Portland State University

What are the popular events and traditions at Portland State University?

Portland State University's recurring campus events include welcome activities for new students and academic presentations that bring student work to a wider audience. These occasions can be particularly useful at a commuter-oriented university, where students may not otherwise encounter the same peers outside class.

PSU has used Viking Days programming to introduce students to campus activities and resources around the start of an academic year. Research presentations, performances and exhibitions also give students opportunities to share work associated with their disciplines. The schedule, format and sponsoring groups can change, so an event's past occurrence does not establish that it will run in a particular term.

The Portland Farmers Market at PSU is a recurring community event in the South Park Blocks. Although it is not a university academic requirement or a student-only tradition, its presence illustrates how the campus and surrounding city share public space.

What are the student housing and dining options at Portland State University?

Portland State University offers university-operated housing, including residence-hall and apartment-style options, but most students do not live on campus. Reported figures put the on-campus share at about 9%, making housing choice especially relevant to the daily experience of someone relocating to Portland.

Campus options include buildings such as Broadway Residence Hall, Ondine, Stephen Epler and Blumel. Layout, eligibility, contract length and meal-plan arrangements differ, so applicants should compare the actual terms of a room rather than treating all campus housing as one product. Availability should not be confused with a guaranteed placement; students seeking housing need to follow the separate housing application process and its deadlines.

Campus dining includes meal-plan arrangements and food service near student facilities, while apartment-style housing may give students more scope to prepare their own meals. Students living off campus should compare rent, utilities, food and transit costs with a campus housing-and-dining offer. PSU's urban location provides off-campus options, but the university does not control the price or availability of private rentals.