PSU exploring acquisition of Oregon College of Art and Craft

Portland State University is exploring a potential agreement with the Oregon College of Art and Craft (OCAC) in Southwest Portland. 

OCAC is a small, mentor-based college founded in 1907 that offers bachelor and master’s degree programs in Fine Art as well as an array of community programs, lectures and exhibitions for adults and youth. 

The college, located at 8245 SW Barnes Road, specializes in seven studio areas that offer a hands-on learning approach to prepare students to become creative artists, designers and critical thinkers. 

OCAC is well known in Oregon’s arts community, particularly for its longstanding tradition of craft education. A potential acquisition would create an opportunity for PSU’s School of Art + Design in the College of the Arts to expand program offerings that would help PSU’s goal of becoming a national leader in arts education and practice. The School of Art + Design currently has about 1,100 undergraduate majors, a growing graduate program and a faculty of internationally recognized artists, designers and scholars.     

Portland State is currently conducting a feasibility study of a possible acquisition of OCAC, analyzing all aspects of a potential agreement, including financial considerations, academic and program issues and the issues involved in a public university acquiring a private college. No determination has been made.