PORT ANGELES — Starting this fall, a collaboration between Peninsula College, a community college, and Central Washington University of Ellensburg, a four-year institution, will offer North Olympic Peninsula residents another opportunity to complete a baccalaureate degree.
The two institutions agreed in a pact signed earlier this month to offer complementary programming to provide a seamless path for students who wish to pursue a bachelor’s degree.
Under the agreement, CWU will offer Peninsula College students a dual admission option.
Those who complete the pre-application process will be conditionally admitted to CWU, and while studying at Peninsula College, which is based in Port Angeles with branches in Port Townsend and Forks, students will have access to resources at both institutions.
CWU will work with Peninsula College to develop transfer academic program plans to guide those who intend to transfer to CWU into a specific degree program.
At the time of transfer, CWU’s admission application fee and the confirmation deposit will be waived.
“Peninsula College is committed to providing and expanding its higher education offerings to all Olympic Peninsula residents,” said Peninsula College President Luke Robins.
“This new collaboration with Central Washington University is a key element in our ongoing strategic planning.”
Peninsula College has similar agreements with Western Washington University of Bellingham, City University of Seattle, Evergreen State College of Olympia, as well as Old Dominion of Virginia and the University of Phoenix online.
Students also can earn a Peninsula College bachelor’s degree in management.
Students can earn any bachelor’s degree in the Central Washington University program.
In the agreement with WWU, Peninsula College students can earn Bachelor of Arts degrees in planning and environmental policy or Bachelor of Science degrees in environmental science.
The pact with City University allows students to earn Bachelor of Arts degrees in education or an alternative route to teacher certification 2 and 3.
Through Evergreen, students can earn a reservation-based, community determined bachelor’s degree.
Through Old Dominion, students can earn several different bachelor’s degrees, and through the University of Phoenix, students can earn bachelor degrees in arts and sciences, business and management, criminal justice and security, education, human services, nursing and health care, psychology and technology.
Through Western Governor’s University, a statewide agreement with all state community colleges provides access to a variety of competency-based bachelor’s degrees.
Peninsula residents who would like to know more about the dual admission process should contact Mary O’Neil-Garrett, Peninsula College’s vice president of instruction, at
mogarrett@pencol.edu.