This summer, the University of Portland is launching its inaugural Pilots Pre-College Summer Program, which will run from July 6 to July 18. The program offers rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors the chance to experience life on The Bluff through classes, excursions and activities. Participants will live in residence halls, dine in campus dining halls, attend classes with UP professors and have the option to participate in Mass and activities aligned with the Holy Cross mission.
Within the Pre-College Program, students can choose from four areas of interest: public health, engineering marvels, green futures or sports business. The program costs $4,000 for students who stay on-campus housing or $3,500 for commuters. While no scholarships are currently available, the program hopes to offer scholarships in 2026 to expand access to high school students from all backgrounds.
According to Sean Ducey, director of conferences, pre-college programs and special conferences at UP, the Pre-College Program aligns with the University’s goals to increase enrollment and allow high school students to discover their interests and passions earlier in their educational journey.
Similarly, Nick Blaylock, associate director of pre-college programs and conferences, emphasizes that the program also helps college-bound students commit to their major earlier and redirects high school students who discover that college isn’t the right path for them.
“As much as we can make the journey [transition from high school] a more mindful pathway, I think we are doing ourselves and the students a service,” Blaylock said.
According to Dr. Christin Hancock, academic associate dean for the College of Arts and Sciences curriculum and point person for organizing the Green Futures program, a key priority of the program is to expose students to interdisciplinary ways of thinking.
For example, 10 to 12 faculty members from different disciplines with varying expertise will make up the Green Futures program to ensure students are exposed to different interdisciplinary perspectives.
“This is an opportunity for faculty who are super interested, committed and passionate about environmental issues to be able to share what they love with students who are also excited about it,” Hancock said.
While students will not receive credit for the courses they complete, they will receive a pass/fail transcript and can add the experience to their resume and college applications.
To learn more about the program courses and schedule, visit the Pre-College Program website.
Taylor Helle is a News Reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at helle25@up.edu.
