Has a decision been made for CGU to partner with Pomona College?
No. In mid-December 2025, CGU’s Board of Trustees invited Pomona to enter into exclusive discussions that allow both institutions to explore the prospect of such a partnership in greater depth. Pomona’s Board of Trustees accepted the non-binding invitation. During the spring 2026 semester, CGU will be engaging the community in this discussion as well as conducting additional due diligence. A final decision about whether CGU should enter into a formal partnership with Pomona will be made by late in the semester, possibly in May 2026, following the completion of this discussion and assessment process.
How will shared governance work for this important decision?
Shared governance will be central to CGU’s process. While the Board of Trustees has authorized the administration to engage in exploratory discussions, no agreement can be finalized without Board approval. Throughout this period, faculty and staff will be engaged through established governance and consultation processes, contributing their expertise to shape priorities, assess implications, and inform the Board’s deliberations as discussions advance.
How will the CGU community be able to participate in this review process?
CGU will engage faculty, staff, students, alumni, and other community members throughout the exploratory process. Opportunities will include updates, forums, and feedback mechanisms, including regular updates on this dedicated partnership webpage. Additionally, CGU staff, faculty, and students will be engaged through established governance committees, meetings, and processes.
What happens if CGU decides not to move forward with the partnership?
If CGU determines that a partnership is not in its best interest or cannot be structured appropriately, the partnership will not proceed. CGU would continue to pursue other mission-aligned strategies to support its long-term sustainability.
How can I share my feedback or questions?
CGU welcomes feedback throughout this process. Community members can submit feedback or questions through a form hosted on the Pomona College partnership webpage and participate in town halls, listening sessions, and other engagement opportunities as they are announced.
How would a partnership benefit CGU?
Through a structured process of review and due diligence, CGU will assess how a potential partnership could advance its academic mission and long-term sustainability. CGU will collaborate with its partner to identify opportunities to transform its academic programs and operations to better serve graduate students and respond to evolving market needs. A partnership with Pomona would be evaluated as one possible way to provide greater institutional stability and strategic support that could enable CGU to pursue these transformation plans while maintaining its graduate education mission and role within The Claremont Colleges.
Why does CGU want to explore a partnership with Pomona College?
CGU is seeking a mission-aligned partner that values graduate education and can support CGU’s transformation in response to financial, demographic, and technological change. Pomona’s academic strength, shared history, and commitment to the Consortium make it a compelling partner to explore.
Has CGU partnered with other institutions before?
CGU has a long history of collaboration, particularly through The Claremont Colleges Consortium, which has expanded academic, research, and community opportunities while preserving institutional autonomy. CGU also has partnership agreements with multiple colleges outside the Consortium, as well as industry and community partnerships. However, the potential strategic alliance with Pomona would be more comprehensive than CGU has had before.
How does a partnership with Pomona “protect CGU’s interests”?
A partnership with Pomona would be structured to protect CGU’s core institutional interests by preserving its name, mission, graduate identity, and academic autonomy. At the same time, CGU would gain a mission-aligned partner committed to the long-term vitality of The Claremont Colleges. This alignment would strengthen CGU’s position within the Consortium while creating a more stable foundation for academic excellence and institutional sustainability.
How does this partnership relate to trends in higher education?
Standalone graduate schools across the country are facing financial and enrollment challenges as the higher education landscape evolves. At the same time, liberal arts colleges are exploring new ways to demonstrate their continued relevance and adapt their educational models. This partnership would represent an innovative approach to both challenges: preserving graduate education excellence while creating opportunities for liberal arts pedagogy to inform professional graduate programs in ways that could benefit both institutions and their students.
Does this potential partnership mean that Pomona College might “buy” CGU?
Nonprofit educational partnerships like the one being explored between Pomona and CGU don’t involve a purchase price the way a commercial transaction would. We are considering a parent-subsidiary structure that would create a formal relationship between the two institutions while preserving each school’s distinct identity and mission. However, no final structural decisions have been made. Such details would be determined as an outcome of our due diligence and community engagement process.
What would the partnership look like? How would it work?
We are still exploring the specific structure and operations of a potential partnership. Any partnership would need to preserve both institutions’ distinct identities and academic missions while creating opportunities for collaboration where it could make sense. Such details would be informed as an outcome of our due diligence work and community input throughout the spring.
Would CGU and Pomona College become a single institution?
No. Under the partnership structure being explored, CGU and Pomona would remain distinct institutions with separate admissions, academic programs, faculty, and degrees. Each school would continue to serve its own students and maintain its own educational mission.
Would this mean that CGU students receive degrees from Pomona College?
No. CGU students would continue to receive graduate degrees from Claremont Graduate University. The partnership would not change CGU’s degree-granting authority or the credentials their students earn.
How would a partnership with Pomona impact CGU faculty, staff, and students?
No specific changes are proposed at this stage. Any impacts would be guided by CGU’s planning, shared governance processes, and commitment to academic quality and student success.
In a partnership, would CGU’s mission change to serve Pomona College in some way?
No. CGU’s mission would remain focused on graduate education, not on serving Pomona. Both institutions would preserve separate identities and academic autonomy. We would hope to develop collaborative opportunities over time where our complementary strengths create mutual benefits, but any collaboration would be voluntary and designed to benefit both communities rather than subordinate CGU’s mission to Pomona’s needs.
How could Pomona College help CGU without diverting Pomona’s financial resources?
Partnering with CGU would not mean redirecting Pomona’s financial resources to subsidize CGU operations. Rather, the partnership would help CGU explore new financial models, investment management options, and revenue opportunities that would enable CGU’s transformation and long-term sustainability. Pomona’s role would be to provide strategic guidance, institutional stability, and partnership opportunities, not ongoing financial support.
How could Pomona address CGU’s debt given that the College has been working to reduce its own expenses?
CGU understands that Pomona has been actively managing its finances and that any partnership must be fiscally responsible for both institutions. CGU’s debt and broader financial challenges are known and would be a central focus of due diligence. The goal of the exploratory phase is to assess a range of potential structures — financial, operational, and governance-related — that could strengthen CGU’s sustainability over time without undermining Pomona’s own commitments.
Would the proposed partnership change the responsibilities of CGU faculty members?
At this stage, no changes to faculty responsibilities are proposed. If the partnership were to advance, any future changes would be developed through a deliberate planning process, informed by faculty expertise and subject to shared governance and appropriate review before any decisions are made.
How does this affect CGU staff employment?
At this stage, the negotiations will not impact anyone’s employment. No changes to roles, responsibilities, or staffing are anticipated during the negotiation process. If the partnership moves forward, any plans for restructuring or staff reorganization would be considered only after negotiations are complete, and we would communicate those plans clearly and well in advance. Our priority is to keep everyone informed and ensure transparency throughout the process.
How would this partnership affect CGU students?
CGU students would remain CGU students and earn CGU degrees. Over time, a partnership could expand academic and professional opportunities while protecting the student experience.
Would a partnership change ownership or management of CGU’s buildings and grounds?
No changes are proposed at this time. Facilities considerations are part of due diligence and would require a formal process.
Would a partnership result in Pomona and CGU sharing any operations?
Shared operations are a possibility under review, but no decisions have been made.
Would the academic credentials of any CGU or Pomona faculty member need to be re-established as a result of a partnership?
No. Faculty credentials and academic autonomy would be preserved.