Remaining Resilient through Leadership Transition
A Case Study of Transformation at Portland State University
Publication Date: 2022
Format: PDF
This case study examines how Portland State University (PSU) sustained momentum and deepened its equity-centered transformation through multiple leadership transitions. Despite changes in presidential and provost leadership during the Frontier Set initiative, PSU remained anchored by a clear institutional vision and the work of empowered cross-functional teams. The case details how PSU leveraged human capital, design-thinking routines, and integrated student success initiatives including Students First, the Futures Collaboratory, and ReTHINK PSU, to maintain a people-centered culture of innovation. Institutions navigating leadership change will find concrete strategies for reinforcing transformation through shared vision, inclusive planning, and adaptive infrastructure.
Connections to the Transformation Journey
and How Institutions Transform
Stages of Transformation
- Lay the Groundwork: This case study illustrates how PSU used a six-phase strategic planning process, paired with student and labor market data, to define equity goals and engage stakeholders across campus.
- Sustain and Evolve: The institution maintained momentum during leadership turnover by institutionalizing reform through student-centered KPIs, embedded feedback loops, and shared ownership across roles.
Learn more about the Transformation Journey and How Institutions Transform.
Evidence-Based Practices
- Advising Reform: PSU redesigned advising systems through the Students First initiative, leveraging data tools, targeted outreach, and coordinated student success efforts to strengthen academic pathways.
- Holistic Supports: Wraparound services, spanning wellness, financial aid, and academic support, were intentionally aligned across divisions to address student needs comprehensively.
Learn more about the Transformation Journey and How Institutions Transform.
Core Institutional Capacities
- Catalytic Leadership: This case provides examples of how senior leaders upheld reform priorities through transitions by cultivating a shared vision and empowering faculty and mid-level leaders.
- Strategic Data Use: PSU embedded student-level KPIs and dashboards into institutional routines, enabling leadership and advisors to track performance, guide interventions, and inform strategy.
- Strategic Finance: The university strategically reallocated operating dollars to sustain reforms and increase efficiency, demonstrating how financial discipline can support long-term transformation.
Learn more about the Transformation Journey and How Institutions Transform.
Continuous Improvement
This resource is most relevant to the following cross-functional roles:
- Senior Leaders: Sustained vision and reform strategy through presidential and provost transitions, embedding priorities into strategic and financial planning.
- Mid-Level Leaders: Led initiative implementation, coordinated across divisions, and ensured equity remained central to ongoing transformation.
- Core Staff & Faculty: Participated in cross-functional teams, applied data insights, and drove project design and execution aligned with student success.
This resource connects to the following phase(s) of the PRPAM framework:
- Prepare: The institution launched its transformation with a clear, data-informed strategy focused on equity, completion, and resilience.
- Reflect: Feedback from students and staff informed the design and refinement of initiatives, ensuring alignment with student experience and institutional goals.
- Monitor: Progress was tracked through disaggregated KPIs and data infrastructure that supported board-level decision-making and continuous learning.
Learn more about the Transformation Journey and How Institutions Transform.
Stages of Transformation
- Lay the Groundwork: This case study illustrates how PSU used a six-phase strategic planning process, paired with student and labor market data, to define equity goals and engage stakeholders across campus.
- Sustain and Evolve: The institution maintained momentum during leadership turnover by institutionalizing reform through student-centered KPIs, embedded feedback loops, and shared ownership across roles.
Learn more about the Transformation Journey and How Institutions Transform.
Evidence-Based Practices
- Advising Reform: PSU redesigned advising systems through the Students First initiative, leveraging data tools, targeted outreach, and coordinated student success efforts to strengthen academic pathways.
- Holistic Supports: Wraparound services, spanning wellness, financial aid, and academic support, were intentionally aligned across divisions to address student needs comprehensively.
Learn more about the Transformation Journey and How Institutions Transform.
Core Institutional Capacities
- Catalytic Leadership: This case provides examples of how senior leaders upheld reform priorities through transitions by cultivating a shared vision and empowering faculty and mid-level leaders.
- Strategic Data Use: PSU embedded student-level KPIs and dashboards into institutional routines, enabling leadership and advisors to track performance, guide interventions, and inform strategy.
- Strategic Finance: The university strategically reallocated operating dollars to sustain reforms and increase efficiency, demonstrating how financial discipline can support long-term transformation.
Learn more about the Transformation Journey and How Institutions Transform.
Continuous Improvement
This resource is most relevant to the following cross-functional roles:
- Senior Leaders: Sustained vision and reform strategy through presidential and provost transitions, embedding priorities into strategic and financial planning.
- Mid-Level Leaders: Led initiative implementation, coordinated across divisions, and ensured equity remained central to ongoing transformation.
- Core Staff & Faculty: Participated in cross-functional teams, applied data insights, and drove project design and execution aligned with student success.
This resource connects to the following phase(s) of the PRPAM framework:
- Prepare: The institution launched its transformation with a clear, data-informed strategy focused on equity, completion, and resilience.
- Reflect: Feedback from students and staff informed the design and refinement of initiatives, ensuring alignment with student experience and institutional goals.
- Monitor: Progress was tracked through disaggregated KPIs and data infrastructure that supported board-level decision-making and continuous learning.
Learn more about the Transformation Journey and How Institutions Transform.
Recommended Citation: Rodriguez, A., Gonzalez, M., & Renn, M. (2023). Essentials of Institutional Transformation: Remaining Resilient Through Leadership Transition. Association of Public and Land-grant Universities & Coalition of Urban Serving Universities.
