Portland Underground Grad School (PUGS) is learning and community for everyday life in Portland. The formal school system ends when we’re young, but we all have the need, right, and desire to learn and connect throughout our entire lives.
We believe flourishing is choosing the path of our greatest curiosity. And the best way to learn and grow is in community with people as smart, interesting, and interested as you. We believe that a community, this community, has enough knowledge and wisdom within itself to teach itself. No prerequisites, no tests, and no credentials. Less bureaucracy, less barriers, and less cost.
We have multi-week courses and one-day workshops taught by local experts that fit in your schedule and budget. Stay tuned as we look for us to start offering courses again Fall 2025.
"PUGS has reawakened my dormant desire to LEARN." - Sara Guest
"PUGS offers "PUGS classes just feel different - it's a mix of learning and community building like nothing I've experienced. I've learned as much from my classmates as I have from my teachers." - Betty Brickson - thought-provoking, creative, unique, innovative and really inspirational." - Melea Seward
""PUGS classes just feel different - it's a mix of learning and community building like nothing I've experienced. I've learned as much from my classmates as I have from my teachers." - Betty Brickson
"It's more accessible for learning than traditional school or learning spaces." - Justin Buri
"PUGS has allowed me to stimulate my mind outside of its usual confines. I have learned so much and more important, spent more time thinking about my world in new ways." - Will Fain
"Comfort, community, great caring people, insight, education" - Judy Laddon
"PUGS has given me community, change within myself, opening new doors, rethinking my past education, friendships and complexity." - Jen Azlant
"What value! Exposure to new ideas, opportunities to think about how to be a better Portlander, exposure to the wisdom and activism that is alive in Portland!" - Lindsay Burnette
"It's been so helpful in organizing next steps in my life." - Beth Schechter
"I value the open discussion with people who have had various experiences, ideas, and approaches to interacting with the world." - Mark Chen
