU staff, alums, students and foundation members took their case to the Capitol.
'We hope to tell our story so that the legislators can hear,' said former legislator Julie Williamson.
'Oregon ranks 45th in state school funding per capita. That doesn't represent the values of our state, or in Portland,' added PSU student Romero Gemmell.
With more than 20,000 students in the heart of downtown, PSU is an economic driver, with an estimated $1.8 billion in economic impact.
If there's a comeback to be had in Portland, PSU will be a part of it, as new construction and a new performing arts center is part of its future.
With the PSU chamber choir taking center stage on the Senate floor, the Senate passed House Bill 2556, which officially designated PSU as the state's urban research university.
It's a designation that's more than symbolic.
'Having this designation will help with branding and grants,' said PSU President Ann Cudd.
PSU Lobby Day also helped focus the attention on higher education, including bills to continue support for the billion-dollar public university support fund and the $150 million Oregon Opportunity Grant, which helps with financial aid.
'Our students need to know that we support them and that we can help them be productive contributors to our society,' said Senator Rob Wagner.
Many of the bills still under consideration will benefit Oregon's other colleges and universities as well as PSU. The legislative session is scheduled to be wrapped up at the end of June.
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