Greetings!
As Dean of Student Life, it is my honor to serve the students, staff, faculty, and families of
Portland State University. I first came to PSU in 1995. Since that time, I have had the profound privilege of being part of PSU’s journey to becoming the special institution that it is today.
Today’s families must choose very carefully how to invest their education dollars. An increasing number of Oregonians and families from outside of the state are choosing
Portland State University. 2011 will be a fantastic time to be a PSU Viking!
Here is a short list of some of PSU’s notable achievements from the past year:
 We increased our support for student success, adding 14 new academic advisors.
 Women’s Volleyball, Basketball, and Golf teams were named Big Sky tournament champs.
 The Council for Higher Education Accreditation awarded PSU the 2010 Award for
Outstanding Institutional Practice in Student Learning Outcomes .
 PSU’s MBA was ranked #14 by Aspen Institute’s 2011 “Beyond Grey Pinstripes,” a ranking system that measures how well schools are preparing students for the environmental, social, and ethical complexities of modern-day business.
 We launched Electric Avenue , a two-year research partnership between PSU, the city of
Portland and PGE, where drivers can park and plug right on campus.
 A chorus of student, staff ,and faculty voices created Take Back the Tap , an organization calling for cleaner, cheaper water for the campus community. Their work led to the installation of 7 “Hydration Stations,” high-tech water filtration stations that refill reusable containers.
 We renovated Lincoln Hall, built in 1911 and the first building of the current PSU campus. As a result, it received LEED Platinum certification .
 PSU completed the Walk of the Heroines , an innovative educational park located outside of Hoffmann Hall, paying tribute to women’s vital contributions as teachers, scientists, business and political leaders, artists, athletes, and beloved family members.
 PSU was named by Huffington Post as one of the “ Top 10 Most Hipster Colleges .”
During Orientations sessions I talked about the importance our ongoing partnership will have in the success of your PSU student. In each edition of this newsletter, I hope you will read this section “From the Desk of the Dean of Student Life,” and the accompanying newsletter, as an extension of that relationship. We will highlight important dates and upcoming events, significant campus news, and other timely pieces that will help you to stay connected to your student’s experience at PSU.
In Enrollment Management and Student Affairs at PSU, we hope to get to know our students by name and by story. This summer, I was fortunate to meet many of the students and family members of our incoming class. Each one of these encounters reminded me of the rich and complex lives of our students…and of the love and support that accompanies our students as they begin their academic careers at PSU. For example, one family I met in
California postponed a long-planned vacation in Europe in order to attend the orientation session with their son. In another family, a brother came with his little sister to orientation to make sure she started on the right foot. One family arrived at move-in day in the

Broadway building bearing a big pink box full of Voodoo Donuts for all of the staff helping the students unload cars and unpack boxes!
I look forward to getting to know you and your student, by name and by story. If you have thoughts, comments, or ideas for our work here at PSU, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
What you have to say can enlighten us, challenge us, and make us all more successful.
Best,
Michele Toppe
How to find me:
Office: 503.725.4422
Email: toppem@pdx.edu
Office Location: Smith Memorial Student Union (SMSU) 433
Dean of Student Life
Portland State University
P.O. Box 751
Portland, OR 97207-0751

By Gwyn Ashcom, MPH, CHES, Health Educator – Ctr. For Student Health & Counseling
Erin Orndorf, Coordinator, Fitness and Health Promotions – Campus Rec
As a service to PSU students, The Student Health and Counseling Center (SHAC) is providing a subscription to the online wellness magazine Student Health 101. Each issue contains valuable information that will help your student make better decisions and can help you gain a better understanding of the health and wellness challenges that face today’s students.
Each month, PSU students will receive an email with the latest issue of the magazine. You can read the September issue of the Parent Perspective online at http://readsh101.com/pdxpp.html?id=e850f6ea .
You’re also invited to read the accompanying Student Health 101 issue for students, online at http://readsh101.com/pdx.html?id=d0abae6a .
The September issue of Student Health 101 has some great articles including:
 Living Green for a Healthier You
 10 Ways to Make New Friends
 The Internet: Are You Addicted?
 Make Your Workouts More Intense
 Men: Check Out Our Health Checklist
And much more!

University Success is an in-hall academic support space and caters to the needs of the individual student. We offer a variety of services including free drop-in tutoring, academic advising, counseling, and a safe and quiet study space.
If your student lives in campus housing, there are two academic incentive programs he or she can participate in: the 3.0 Club and Study Bucks. The 3.0 Club is a way for your student to set an academic goal of a 3.0 or higher his or her Fall term at PSU. Upon signing up for the club, your student will receive a monthly academic success newsletter, academic tips, and other resources. Your student is awarded special club prizes and recognition for maintaining a 3.0, not to mention advancing with a great step forward in his or her academic path. Your student is able to sign up for the 3.0 Club with their Resident Assistant, Learning
Community Assistant, or at the University Success office.
The Study Bucks program is a way for your student to start or continue good study habits in the Residence Halls at PSU. This program promotes those who are a positive role model related to academics. Resident Assistants and Learning Community Assistants will be making rounds in the buildings and handing study bucks to those who are practicing respectable studying or academic behaviors. Residents can turn their study bucks in at the
University Success office and receive a reward for their positive influence within the community. Their names will also be entered into a drawing for other great prizes and study break kits.
Tell your student to utilize our services and academic incentives if they are having a difficult time connecting to the classroom, need academic support, or are looking for a way to connect in-hall.
University Success is located in Ondine 204 and is open 5-10pm on Sundays and 2-10pm
Mondays through Thursdays. If you have any questions please contact Courtney Sandler at sandler@pdx.edu
or 503.725.2483. Let your student be our priority!

Does your student need help meeting his or her academic goals? Tell your student to trying a meeting with an academic coach! PSU’s Learning Center offers a flexible coaching program that allows students to work with coaches in creating measurable plans to meet their academic goals. These goals may address school/life balance, active learning strategies and various approaches to studying course content, improving communication skills, and learning of resources on and off campus. Coaches are graduate students, and coaching is open to all PSU students.
For more information, visit www.pdx.edu/tutoring and click on the academic coaching link at the top of the page. The Learning Center is a part of the Division of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs. The office is located in Smith Memorial Student Union (SMSU) 439, and you can call the office at 503.725.4448.

The Fall 2011 Student Transit FlexPass will be available for purchase Sept 12th through Oct
7th, 2011 at a cost of $190 (That’s 30% less than the equivalent standard rate TriMet fare).
This all-zone transit pass is valid on all TriMet buses, light rail trains, and the Portland
Streetcar until Dec. 31st. Students pay a single fee, show their card to Tri Met drivers and fare checkers, and can get anywhere in the Portland Metro area without having to worry about purchasing tickets or running out of cash halfway through running errands.
Students interested in the pass must purchase it in person at the Transportation & Parking office. The pass can be charged to a student account, a Visa or Mastercard, or it can be paid with using cash or check. Students must be registered for 3 or more credits for the term and must have a PSU photo ID.
PSU Transportation now has four secure bike parking facilities on campus. Permits for secure bike parking can be purchased at the PSU Bike Hub for $15 per term or $45 per year.
Each secure facility features 24/7 ID card access control, security cameras, self-service repair stands with tools and pump, and bike lock storage. To see a list of locations and features, visit http://www.pdx.edu/transportation/bicycling .
The PSU Bike Hub is open from 8:30am – 5:30pm, Monday through Friday, to help students keep their bikes running smoothly and safely. The Bike Hub features all the necessary accessories to keep students riding through the seasons. Students can get great deals on fenders, raingear, and gloves, as well as all the necessary safety gear like lights, locks, and helmets. Visit the Bike Hub website for more information about bicycle service, rentals, route planning, and workshops: www.pdx.edu/bikehub .
For PSU students interested in riding a bike to campus, but who do not yet own a bike, The
PSU Bike Hub has started an ultra-affordable, long-term bike rental program called
VikeBikes. For just $40 per term, PSU students in need of a bike can rent one of the
VikeBikes, which are refurbished bicycles recovered on campus. These bikes have been fully overhauled by Bike Hub staff and include fenders, rack, lights, a lock, and helmet. VikeBikes participants also receive a free membership to the Bike Hub and free bike parking in one of the secure bike garages.
PSU Transportation has just installed new digital paystations at most of the campus lots and structures. These new devices allow for much more efficient daily and hourly parking.
Features include the ability to pay in half-hour increments, pay in advance for your parking use when you arrive early, and pay by space without needing to display your permit. Soon, these new machines will also be enabled to allow parkers to add time to their meter via their smart phone or text messaging.
Questions about transportation? Contact the office at 503-725-3442 or psupark@pdx.edu
, or visit the website at www.pdx.edu/transportation .

Hopefully, your student is getting settled into a new room, meeting new friends, getting involved in campus events, and enjoying all that Portland and PSU have to offer! As your student is settling in, here’s what you need to know about University Housing:
Residence Life has many exciting events happening during Viking Week, and throughout the term. Check the Housing website for a calendar of events, and remind your student to ask an
RA about upcoming programs, activities, and things to get involved in!
The Room Transfer Request process opens up on October 3rd. This is when residents may submit a transfer request to move to a different room or building. These requests must be approved by an Area Coordinator or Resident Director, and are taken on a first come first serve basis, based on availability. Room Transfer Requests are accepted through November
16th.
Meal Plan changes for winter term will be accepted through December 9th. If your student is interested in switching meal plans, he or she needs to send an email to housing@pdx.edu
prior to the December 9th deadline, and Housing staff will make the changes for your student. All changes will take effect winter term.
University Housing and Residence Life’s annual Haunted House is quickly approaching! The
Haunted House will be taking place at Montgomery Court on October 22nd. If your student mentions wanting to get involved he or she can email psuhaunt@gmail.com
, or visit the PSU
Haunt Facebook page at http://www.pdx.edu/facebook/psuhaunt .
Want to stay connected and up to date on all of the happenings with University Housing and
Residence Life? Like our page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/psuhousing .
Our friendly staff is happy to answer any questions you have about University Housing! Just drop us a line at housing@pdx.edu
, or visit our website a www.pdx.edu/housing .

PSU Dining offers a variety of excellent on-campus dining options and meal plans for students. PSU Dining leads the community in sustainable food services by providing highquality, affordably priced dining experiences while promoting environmentally friendly fresh and local ingredients and green waste management practices. You won’t only feel great eating our variety of foods on campus; you’ll feel great about supporting the environment!
Starting this fall, the newest dining option in Smith Memorial Student Union’s Viking Court will be offering 90% organic produce in mouthwatering vegetarian and vegan salads and pitas at Greens-to-Go!
Meal Plans are the best, most convenient, and cost-effective way to eat on campus! Students can choose from a variety of plans to suit their lifestyle, budget, and appetite. Students should act now to get one of our hilarious “Eat Locals” themed zombie t-shirts as well as the option to get an additional 10% in Dining Dollars when they purchase $200 Dining Dollars.
For more information, visit http://www.psu-dining.com
, call 503-725-8990, or visit room
260 in Smith Memorial Student Union (SMSU).

Did you know that in Oregon, adopted and biological children may be entitled to receive child support directly when parents have used the courts to establish custody and/or child support agreements? This is called child support for a “child attending school.” In order to qualify, the child must be between ages 18 and 21, there must be a support order or judgment providing for support, and the child must provide certain information regarding school attendance and progress.
Other requirements include that the child:
 must be unmarried and unemancipated.
 must be making satisfactory academic progress.
 must carry at least one-half of the credit load required to qualify as a full-time student at a qualifying institution.
The word “school” is defined broadly and can include high school, college, and vocational institutions. The state may be able to assist a child attending school in collecting support.
For more information on Oregon law regarding support for a child attending school, please have your student contact Student Legal Services at 503.725.4556 or visit the website at www.pdx.edu/sls .