BroadwayVik
Active member
Most Portlanders are workers. They produce value day in and day out. They are not going to be impressed or ascribe reputational value to university education unless they can see a clear, undeniable link between what is studied (invested in) and what is produced as a direct result of that study.
A good example is the construction of a bridge. Engineers easily have this kind of ascribed reputational value as do accountants, scientists, architects, urban planners and computer scientists. Just about every other subject area is a hard sell, though, a moot point---the concept of producing "value" may quite possibly be just be a big political smoke screen.
That may be a good reason why Oregonians traditionally are not supporters of higher education. They are when it comes to practical matters (like designing and building bridges) and then enriching those areas of study, but they are not when it comes to enrichment being the only form of study---like a dessert of frosting without cake.
Is College just partying, road trips and lollygagging for four years (or more)? Is that what these students are about? is it just reading a lot of books and enduring the individual political philosophy and testing of one professor after another? Is there knowledge gotten but without any respectably-practical significance at the end of the degree program?
Portlanders want to see real effects materialized through value-in-learning demonstrated. That is what makes the Capstone courses so highly valuable to graduating seniors on behalf of both the University and the Community. They are really excellent opportunities to sell one's area of study to the Portland area, to demonstrate true value-added resulting from one's personal choice-investment. A chance to gain undeniable credibility.
Before graduating, each senior contributes in establishing something real and tangible to the Portland area that wasn't there before. This is a great way to show personal added value. Some kind of perhaps unexpected value (be it physical or a positive change) that wasn't there before is now there and has taken root. The Metro community sees it, its members become jointly aware of it, admires it and keeps it in memory. "Those Portland State grads are astounding. Look at all the value they've created."
Creating reputational value for your area of study can surprise the heck out of people who may have expected nothing of substance to come from your having immersed yourself within your particular field for the past several years. It is also a great way to jump-start your imagination, make that initial real-world connection (between theory and practicality) and to make a personal and lasting community contribution of undeniable value.
A good example is the construction of a bridge. Engineers easily have this kind of ascribed reputational value as do accountants, scientists, architects, urban planners and computer scientists. Just about every other subject area is a hard sell, though, a moot point---the concept of producing "value" may quite possibly be just be a big political smoke screen.
That may be a good reason why Oregonians traditionally are not supporters of higher education. They are when it comes to practical matters (like designing and building bridges) and then enriching those areas of study, but they are not when it comes to enrichment being the only form of study---like a dessert of frosting without cake.
Is College just partying, road trips and lollygagging for four years (or more)? Is that what these students are about? is it just reading a lot of books and enduring the individual political philosophy and testing of one professor after another? Is there knowledge gotten but without any respectably-practical significance at the end of the degree program?
Portlanders want to see real effects materialized through value-in-learning demonstrated. That is what makes the Capstone courses so highly valuable to graduating seniors on behalf of both the University and the Community. They are really excellent opportunities to sell one's area of study to the Portland area, to demonstrate true value-added resulting from one's personal choice-investment. A chance to gain undeniable credibility.
Before graduating, each senior contributes in establishing something real and tangible to the Portland area that wasn't there before. This is a great way to show personal added value. Some kind of perhaps unexpected value (be it physical or a positive change) that wasn't there before is now there and has taken root. The Metro community sees it, its members become jointly aware of it, admires it and keeps it in memory. "Those Portland State grads are astounding. Look at all the value they've created."
Creating reputational value for your area of study can surprise the heck out of people who may have expected nothing of substance to come from your having immersed yourself within your particular field for the past several years. It is also a great way to jump-start your imagination, make that initial real-world connection (between theory and practicality) and to make a personal and lasting community contribution of undeniable value.
