Portland State University Responds to GoLocal’s Coverage of President Wim Wiewel

Thursday, September 03, 2015

Christopher Broderick, GoLocalPDX Guest MINDSETTER™

Chris Broderick; courtesy PDX.edu

The article, “PSU President Wiewel uses University House for For-Profit Company” suggests that President Wiewel secretly runs a side business out of his Presidential home. That’s misleading and inflammatory. Like most university presidents and many professors, Dr. Wiewel writes academic books and makes speeches. That is not only allowed under his contract and state rules, but those activities are encouraged by PSU to advance the university’s academic mission.

He receives small royalties and honoraria for those activities and reports that income on state and federal tax and disclosure forms. Last year, his royalties on his nine books and honoraria for speeches totaled $2,042. In 2013, his income from these activities totaled $47. In fact, income from all those activities totaled $4,322 over the past five years before taxes.

The article also suggested it is not proper to operate a business out of his home because the President’s house is public. That house was donated to PSU as the President’s residence, and his contract requires Dr. Wiewel to live there. He’s not “running a for-profit consulting firm” but writing from his home, whether it is a speech or an article. He also writes in his office at PSU. Universities encourage academic professionals to stay current in their fields, attend conferences and give presentations as part of their job. Under his contract with the PSU Board of Trustees, President Wiewel is permitted to engage in these activities. Moreover, his professional scholarship and expertise in academic leadership and urban affairs are clear benefits to Portland State and to Portland.

Christopher Broderick is the Associate Vice President for University Communications in the President’s Office at Portland State University.

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