Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Western Governors University articulation agreement

Transfer Institution Agreement

PCC Contract #: C002100
09/19/2026

Western Governors University and Portland Community College

This Transfer Institution Agreement (“Agreement”) is effective as of the date of the last signature below between Western Governors University (together with any affiliates, “WGU”), a Utah nonprofit corporation located at 4001 South 700 East, Suite 700, Salt Lake City, UT 84107, and Portland Community College (“Institution”), located at 12000 SW 49th Ave., Portland, OR 97219; (each a “Party” and collectively the “Parties”).

1. Purpose & Background
   The common goal for this Agreement is to provide Portland Community College graduates and employees with flexible, personalized learning pathways to higher education and professional development (degrees, certificates, and credentials) through WGU’s innovative online university and applicable WGU affiliates.This Agreement is further intended to formalize the transfer of applicable credits between the Parties via transfer and/or reverse transfer articulation pathways.If the Institution offers Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and/or Bachelor of Applied Science degrees, WGU has determined these conferred degrees meet the graduate program admissions requirements for WGU’s Master’s programs, provided Institution’s degree-specific requirements are satisfied.WGU is a private, non-profit, accredited university offering degrees and other educational opportunities. WGU’s programs are designed to fit into busy work and home schedules and create pathways to opportunity.
2. Scholarship Opportunities
   Scholarships may be awarded to Portland Community College graduates and employees, if applicable, as described below. Portland Community College acknowledges and agrees that: (i) scholarship applicants must meet WGU admission requirements, and (ii) WGU is solely responsible for scholarship funding and award decisions.
   • WGU Community College Partner Scholarship
     Graduates and employees of Portland Community College are eligible to apply for the WGU Community College Partner Scholarship in the amount of $3,500, which is disbursed in increments of $875 per academic term for up to four (4) terms based on satisfactory academic performance.
3. Obligations of WGU
   1. WGU has sole responsibility for all aspects of any program, certification, curriculum, and applicable accreditations.
   2. WGU retains sole discretion in admission decisions. However, students who have followed an articulated pathway, have met the minimum GPA requirements, and any applicable course age requirements will be accepted. The General Transfer Guidelines for each degree can be found at https://partners.wgu.edu/general-transfer-guidelines.
   3. WGU will develop, post, and maintain transfer articulation pathways, which will be accessible through the following links: (1) the WGU Partners webpage, (2) the Oregon community college landing page, or (3) directly through the Portland Community College transfer pathways page.
   4. At the request of Portland Community College, WGU will provide training and print and digital materials to enable understanding of the opportunities with WGU.
   5. WGU will support a reverse transfer process for students who: (i) transferred from Institution prior to degree completion with a collaborating institution that participates in the Reverse Transfer Program with the National Student Clearinghouse; and (ii) met any requirements applicable to a reverse transfer.
   6. WGU will assist in the development and execution of initial and ongoing enrollment campaigns for Portland Community College graduates and employees to include providing any marketing materials needed and approved by the Institution.
   7. WGU will waive the application fee for any Portland Community College graduate or employee who enrolls at WGU.
4. Obligations of Portland Community College
   1. Portland Community College will make graduates aware of the articulation and scholarship opportunities by sharing and/or posting information for graduates to review, and will highlight the collaboration and education benefits of WGU through its standard internal communication channels (such as newsletters) with faculty, staff, and students.
   2. Portland Community College will provide WGU with timely curricular updates of all updates of all offered degrees, certificates, and educational programs.
   3. Portland Community College will establish a web link from its internal websites to the WGU articulation pathways page (partners.wgu.edu).
   4. If Portland Community College offers other tuition assistance programs, WGU programs will be added to the list of programs eligible for Institution’s highest level of assistance.
   5. Portland Community College will invite WGU to participate in any education/benefit fairs, information seminars, and “lunch and learn” presentations that Institution may offer.
   6. Portland Community College agrees to support additional marketing communications upon request.
5. Joint Obligations
   1. WGU and Portland Community College will collaborate on an announcement of the signing of this Agreement with a mutually agreeable press release. A signing event may also occur in conjunction with the announcement if mutually agreed between the Parties.
   2. WGU and Portland Community College will collaborate in developing methods of communication to share about WGU opportunities, including the scholarship, enrollment campaigns, and engagement opportunities.
   3. The Parties agree to maintain open communication to provide timely support and engagement to advance the goals of this Agreement.
   4. The Parties agree to exchange data and documents, as agreed, to assist in the maintenance and improvement of the transfer arrangements identified in this Agreement.
   5. Each Party agrees to use reasonable care to protect the confidential information of the other Party against unauthorized disclosure. The Parties further agree to treat all education records created, disclosed, or maintained under this Agreement, including any personally identifying information, in accordance with the requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
   6. Each Party reserves the right to control the use of its name, logo, trademarks, and any other identifying marks (“Marks”) in every respect, and each agrees to obtain prior express written permission from the other before such usage, except as otherwise permitted under this Agreement. In the event of termination or expiration of this Agreement, each Party shall remove the other Party’s information from its website and cease use of the other Party’s Marks.
   7. Neither Party will discriminate against any individual based on race, religion, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, national origin, or other protected status or characteristic.
6. Miscellaneous
   1. Term and Termination. This Agreement will remain in effect for a period of one (1) year and will automatically renew for additional one (1)-year periods, or until terminated by either Party by providing thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the other Party. In the event the Agreement is terminated, WGU agrees that each graduate or employee of Portland Community College enrolled at WGU and then receiving any educational benefit under this Agreement will receive the full value of that benefit towards studies at WGU as long as such individual remains in good academic standing.
   2. Program-Specific Admissions Requirements. The Parties expressly understand and agree that WGU’s Master of Science in Accounting program maintains distinct admissions requirements that may not be satisfied solely by completion of Portland Community College’s bachelor’s degree programs. Similarly, the Master of Science in Nursing program requires candidates to fulfill specific professional licensing requirements that are separate from and in addition to the bachelor’s degree requirements.
   3. Licensing Jurisdiction. WGU programs leading to professional licenses will continue to meet the applicable requirements of the licensing authorities in the State of Utah. To the extent applicable, WGU’s certification officers will work with WGU students enrolled in these programs under this Agreement to obtain a license outside the State of Utah.
   4. This Agreement will be governed by the State of Utah, without regard to its conflict of rules.
   5. No Relationship. Portland Community College and WGU are independent contractors and nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to create an agency, employer/employee, partnership, joint venture, or any other relationship between the Parties.
   6. Entire Agreement. This Agreement supersedes any prior agreements, whether oral or written, between the Parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement. This Agreement may only be modified by a written amendment signed by both Parties.

WGU Transfer Institution Agreement (November 2025)