Strategic Partnership Initiative Frequently Asked Questions

CGU began exploring potential partners in early 2025. Recognizing what CGU’s decision would mean for the Consortium Pomona helped to found, Pomona chose to enter the conversation as a prospective partner. In September 2025, President Starr and Board Chair Janet Benton formed a working group to conduct due diligence on a potential affiliation. The group included Pomona trustees, faculty members (among them the Chair of the Faculty), and senior administrators, and it drew on staff subject-matter experts from across the College. Because the work involved confidential information, members were bound by the same confidentiality terms that governed the discussions.

In December 2025, CGU invited Pomona to enter exclusive discussions as its preferred partner. Pomona’s Board of Trustees voted to accept, and the two institutions signed a non-binding letter of intent. Throughout the spring of 2026, Pomona invited the community into the conversation. This began with a campus town hall led by President Starr that drew more than 180 students, faculty, and staff. It continued with a faculty forum, informal conversations with faculty members of the working group, virtual forums for alumni and families, a staff forum, regular open conversations with College leadership, and an online feedback form. The Board’s decision was informed by the perspectives of faculty, the expertise of staff, and the feedback shared through these channels.

On October 26, 2026, Pomona College’s Board of Trustees approved an affiliation agreement with Claremont Graduate University (CGU), following approval by CGU’s Board of Trustees on October 22. Under the agreement, Pomona will become CGU’s sole corporate member once certain conditions are met, including receipt of required regulatory approvals. CGU will remain a distinct graduate university with its own name, students, faculty, degrees, and academic mission, with Pomona providing specific operational and strategic support. The affiliation will take effect when the agreement closes, which is expected to be in mid-2027, after the required regulatory and Consortium approvals.

Nonprofit organizations such as Pomona and CGU have no owners or shareholders. Under California law, a nonprofit corporation may instead have one or more “members,” meaning organizations or individuals that hold specific legal rights over its governance. Typically, these rights include approving the most significant institutional decisions. Being the “sole” corporate member indicates such member is the one and only member of the relevant institution, here, CGU.

Once the affiliation takes effect, Pomona will be CGU’s sole corporate member. If CGU, which will be governed by its own board and remain a separate entity and institution, decides to make certain major changes, Pomona’s approval will also be required. These decisions start with CGU. Pomona’s role will be to advise on, approve or decline certain of what CGU proposes, not to make such changes itself.

Pomona will not own CGU or its assets, or assume CGU’s liabilities, and the two institutions will not merge. CGU’s president and leadership will continue to run the university, and CGU’s Board of Trustees will continue to oversee it.

Pomona and CGU have been closely connected since 1925, when Pomona President James Blaisdell founded The Claremont Colleges with CGU as its original graduate institution. Independent graduate universities across the country face growing financial and enrollment pressures. CGU’s Board concluded that a strategic partner would best position the university for its future, and after a national search, it selected Pomona as its preferred strategic partner.

As the founding member of the Consortium, Pomona has a lasting interest in its strength and stability. This affiliation keeps graduate education in Claremont connected to an institution committed to the Consortium’s mission and collaborative model. Over time, it may also open new opportunities for Pomona students and faculty. Pomona entered into the agreement only after concluding, through extensive review, that the affiliation could be structured to protect its own academic and financial commitments.

Neither “merger” nor “acquisition” accurately describes the relationship. It is not a merger because the two institutions will continue to each exist separately and apart from each other and will not combine. Pomona and CGU will keep separate identities, admissions, faculty, academic programs, and degrees.

It also differs from a typical acquisition. Pomona will pay no purchase price, and CGU will continue to own its assets, including its endowment and campus, and remain responsible for its liabilities. CGU will also continue to have its own president, board of trustees, and academic governance. The trustees of CGU will continue to owe their fiduciary duties to CGU itself and the public or charitable purposes for which it was formed, not to Pomona in its capacity as sole member. Pomona’s role as sole member is not equivalent to that of a shareholder in a for profit scenario for this, among other, reasons.

Legally, the arrangement is an affiliation in which Pomona serves as CGU’s sole corporate member. Both institutions describe it as a strategic partnership because it reflects a relationship built on collaboration between two distinct institutions rather than integration into one.

Closing is the point at which the affiliation agreement takes legal effect. Between the signing of the agreement and closing, both institutions must complete a series of required steps, including obtaining regulatory approval for the affiliation, some of which are described below. Until closing, Pomona and CGU continue to operate as separate, unaffiliated institutions. At closing, Pomona becomes CGU’s sole corporate member, CGU’s revised governing documents take effect, and CGU’s newly constituted Board of Trustees begins its service.

Before closing, the affiliation must receive approval from applicable regulatory bodies, including the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), which is the institutional accrediting agency for both CGU and Pomona, and the relevant state and federal agencies. CGU’s continued membership in The Claremont Colleges must also be approved by the Consortium’s governing bodies. In addition, Pomona and CGU must finalize and approve several plans the agreement calls for. These include CGU’s Academic Transformation Plan, which CGU is developing, along with a five-year financial plan and a plan for integrated services. Closing is anticipated to occur in mid-2027, although the timing depends on when these approvals and plans are complete.

If the closing conditions cannot be met, either institution may end the agreement before closing, and the affiliation would not take effect. Pomona and CGU would continue to operate as independent institutions, and CGU’s Board would determine the university’s path forward.

At closing, CGU’s current Board of Trustees will step down. CGU’s new Board will include CGU’s president and at least three members from CGU’s current board, to provide continuity and institutional knowledge. The remaining members will be chosen for expertise especially relevant to CGU’s transformation. A majority of CGU’s trustees must be people who are not employed or compensated by either institution.

The Board and president will lead the university, oversee its academic transformation, and continue CGU’s faculty governance. CGU’s president will report to Pomona’s Board at least annually.

Yes. Pomona and CGU will remain distinct institutions. Each will keep its own admissions, students, faculty, academic programs, and degrees. CGU students will continue to earn their degrees from Claremont Graduate University, and Pomona students will continue to earn theirs from Pomona College.

CGU will remain a graduate university with its own name, brand, and institutional identity, and its mission will remain focused on graduate education. Pomona and CGU serve different students, but their missions are complementary. Pomona is dedicated to undergraduate liberal arts education, and CGU describes its graduate programs as grounded in the liberal arts tradition. Both institutions share a commitment to academic excellence and to the collaborative model of The Claremont Colleges. The affiliation is designed to preserve what makes each institution distinctive while building on what they share. Any change to institutional name or mission in the future must be proposed by CGU’s Board and would require Pomona’s approval.

CGU is leading its own academic transformation, which began before the agreement was signed and will continue after closing. Pomona serves as a thought partner to CGU’s leadership. It has also made outside advisors and consultants available to assist CGU’s work, and CGU approves those selected. Decisions about CGU’s academic programs remain CGU’s to make. Under the agreement, CGU is developing an Academic Transformation Plan that both institutions must accept before closing. More information about CGU’s academic transformation is available on CGU’s website.

CGU’s long-term sustainability will depend on a combination of measures rather than any single action. These include CGU’s academic transformation, disciplined management of expenses, focused investment, and a more diversified revenue base. The affiliation is designed to strengthen CGU’s capacity for that work. Pomona will contribute financial and strategic expertise, including investment management, along with access to financing on favorable terms and administrative services that can improve efficiency. The shared goal is for CGU to sustain its operations through its own revenue.

Both Pomona and CGU will remain members of The Claremont Colleges. CGU’s continued membership requires the approval of the Consortium’s governing bodies, and that approval is a condition of closing. After closing, any decision by CGU to leave the Consortium would require Pomona’s approval, which adds stability to CGU’s place in the Consortium and the Consortium overall. CGU’s relationships and collaborations with the other Claremont Colleges will continue. Over time, CGU’s academic transformation may also create new opportunities for students and faculty across the Consortium.

CGU will continue to own its campus, including its land and buildings. After closing, any decision by CGU to acquire or sell major campus property will require Pomona’s approval, which helps keep CGU’s campus dedicated to the educational purposes of The Claremont Colleges. As part of due diligence, Pomona commissioned an independent assessment of the condition of CGU’s facilities. Any changes to how CGU’s campus facilities are managed will be determined through the integrated services planning now underway.

Pomona’s commitments to CGU are mainly ones of expertise and administrative support and services, along with access to financing on favorable terms. Pomona will pay no purchase price. CGU’s existing debts and liabilities will remain CGU’s own. CGU will keep its own budget and financial accounts, and it will bear the cost of the administrative services Pomona provides.

Any affiliation of this kind carries some financial risk. Pomona’s due diligence included a thorough review of CGU’s finances, and the agreement was structured to manage that risk. It includes a shared five-year financial plan with clear performance goals, and Pomona’s Board will receive regular updates on CGU’s progress. Pomona’s operating budget will not fund CGU’s operations, and resources for Pomona’s academic programs will not be redirected to CGU.

Yes. Pomona’s commitments to its academic departments and undergraduate programs remain its priority, including the planned investments in faculty lines, salaries, and other academic priorities described in President Starr’s update on Pomona’s financial position. The affiliation agreement was structured to protect Pomona’s ability to continue investing in its core educational mission.

No. Donations made to Pomona College will support Pomona College, whether designated for specific programs or given as unrestricted support for the College’s priorities. Donor intent will be fully honored.

This partnership represents an important opportunity to preserve graduate education excellence in The Claremont Colleges while potentially creating new pathways for Pomona students and faculty. A transformed CGU could also provide opportunities for innovation in liberal arts education as we explore new models for institutional collaboration. Those collaborations could include research partnerships, student professional development opportunities, expanded career networking and other ideas generated through community engagement.

No. Pomona faculty will continue to focus on undergraduate teaching and research, and their appointments, tenure, and roles in faculty governance will not change as a result of the CGU affiliation. Pomona faculty will not be required to teach graduate courses or advise graduate students. Some Pomona faculty already teach occasional courses at CGU, and interested faculty may continue to pursue such opportunities. Any collaboration with CGU will remain voluntary and at the individual faculty member’s initiative.

No. Faculty lines authorized for Pomona’s academic departments will remain dedicated to those departments, and Pomona’s faculty hiring decisions will remain its own.

The affiliation will not lead to a reduction in Pomona staff positions, and most Pomona staff roles will continue unchanged. Between signing and closing, Pomona and CGU are jointly developing a plan for integrated services. As part of that work, the two institutions are evaluating how administrative services are delivered today, and how integrating them could work in ways that are financially sound, manageable in workload, and that maintain or improve the quality of service to both institutions. That assessment will shape which services are integrated and how they are delivered. Staff will be consulted throughout, both in the assessment and in designing the new service delivery model. The plan must be finalized before closing, and roles will be structured and resourced to fit the new model. The cost of positions dedicated to CGU work would be borne by CGU.

The Pomona student experience will remain centered on undergraduate liberal arts education, with the close faculty-student relationships that define it. Over time, the affiliation may also create new opportunities for interested students, such as research, internships, career development, and pathways to graduate study. Any new programs will be developed thoughtfully and with faculty input.

No. Pomona courses will continue to be taught by Pomona faculty who work directly with students. The affiliation will not introduce graduate teaching assistants into Pomona classes.

Yes. Pomona students may continue to take CGU courses through existing cross-registration practices.

The affiliation provides a strong foundation for CGU’s future, so the university can carry its graduate education mission forward for its faculty, staff, students, and alumni. Over time, the affiliation may also result in new opportunities that benefit faculty and students at both institutions.

CGU’s academic transformation is a separate process, led by CGU. Information about the academic transformation and other matters specific to the CGU community is available on CGU’s partnership website.

This page will be updated as the institutions move toward closing and key milestones are reached. Members of the Pomona community can share questions and feedback at any time through the feedback form. Upcoming information sessions and other engagement opportunities are listed on the Engagement Opportunities page, and additional opportunities will be offered as implementation planning progresses.

Claremont Graduate University (CGU), founded in 1925, is a private university devoted exclusively to graduate-level education. CGU was the original graduate institution of The Claremont Colleges, and it continues to play a vital role in the academic and intellectual life of the Consortium. Learn more about CGU.

The Claremont Colleges Consortium enables seven independent institutions to share academic, extracurricular, and operational resources. It gives students and faculty the benefits of a large university alongside the personal scale of a small college. Founded in 1925, the Consortium today includes more than 8,000 students and 3,500 faculty and staff across nearly 600 acres, and each institution maintains its own distinct mission and identity.

Pomona students are enrolled at Pomona while gaining full access to the Consortium’s shared academic and extracurricular programs and services, as well as to faculty and scholars across all seven campuses. This structure enhances Pomona’s liberal arts mission, offering the depth of a small college with the breadth of resources usually found only at a much larger university. Learn more about the Consortium.