This content was published: May 16, 1997. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
Portland Community College Offers Gift Certificates
Photos and Story by Mark Evertz
Portland Community College, the largest institution of higher learning in Oregon, has recently launched a new program to try to increase awareness of and access to the college through marketing gift certificates. Called PCC "Tuition Bucks," the college is now selling gift certificates by phone. They’re available to anyone by Visa, MasterCard or check by calling 614-2882.
"Tuition Bucks" gift certificates are sold in $10, $25, $100 amounts. They are presented in an attractive folder, like higher-end restaurants.
"What better gift than the gift of education? We want to make it easier for people to give PCC to graduates, friends or family," said Jan Coulton, executive director of Public Affairs and the Foundation.
The goal, said Coulton, is to make purchasing college classes convenient, quick and easy.
Data research shows that many Portland-area high school graduates who have plans to go on to college choose PCC. Somewhere between 25 and 35 percent of the high school graduates enroll at PCC following their June graduation in college transfer or career training programs. There are 30 public high schools in PCC’s district.
In addition, the college offers more than 1000 classes throughout the Portland metropolitan area that are popular with all age groups. Individuals choose from a wide variety of personal enrichment classes – ranging from "Conversational Japanese" to "Archeology of the Northwest," from "Elements of Small Property Investment" to "Sculling." There is widespread interest in PCC’s personal enrichment and continuing education classes: more than 50,000 students enroll each year.
"We can’t think of a better gift than the gift of learning," said Coulton.