Academic Success & Retention

Diversity and Multicultural Student Services (DMSS)

Multicultural Retention Services

Multicultural Retention Services (MRS) strives to ensure the academic success, retention, and graduation of students through culturally inclusive programs and services that are designed to build a strong sense of community and belonging. We provide academic support, advising, referrals, and advocacy for first generation, low-income, and/or historically underrepresented students.

Diversity Scholarship Program

The purpose of the Diversity Scholarship Program is to expand and enrich Portland State’s learning community by recognizing and supporting outstanding students from first generation and various cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, with diverse talents, interests, and life experiences. The Diversity Scholarship Program is committed to helping students achieve their academic goals. The program promotes diversity and student participation in campus life through volunteerism and academic excellence.

African American Student Services

African American Student Services (A.A.S.S) provides academic support services, advocacy and campus navigation. We provide connections to communities of the African diaspora and services and resources for incoming freshman, transfer and continuing students. A.A.S.S also provides a supportive and welcoming environment for students from the African diaspora as they acclimate to the PSU academic environment or continue their education at PSU. A.A.S.S. assists students who are seeking a cultural connection at Portland State University through community building activities and connecting them to both PSU student groups and faculty, as these are essential components to achieving academic success.

Asian and Pacific Islander Student Services

Asian Pacific Islander (API) Student Services supports students in the PSU Community by providing services in which students have access to advising, advocacy and support. We are here for those who seek to build a cultural connection to campus resources, organizations, and services, including API Staff and Faculty. We provide: opportunities for leadership development; referrals to API community resources; and transitional support for new students at PSU. API Student Services welcomes all students in the community who seek resources, support, and a sense of community that will enable them to feel confident and be successful students and leaders at PSU.

Latino/a Student Services

Latino/a Student Services provides academic support services, advocacy and connections to campus and Latino/a community services and resources to new incoming freshman, transfer and continuing students. Latino/a Student Services provides a supportive and welcoming environment for Latino/a students as they transition to the PSU academic environment. Latino/a Student Services assists students who are seeking a cultural connection to the Portland State University campus by connecting them to student groups and faculty, an essential component to achieving academic success.

Native American Student Services

The Native American Student Services Program provides support for Native American and Alaskan Native students through general advising, guidance, advocacy and referrals to appropriate campus-based and Portland Metro resources, especially organizations serving Native American people. Native American Student Services connects students to opportunities for Native American cultural enrichment and social activities, both on campus and in the community.

TRIO-Student Support Services Mission

The mission of TRIO programs is to expand educational opportunity to persons often underrepresented in higher education, increase the retention and graduation rates of students who are low income, first generation or have a documented disability and to foster an institutional climate supportive of the success for those students through comprehensive services and advocacy.

TRIO-Student Support Services assists students to

Strengthen academic skills necessary for college level course work through classes and workshops
Connect with cultural and social enrichment activities to find a sense of community
Improve and maintain the grade point average necessary to achieve academic goals
Graduate with a Bachelor’s degree

For more information regarding our services and support, please visit the TRIO website.

International Student Services

International students and scholars must remain in compliance with the terms of their visas if they wish to continue at PSU and maintain a good immigration record. The complexity of the regulations make it important that students and faculty are aware of the basics and know to contact an immigration advisor with any questions before making decisions that could impact their immigration status. Learn more about remaining in valid status, as well as all of the services our office provides international students at https://www.pdx.edu/international-students/f-1-and-j-1-maintaining-status

Some international students are financially sponsored by their home government, corporation or university. In those instances, the student might require a special letter periodically or be asked to provide additional information to their sponsor. In addition, sponsored students have restrictions with online coursework and changing their academic plan. If a sponsored student has a question about a letter or if a class will be permitted under their sponsorship, please contact the Sponsored Student Program Administrator, Krista Kennedy at krista5@pdx.edu.

Student Academic Support Services

The mission of Student Academic Support Services is to foster the learning process by empowering PSU students to accomplish their academic and personal goals. In addition with helping with current coursework, the academic support services can assist with developing effective learning strategies. These resources can enhance student's academic success. For more information please visit our website.

Office of the Dean of Student Life

PSU CARES

PSU CARES connects students with resources when they are experiencing distress or other concerns that might impact their personal or academic success. CARE Advocates meet with students to hear about their concerns and collaborate on a plan to optimize their ability to continue and succeed at PSU. For more information please visit our website and to submit a referral to PSU CARES please use this link.

Student Success

The Office of Student Success, in collaboration with units across PSU, provides leadership for student success initiatives and projects.

Improving student success and experience, including retention and graduation rates, is a high priority for Portland State University. A portfolio of student success initiatives, including recommendations from units across PSU, have been strategically implemented to improve student success. PSU currently uses predictive analytics and tools to identify data trends and areas in need of further discovery and assessment. PSU is committed to the research and implementation of effective practices to improve student experiences and foster student success through targeted student outreach and campaigns, student success projects that utilize solution-based thinking to address challenges and form strategies for implementation, and collaboration across units.

The Office of Student Success utilizes the principles of design to engage faculty, staff, and students in identifying problems and designing solutions to the following key questions:

How do we make learning more accessible, reduce costs, serve diverse students, and improve student outcomes?
How do we identify the right problems to solve in order to reach those outcomes?
How do we solve those problems in a communal way, using the social approaches to discovery and learning that work so well in the classroom?

For more information please visit our website.

University Housing & Residence Life

University Success

University Success provides after hours support to all university students including advising, tutoring, workshops, counseling, and study support. Faculty can get involved in facilitating and leading workshops on topics such as resume writing, e-portfolio construction, or other skills-based topics. This is a great resource for students. Faculty are encouraged to partner in any way that can benefit our students. To find out more about partnering with University Success, please visit our website, you can also email us atusuccess@pdx.edu

The University Success program also offers academic coaching for students. Academic coaching is a one on one format with a peer, staff, or a faculty member that meets periodically with students on a number of academic issues. This program is geared towards first year students and issues surrounding their transition into university life. Faculty can participate in this program by volunteering as an academic coach for students. Prior academic coaches have reported that this is an extremely rewarding experience and a great way to give back to the Portland State community.

To find out more information about becoming an academic coach please email academiccoaching@pdx.edu or call 503-725-2952.