High School College programs

503-725-3430

Sally Hudson, Director

Joy Beckett, LINK Coordinator

Challenge Program

The Challenge Program is a cooperative program between Portland State University and metropolitan area high schools. It provides eligible high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to take regular college courses on their own campuses.

Students who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 and have met course prerequisites are eligible to enroll in Challenge courses offered in their high school (limit of two courses; students may petition to take three).

The Challenge Program currently offers introductory college courses in English, Spanish, History, Mathematics, and Computer Science. Course content is identical to that offered to Portland State University students on the home campus. College-level texts and materials are used.

Students who successfully complete their Challenge Program coursework are entitled to a regular Portland State University transcript. The credit earned by the student can be transferred to many colleges and universities regionally and nationally.

More information is available at http://www.pdx.edu/challenge-program/.

LINK Young Scholars Program

The Leap Into New Knowledge (LINK) Program provides a scholarship and support for selected gifted high school students to attend the University for part-time advanced study. The program is designed to serve those students who have exhausted all coursework in a particular discipline at their high schools and who have the maturity to navigate independently on a large college campus. To qualify for the program, students must be recommended to the University by their school and must successfully complete the LINK admissions process. First opportunity goes to high school seniors and those with economic need. Applications are due May 31 for the next academic year. More information and applications are available at http://www.pdx.edu/challenge-link/leap-into-new-knowledge-link/.