Occidental College and Pasadena City College (Photos – Oxy, PCC)
Occidental College and Pasadena City College have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop clearer transfer pathways for PCC students, including agreements on which PCC courses will satisfy Occidental’s general-education requirements.
By News Desk
The agreement, signed Sept. 21 during a ceremony at Occidental, marks the first formal partnership between Occidental and a two-year college. It is also PCC’s first transfer agreement with a private institution.
Occidental President Tom Stritikus and PCC President José A. Gómez signed the agreement in the presence of college leaders, transfer students, educators, community partners, local representatives and California Assemblymember Jessica Caloza.
The colleges will identify transferable PCC courses and work to develop pathways for students in specific majors. They also plan to hold admission and transfer events on both campuses and encourage collaboration among faculty and staff.
The partnership calls for admission and transfer-focused events on both campuses. The colleges also will encourage collaboration between their faculty and staff.
“Our partnership with PCC is about creating stronger pathways for exceptional students in our own region and ensuring that an Occidental education is accessible to students from a wide range of backgrounds,” Stritikus said.
He said the agreement reflects a shared commitment to access and academic excellence.
Occidental described the partnership as part of a broader effort to build relationships with educational institutions in the Los Angeles region. The college offers transfer students access to its liberal arts curriculum, faculty relationships and Los Angeles-based academic and cultural resources.
PCC serves students from the San Gabriel Valley and the greater Los Angeles region. The college said it ranks No. 1 in California for transfers to public universities.
“PCC students bring tremendous talent and determination to the institutions they join,” Gómez said. “This partnership recognizes their potential and creates another meaningful opportunity for them to continue their education at an institution where they can make a lasting contribution.”
Gómez said the agreement could serve as a model for transfer partnerships between two-year and four-year colleges.
Caloza, who identified herself as a first-generation college student, said expanding access to higher education has been a focus throughout her career.
“This partnership between PCC and Occidental puts that commitment into action right here in our community by creating a clearer, more accessible pathway for students to continue their education,” she said.
Leave a Reply