Pacific and Willamette have signed a letter of intent to work towards a merger to become the tentatively named University of the Northwest, which would be Oregon’s largest private university. Willamette President Stephen Thorsett: “The thing that is just different about this compared to almost any other merger going on at the moment nationally is that it is not a small failing institution or an institution that’s concerned about its sustainability merging into a bigger institution. This is a merger of two equals. We believe that Oregon deserves a great private university, a university that the rest of the country can look at as a model for what could be built elsewhere.” Should the merger come to fruition, both campuses would maintain separate identities and athletic programs while being governed by a single board of trustees. (link, link)