PSU should become the full-blown Oregon Institute of Technol

[5thAvenueVik]

University of Oregon's strengths are Liberal Arts and Sciences. These feed into elite science and the professions (architecture, business, medicine, education, journalism, etc.).

Oregon State University's strengths are Agriculture and Engineering. These feed into ag, forestry, biochemistry and professional engineering of all dimensions (chemical, electrical, mechanical, civil, industrial, computer, etc.). It is Oregon's A&M university.

Portland State University's mission should be distinct from these two. It should not be about duplication (at a lower level of quality) as it is now. It should not be about having disparate areas of excellence (accounting, social work, audiology, urban planning, etc.) without an overarching mission.

Rather it's primary focus should be research, development and support of high tech firms in the metropolitan region such as Intel, HP, ESI, IBM, etc. It should focus on applied science, systems and technology (e.g. nanotechnology). It should also support the arts. It should become the full-blown Oregon Institute of Technology (with a satellite campus in Klamath Falls) complete with graduate and Ph.D. programs.

It should be a very cerebral Bostonian campus in character like M.I.T. is in Boston. It should be "Lovejoy's Boston oasis" within Pettygrove's Portland. Adhering to this vital mission, funding and support would go through the roof as it does at Georgia Tech. There is also becomes highly attractive unifying incentive: for it to combine with the Oregon Graduate Institute and OHSU. And the name "Oregon Tech Vikings" would carry connotations of not only academic but also athletic prowess.

The name "Portland State University" simply means a state university located in Portland whereas "Oregon Institute of Technology" (located in downtown Portland) connotes a cerebral and highly relevant mission in research and higher education---a true focal point for all higher education institutions in the Portland metro area.

 

[PortlandStater]

Hm, it seems like we are on a good way there. If you consider what programs have been added recently (environmental engineering, PhD. in Social Inequality or something like that) and where major funding goes, it seems like administration has a pretty good idea of where the school will be going: technology - urban studies - sustainability - community - internationality.
Give the schools ten more years, there are good things to come - maybe even a decent football team.^^

 

[5thAvenueVik]

I have it. I have the name by which OHSU, OGI and PSU can unify and be happy together:

Northwest Institute of Technology (N.I.T. or Northwest Tech) /users/31/07/37/smiles/784240.gif

The concept would work because M.I.T. has a medical school. This also removes any problem with crossing any "name wires" with O.I.T. and a centrally located institute such as ours can become the first and primier technological institute of the Pacific Northwest. One little problem is that the name N.I.T. sounds a lot like the National Invitational Tournament (N.I.T.) held in Madison Square Garden.

Another little problem is that there is also a "Northwest Institute of Technology" in China. We could become sister institutions and affiliate ourselves. If we absolutely had to differentiate ourselves from the technological institute in China, we could always add Pacific to our name and call ourselves:

Pacific Northwest Institute of Technology (P.N.I.T. or Pac Northwest Tech) /users/31/07/37/smiles/595146.gif

 

[CaseyOrourke]

Oregon Tech has a nice ring to it. I think that if they do combine it could rival the likes of such campuses as Lousiana Tech, Georgia Tech and even Texas Tech. I looked up Texas Tech and while TX Tech does offer 105 degrees, they only a pre-med degree but no full blown medical program. I am sure the others I mentioned are the same. But, with the inclusion of just OHSU we could become one of the premier schools in the nation.