PSU president keeping his job for now

UPDATE: Portland State University board takes no action after special meeting Sunday, May 5. Board's regular meeting is May 13.

KOIN 6 News reported Sunday afternoon that the president of Portland State University will be allowed to keep his job for now.

The university's board of trustees held an executive session Sunday morning, May 5, to discuss President Rahmat Shoureshi and decide whether to take action on his employment. After the meeting, PSU spokesman Ken Ma issued a statement saying the board would meet again 1 to 4 p.m., Monday, May 13, but it is not known if the employment status of the president is on the agenda. Ma's statement said no action was taken at Sunday's executive session.

Sunday's meeting was the culmination of a two-month investigation spearheaded by the board to examine Shoureshi's presidency. Shoureshi has been president at the university for less than two years but during that time, he's been accused of not being honest with the board of trustees, deleting emails that are public record and not treating his staff with respect. He's in the middle of a five-year contract.

Last fall, the board gave Shoureshi the option to resign or receive executive coaching. Shoureshi chose the coaching.

Prior to his appointment as president of PSU, Shoureshi was interim president of the New York Institute of Technology. He holds a doctorate in engineering from MIT.

Gov. Kate Brown appoints the trustees to the PSU board as the university is publicly funded. Her office said in a statement Friday that the governor was "monitoring the situation at PSU closely and she expects the board to resolve this situation quickly and take appropriate action."

KOIN 6 News is a media partner of The Portland Tribune.