[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 81 (Wednesday, June 9, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1199-E1200]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING DR. MICHAEL F. REARDON; PROVOST, PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY, 
                              JUNE 9, 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DAVID WU

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 9, 1999

  Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize Dr. Michael F. 
Reardon, a constituent of mine, who will soon retire from an 8-year 
term as provost of Portland State University; one of the nation's 
leading urban universities.
  Michael Reardon has had a long and distinguished career as a 
professor and higher education administrator. He has served Portland 
State University and the academy with distinction for more than 30 
years.
  Dr. Reardon received his bachelor's degree from Georgetown University 
in 1960, and his doctoral degree in history from Indiana University in 
1965. After receiving his doctorate, Dr. Reardon accepted a position as 
an Assistant Professor of history at Portland State University. Before 
being selected as the Provost in 1992, Dr. Reardon served as Chairman 
of the department of history, Director of the Honors Program, Associate 
Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Vice Provost.
  Dr. Reardon is recognized for his work in the history of European 
thought, French intellectual history, the development of disciplinary 
knowledge, and on culture of the professions. He is also known for his 
positions as Vice-President and President of the Western Regional 
Associations of Honors Programs and as an officer in the National 
Collegiate Honors Conference. Many here in Washington know Dr. Reardon 
as a consultant to the National Endowment for the Humanities, for his 
work with the American Council on Education and other national 
associations of higher education.
  Provost Reardon's interest in curricular reform has encouraged 
innovative changes in undergraduate education at Portland State 
University and around the nation. His publication on curricular reform 
and cost containment in the Handbook of Higher Education has brought 
about a renewed commitment to providing quality post secondary 
education to all Americans in urban areas.
  These distinctions alone would be sufficient to merit my gratitude 
for Dr. Reardon's work, however, I would especially like to offer my 
sincere appreciation for Provost Reardon's administrative vision and 
his excellence as a teacher who has encouraged students to pursue their 
careers and ambitions.
  In 1994 under Provost Reardon's guidance, a nationally recognized 
general education program was developed and implemented at Portland 
State University. The four-year program encourages civic responsibility 
through outreach to regional organizations, high schools and 
businesses. The program enables students to work in a team environment 
using critical thinking skills and interdisciplinary problem-solving 
approaches to contemporary issues. This program is based on 
collaborative partnerships between the university and community; in 
effect each student at this university must, to receive their degree, 
serve the community.

[[Page E1200]]

  Dr. Reardon's strong commitment to the university as Provost is 
paralleled by his equally firm commitment to students and teaching. 
Throughout his years as an administrator, Dr. Reardon has always found 
time to teach undergraduate and graduate students in his areas of 
expertise and develop programs such as an internship program in 
Washington that has provided students with an opportunity to work and 
learn in Nation's capital city. Dr. Reardon's students are professors, 
teachers, business leaders, college administrators, research 
scientists, and lawyers. Oregon and the nation will benefit from Dr. 
Reardon's dedication and his commitment to education.
  It is with great pleasure that I honor Dr. Reardon for his service to 
Portland State University, to Oregon, and to the nation. I look forward 
to his continuing work as professor and consultant to universities and 
associations of higher education in the coming years.

                          ____________________