Two universities in Oregon say they plan to merge and become the state’s largest private higher education institution.
The Salem Reporter says that Willamette University President Steve Thorsett and Pacific University President Jenny Coyle have announced plans to create what will be called the University of the Northwest. Willamette has campuses in Salem and Portland, and Pacific has campuses in Forest Grove and Hillsboro.
The result would “combine the flexibility and nimbleness of a small school with the breadth and resources of a larger institution,” according to a joint statement from the universities.
Together, the schools have a combined enrollment of about 6,000 students. Those include undergraduates and graduate students in Willamette’s law, business and art and Pacific’s health sciences, optometry and teacher programs.
The merger is likely to take several years.
Both universities will keep their campuses and maintain their own admissions processes.
Though the merger comes in a challenging landscape for higher education, it’s not a decision driven by budget or enrollment concerns, Thorsett said.
Enrollment climbed this fall for the fifth year in a row, Thorsett said. He described Willamette as financially healthy. The university has a $306 million million endowment and has a balanced budget. Pacific also is financially strong, Coyle said.
The universities do expect some cost savings from efficiencies, like combining software systems and databases.
Willamette has already merged successfully with Portland’s Pacific Northwest College of Art, a process that started in 2021. The college kept its own identity, which was established in the art world.
