Wu bill aims to assist urban universities

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U.S. Rep. David Wu

U.S. Rep. David Wu, an Oregon Democrat, believes his new higher education bill will better equip urban universities to instruct students on such matters as city planning and sustainability.

Wu, who broadly detailed the bill at a Portland State University press conference, will introduce the Urban University Renaissance Act of the 21st Century tomorrow in Washington, D.C. Among other efforts, the bill aims to:

• • Help urban universities such as PSU work with public officials and business leaders to develop high school graduation requirements that "are better aligned with college and work force expectations."
• • Help universities research environmental issues in low-income neighborhoods.
• • Provide for more urban university public health research.
• • Promote more regional economic growth.

Wu wouldn’t disclose the cost of the final bill.

“It’s a lot of zeroes,” he said.

The measure would re-establish a Higher Education Act program that provides competitive grants to qualified universities. One such program would fund environmental research.

Wu also wants more federal money to train teachers who’d work in urban school districts.

Portland State is one of 45 universities in a public urban college consortium that aims to encourage more business partnerships with their cities. Portland State’s economic impact on the surrounding community is estimated at $1.2 billion, said Wim Wiewel, the school’s president.

The Wu bill would help fund programs similar to the 1996 North Portland grant-funded business incubator that has helped place more than 1,300 students in jobs.

“That’s just one example: Just think what we could do if we have support for programs like that on an ongoing basis,” Wiewel said.

Wu said urban universities offer many skills to share with their communities.

“This bill will help accelerate urban renewal that attracts jobs to inner cities,” Wu said.