In a move to address the region's critical workforce demands, Columbia Gorge Community College (CGCC) and online, nonprofit Western Governors University (WGU) today launched a new partnership. The agreement creates a seamless and affordable pathway for CGCC graduates and employees to transfer credits and pursue bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and certificate programs entirely online, allowing them to stay in their communities while advancing their careers.
The collaboration is a direct investment in the region's economic future, designed to upskill the local workforce and keep talent within the Gorge. It directly supports CGCC’s mission to build a better future for the community through accessible education.
"Keeping local talent right here in the Gorge is essential for the region's future prosperity, and this partnership is a direct investment in that goal," said Dr. Tonya Drake, vice president of WGU’s Northwest Region. "Columbia Gorge Community College does an exceptional job providing vital, career-focused education. We're thrilled to offer a clear, flexible, and affordable next step for their graduates to earn advanced degrees and become the next generation of leaders who will drive innovation throughout their community."
The impact of such a pathway is already embodied by Deanne Saldivar-Witter, a graduate of both institutions who now serves as a nursing instructor at CGCC.
"As a graduate of both institutions, I know firsthand how powerful this connection is," said Saldivar-Witter. "CGCC provided me with the foundational skills to begin my nursing career, and WGU offered the flexibility I needed as a working parent to earn my bachelor's degree. This partnership formalizes the kind of pathway that made my own career advancement possible, and it opens the door for so many others in our community to pursue their goals without putting their lives on hold."
The partnership makes CGCC the seventh community college in Oregon to join WGU's network, which includes Chemeketa, Clackamas, Lane, Mt. Hood, Rogue, and Southwestern Oregon community colleges. All CGCC graduates and employees are now eligible to apply for the $3,500 WGU Community College Partner Scholarship, further reducing financial barriers.
"This partnership answers the critical question of 'what's next?' for our entire college community," said Dr. Jarett Gilbert, vice president of Instructional Services at CGCC. "It provides a direct route for our graduates to leverage their skills into a university credential without relocating, and it offers a fantastic professional development opportunity for our own faculty and staff. It’s a game-changer that supports long-term career growth for everyone connected to CGCC and helps supply local employers with the high-skilled leaders they need to thrive."
WGU currently serves nearly 2,900 students in Oregon, with more than 9,200 alumni statewide. In the Columbia Gorge region, over 150 students and alumni are part of the local workforce in Wasco and Hood River Counties.
The partnership is effective immediately. More information on WGU’s commitment to Oregon’s community college graduates can be found here.
About CGCC
Columbia Gorge Community College (CGCC) is the heart of higher education in the greater Columbia River Gorge, with a mission to strengthen our regional economy and community through education and training. The college offers high-demand career and technical programs alongside affordable transfer pathways to four-year universities. As Oregon’s first community college designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), CGCC provides flexible schedules and a broad mix of credit and non-credit courses to serve diverse learners. Guided by faculty who have studied, taught, researched, and volunteered around the world, CGCC pairs global expertise with local commitment to student success.
About WGU
Western Governors University, the nation’s leading nonprofit, online university, is transforming higher education to be more student-centric, affordable, accessible to all and relevant to the workforce. Established in 1997 by 19 visionary U.S. governors, WGU creates life-changing pathways to opportunity for those underserved by traditional institutions — working adults, historically underrepresented communities and a diverse, growing number of learners looking for a flexible, online model that better suits their life circumstances. WGU’s competency-based education model allows students to demonstrate mastery as they progress through programs at their own pace.
Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, WGU operates in all 50 states and offers more than 80 programs in health, education, technology and business. WGU serves more than 190,000 students nationwide, with nearly 400,000 alumni, and has awarded nearly 450,000 degrees. Learn more at wgu.edu. WGU News – Contact for media inquiries: pr@wgu.edu