Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Pacific University articulation agreement

PCC Contract #: C002128
10/02/2026

Partnership Agreement for Portland Community College-Pacific University Pharmacy Track Program

This partnership agreement establishes a pathway for students enrolled at Portland Community College “Associate Degree programs,” to pursue conditional admission to the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program at Pacific University School of Pharmacy through the Pacific University Pharmacy Track Program (referred to as the “Pharmacy Track”). The Pharmacy Track is designed to support eligible Portland Community College students (referred to as “students”) by fostering their interest in pharmacy careers, providing pre-professional development opportunities, and preparing them for success in Pacific University’s Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program—offered as either an accelerated 3-year or extended 5-year pathway. As an outcome of this agreement all eligible students will receive both conditional admission and a guaranteed interview to the PharmD program.

Faculty and staff at Pacific University School of Pharmacy and Graduate Admissions and Portland Community College support students through four key phases of the Pharmacy Track: I) Outreaching to Prospective Students, II) Application Preparation, III) Applying to the PharmD Program and Eligibility, IV) Acceptance and Transitioning to the PharmD Program.

I. Outreaching to Prospective Students

Timing: During a student’s early academic exploration or at any point when they express interest in pharmacy-related pathways.

• Representatives from Pacific University School of Pharmacy and Graduate Admissions collaborate with Portland Community College General Advisors and/or Health Professions Advisors to conduct virtual information sessions for Portland Community College students. These sessions introduce students to pharmacy career pathways, outline the admissions criteria for Pacific University’s PharmD program, and present the unique opportunities offered through the Pharmacy Track.
• Portland Community College General and/or Health Professions Advisors promote the Pharmacy Track through targeted outreach, advising appointments, workshops, newsletters, and other relevant communications to inform and engage potential student participants.

II. Application Preparation

Timing: When a student begins planning or aligning coursework toward PharmD prerequisite completion, regardless of where they are in their program sequence.

• The students interested in the Pharmacy Track are encouraged to meet with Portland Community College advisors to receive guidance on appropriate course selection, to develop an academic plan, and to follow the Pharmacy Track enrollment criteria at Portland Community College. This plan should include courses that fulfill the prerequisite requirements for admission to the Doctor of Pharmacy program (PharmD) at Pacific University —offered as either an accelerated 3-year or extended 5-year pathway. The prerequisite coursework is completed as part of the Associate Degree requirements at Portland Community College.
• Students interested in joining the Pharmacy Track may submit their interest at any point at Portland Community College to the Assistant Director of Graduate and Professional Admissions at Pacific University through submission via a brief expression of interest form (link available in Appendix 3). Students who submit interest early on in their course of study at Portland Community College have the best opportunity to align their courses with Pacific University School of Pharmacy pre-requisite courses.
• Recommendation (not requirement) to complete a ‘Prerequisite Worksheet’ (Additional information provided in Appendix 1, link provided in Appendix 3) and send it to the Assistant Director of Graduate and Professional Admissions at Pacific University to ensure the student is on track to complete all required courses.
• Recommendation (not requirement) for students to attend a School of Pharmacy in-person RxPloration Day event, a virtual information session, or schedule a separate School and campus tour.

III. Applying to the PharmD Program and Eligibility

Timing: When a student has completed the majority of PharmD prerequisite coursework and has sufficient graded credit to support a competitive application. Eligible students will receive both conditional admission and a guaranteed interview for the PharmD program.

• Pacific University representatives facilitate remote sessions for the students enrolled in the Pharmacy Track to help candidates prepare for the formal application process via PharmCAS, including drafting personal statements and preparing for in-person or remote interviews.
  • For more information on PharmD admissions at Pacific University, visit the Admissions main webpage (link provided in Appendix 3)

To be admitted to the Pharmacy Track, students must meet the following requirements:

• Meet with a Portland Community College academic advisor to develop a tailored academic plan that fulfills both:
  • The PharmD prerequisite coursework for Pacific University School of Pharmacy (see Appendix 1) required for admission to Pacific University’s PharmD Program—offered as either an accelerated 3-year or extended 5-year pathway.
  • All prerequisite coursework must be completed prior to the start of the program in the year the student plans to begin the accelerated 3-year or extended 5-year PharmD pathway. The program begins in August each academic year.
• Maintain the following academic standards:
  • A grade of C or higher in all prerequisite courses
  • A cumulative GPA of 0 or higher
  • A science GPA of 0 or higher
  • Students who do not meet the GPA criteria will not receive conditional admission or a guaranteed interview. Instead, they will enter the competitive applicant pool along with all other PharmCAS
• The PharmD application cycle and deadlines are listed in Students may submit their application while prerequisite courses are still in progress; however, all required coursework must be successfully completed prior to the start of the PharmD program. A complete PharmCAS application includes official transcripts, two letters of reference, and a personal statement.
  • Detailed information is available at on the PharmD Admissions webpage (link provided in Appendix 3)
• Information about students from Portland Community College may be shared with Pacific University, to the extent permitted under the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), to support advising and program coordination.

IV. Acceptance and Transitioning to the PharmD Program

Timing: After a student has completed the required prerequisite coursework and fulfilled all Pharmacy Track expectations, typically in the final term(s) before beginning the PharmD program.

1. Students are formally accepted into the accelerated 3-year or extended 5-year PharmD pathway upon successful completion of the interview and fulfillment of all Pharmacy Track requirements (section II).
2. Students must complete all Pacific University School of Pharmacy matriculation and compliance requirements (shared with the student following PharmD admission) prior to the start of classes at Pacific University School of Pharmacy.
3. Students enrolled in the 3-year PharmD pathway will be eligible for their PharmD degree after successful completion of all professional PharmD requirements following the third professional year at Pacific University.
4. Students enrolled in the 5-year PharmD pathway will be eligible for their PharmD degree after successful completion of all professional PharmD requirements following the fifth professional year at Pacific University.

Governing Law and Venue

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Oregon, without regard to its conflict of laws principles. Venue for any legal action arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall lie exclusively in the state or federal courts located within the State of Oregon.

I.  Term and Renewal

• This Agreement shall become effective on the date of the last authorized signature and shall remain in effect for three (3) full academic years beginning with the Spring Term 2027.
• Prior to the expiration of the initial term, the Parties will meet to determine whether any mutually agreeable changes to the Agreement are necessary or advisable. Thereafter, this Agreement shall automatically renew for successive one-year terms unless either Party provides written notice of its intent not to renew by July 31 of the year in which the Agreement would otherwise renew.
• Any amendment or modification to this Agreement must be made in writing and executed by duly authorized representatives of both Parties.

II. Termination

• Termination for Either party may terminate this Agreement without cause upon one hundred eighty (180) days’ prior written notice to the other party.
• Termination for Either party may terminate this Agreement for material breach by the other party, provided that the non-breaching party gives written notice of the breach and allows the breaching party thirty (30) days to cure such breach, where curable.
• Effect of In the event of termination, the parties shall cooperate in good faith to allow students already enrolled in the Pharmacy Track Program to complete the academic term in progress or otherwise be reasonably accommodated, subject to Pacific University’s academic and admissions policies.

III. FERPA and Student Data Sharing

• Both Parties agree to fully comply with all applicable provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and any relevant state or institutional privacy regulations.
• All FERPA-protected records created, received, or maintained by either Party pursuant to this Agreement shall remain the sole and exclusive property of the originating institution.
• Portland Community College shall not share personally identifiable student information with Pacific University without the student’s written consent, except as permitted under FERPA.
• Pacific University agrees to use any shared student information solely for academic advising, pathway tracking, and enrollment processing, and to protect such information in accordance with applicable laws and institutional policies.
• Both institutions affirm their commitment to safeguarding student data and ensuring that all data exchanges are secure and FERPA-compliant.

IV. Non-Binding and Non-Financial Obligations

• This Agreement establishes a collaborative academic partnership and does not create any financial obligations between the Parties beyond those expressly stated herein.
• Each institution will be responsible for its own operational costs and resources associated with implementing this degree partnership program.
• Neither Party shall be liable for any financial commitments, costs, or expenditures incurred by the other in connection with this Agreement unless expressly agreed upon in a separate written contract executed by both Parties.

V. Recruitment and Admissions

• Portland Community College is not obligated to recruit students on behalf of Pacific University but may provide academic advising and guidance regarding the Pharmacy Track and the completion of prerequisite coursework for PharmD admission.
• Primary academic advising of students in the Track prior to matriculation into the PharmD program will be provided by Portland Community College staff trained for this Pacific University will offer guidance on prerequisites, PharmCAS application procedures, and information about the pharmacy profession and education.
• Representatives from Pacific University may conduct on-campus visits or virtual sessions during the academic year. Portland Community College will provide suitable space and assist with promoting these events.
• This Agreement does not guarantee admission to Pacific University’s PharmD program. Students must meet all admission criteria as outlined by Pacific University. Meeting eligibility requirements alone does not guarantee Admission decisions will be based on each applicant’s ability to meet all established academic, administrative, and program-specific criteria, in accordance with Pacific University’s policies and applicable accreditation standards.

VI. Changes to Curriculum or Prerequisites

The PharmD program prerequisites are outlined in Appendix 1 of this Agreement and must be satisfied for admission and matriculation to Pacific University’s PharmD program.

If Pacific University revises its curriculum or prerequisites:

• Any modifications to Appendix 1 shall be documented and appended to this Agreement as an official amendment.
• Portland Community College and its students shall be provided a two-year transition period to adapt to prerequisite changes. Students already enrolled in the Track and within two years of matriculation shall be grandfathered under the prerequisite requirements in effect at the time of their enrollment.
• Students who have submitted a complete PharmCAS application prior to the effective date of such changes shall be automatically grandfathered under the prior requirements.
• If GPA or admission criteria are modified due to Pacific University policy or accreditation updates (e.g., ACPE standards), the Parties shall review and, if necessary, execute a revised Agreement to reflect such updates. Students with completed PharmCAS applications at the time of change will be grandfathered under the prior criteria.

VII.  Independent Contractors

The parties are independent contractors, and nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed or construed to create an employment relationship, partnership, joint venture, or agency relationship between the parties or between either party and the other party’s students or employees.

VIII. No Third-Party Beneficiaries

This Agreement is entered into solely for the benefit of the parties hereto. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to confer any rights or remedies upon any student or other third party.

IX. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither party shall be liable to the other for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages arising out of or related to this Agreement, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. Each party shall be responsible for its own acts and omissions and those of its employees, officers, agents, and representatives.

X. Dispute Resolution

The parties agree to attempt in good faith to resolve any dispute arising under this Agreement through informal discussions between designated representatives of each institution prior to initiating any legal action. Nothing in this section shall prevent either party from seeking injunctive or other equitable relief as necessary.

XI. Notices

All notices required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given when delivered personally, sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier, or sent by certified mail to the addresses designated by each party below, or to such other address as a party may designate by written notice.

Authorized Signatures

Appendix 1: Pacific University School of Pharmacy and Portland Community College Prerequisite Equivalents Utilizing the Associate Degree Requirements at Portland Community College.

Pacific University Pharmacy Prerequisite	Semester Credits Required	Portland Community College Equivalent Course(s) (Quarter Credits)
General Biology with Lab	8 Semester credits	BI 221Z (5-quarter credits)
		BI 222Z (5-quarter credits)
		BI 223Z (5-quarter credits)
General Chemistry with Lab	8 Semester credits	CH 221Z and CH 227Z (5-quarter credits)
		CH 222Z and CH 228Z (5-quarter credits)
		CH 223Z and CH 229Z (5-quarter credits)
Organic Chemistry with Lab	8 Semester credits	CH 241 (5-quarter credits)
		CH 242 (5-quarter credits)
		CH 243 (5-quarter credits)
Human Physiology If the subjects are offered as a combined “Anatomy & Physiology” sequence, you must complete the full series; additional coursework may count toward other Natural Science requirements.	3 Semester credits	BI 233 (4-quarter credits)
Other Natural Sciences	6 Semester credits	BI 231 (4-quarter credits)
		BI 232 (4-quarter credits)
Statistics	3 Semester credits	STAT 243Z (4-quarter credits)
Information and Communication Technologies	3 Semester credits	Any 4-quarter credit COMM class (4-quarter credits)
Mathematics (Precalculus or higher)	3 Semester credits	MTH 111Z or higher (4-quarter credits)
English (Composition)	3 Semester credits	WR 121Z (4-quarter credits)
Humanities/Arts/Language	3 Semester credits	Any courses listed in Arts and Letters General (link provided in the Appendix 3)(Minimum 4 quarter credits)
Social/Behavior Sciences	3 Semester credits	Any course listed in Social Science General Ed (link provided in the Appendix 3) (Minimum 4-quarter credits)
Elective (English, Humanities/Arts/Language, or Social/Behavioral Sciences)	3 Semester Credits	WR 227Z or any courses listed in Arts and Letters or Social Science General Ed Catalog (Minimum 4 quarter credits) (link in appendix 3)

Note 1: Applicants who wish to use AP, IB, or other prior learning credits to satisfy PharmD prerequisite courses should contact Pacific University School of Pharmacy directly to have those credits evaluated.

Note 2: Students may request that AP, IB, or other prior learning credits be evaluated for alignment with PharmD prerequisite requirements. Evaluation of such credits will be conducted by Pacific University School of Pharmacy.

Conversion from quarter credits to semester credits:

• Quarter Credits/1.5
• 4 quarter credits/1.5 = 2.67 semester credits
• Round up to 3 semester credits

Appendix 2: Timeline Summary of Years Included in Phases 1-4 of the Pharmacy Track.

This timeline outlines the key required steps for students pursuing the Pharmacy Track and earning PharmD degree.

Phase 1 – Exploration & Academic Planning

(Typically, early in a student’s Portland Community College coursework, but open to students at any stage)

• Initiation of academic planning with Portland Community College
• Completion of the expression of interest form (link provided in Appendix 3).
• Submission of prerequisite worksheet (link provided in Appendix 3) to the Pharmacy Admissions Office (email provided in Appendix 3).
• Continued completion of prerequisite coursework (link provided in Appendix 3) as part of the Associate Degree requirements in consultation with Portland Community College advisor.
• Participation in a School of Pharmacy RxPloration Day event (link provided in Appendix 3), virtual information session, or individual campus visit (optional).

Phase 2 – Continued Coursework & Application Preparation

(Completed once students are nearing completion of required prerequisite coursework) Portland Community College

Continued activities include:

• Ongoing advising with Portland Community College
• Completion of expression of interest form, if not completed during Phase 1; link provided in Appendix 3).
• Completion of prerequisite coursework in consultation with a Portland Community College advisor
• Continued progress on prerequisite coursework with Portland Community College
• Attendance at a School of Pharmacy RxPloration Day event, virtual information session, or individual campus visit (optional if not completed during Year 1).
• Finalize selection of either the accelerated 3-year or extended 5-year PharmD
• PharmCAS (link provided in Appendix 3) application
• Preparation for an in-person or virtual interview with the Pacific University School of
• Completion of and conferral of Associate Degree at Portland Community
• Submission of the final prerequisite worksheet to (email provided in Appendix 3).

Phase 3 – Acceptance & Transition to the PharmD Program

(Following conditional admission and a successful interview)

• Completion of all requirements of the PharmD degree and conferral of the degree for those enrolled in the accelerated 3-year PharmD pathway.

Phase 4 – PharmD Program Completion

• Students complete the required professional coursework and experiential rotations, culminating in conferral of the PharmD degree.
• The PharmD Degree is typically completed in 3 or 5 years, depending on the pathway selected upon admission.

Appendix 3: Relevant Links and Contact Information

Pacific University School of Pharmacy: 

• Main webpage
• Admissions
• Prerequisite Requirements
• Prerequisite Worksheet
• Expression of Interest Form
• PharmCAS Application
• Upcoming Events
• Pharmacy Admissions Office: pharmd@pacificu.edu

Portland Community College:

• Arts and Letters General Eds Catalogue
• Social Science General Eds Catalogue

Final Audit Report, 2026-10-02

Created: 2026-10-01 By: Sandy Barrientos (sandra.barrientos@pcc.edu). Status: Signed

Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAAMQY5EU9RlzmTvDIM_dpbfd4E4wufGeKW

Document History:

• Document created by Sandy Barrientos: 2026-10-01, 6:39:29pm GMT
• Document emailed to Sandy Barrientos for approval: 2026-10-01, 6:42:03pm GMT
• Document approved by Sandy Barrientos Approval Date: 2026-10-01, 6:42:41pm GMT, Time Source: server, Signature Appearance Selected: type
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• Document e-signed by Vicky Lopez Sanchez Signature Date: 2026-10-01, 6:54:22pm GMT, Time Source: server – Signature, Appearance Selected: image
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• Document e-signed by Michael Mathews Signature Date: 2026-10-02, 3:32:05pm GMT, Time Source: server, Signature Appearance Selected: draw
• Agreement completed: 2026-10-02, 3:32:05pm GMT