WGU
Washington News –For Immediate Release
Contact for
media inquiries: Contact
for enrollment information:
Jake
Riddell – Public Relations Manager 877.214.7004
President Obama Recognizes Online Western
Governors University for Innovation and Affordability
The
United States’ first competency-based university cited as leader in the
President’s Plan to Make College More Affordable
SEATTLE – (August 22, 2013) Western Governors University (WGU) has
been recognized by President Obama as an innovator in higher education.Today,
the White House released “The President’s Plan to Make College More Affordable:
A Better Bargain for the Middle Class”. In it, President Obama recognized WGU as an innovative institution for its
online, competency based educational model.
The President also recognized the university for its affordable
tuition (~$6,000 a year for most
programs) and the accelerated rate at which students are able to progress through degree programs (the average time to a bachelor’s degree is less than three years).
Headquartered in Seattle, WGU
Washington is pleased to
operate under the accreditation of WGU and proud more students from Washington
attend the university than any other state. Since it launched in the spring of
2011, WGU Washington’s enrollment has increased sixfold. Currently, roughly
4,700 of WGU’s 40,000 students call the Evergreen State home.
“WGU Washington is proud to be a leader in the field of higher
education,” said WGU Washington
Chancellor Jean Floten. “The rate at
which busy Washingtonians are enrolling in – and graduating from – our programs
demonstrates the demand in this state for affordable, flexible education
options, like those endorsed today by President Obama.”
What
is competency-based learning?
·
Competency-based
learning allows students to earn their degrees by demonstrating what they know
and can do (competency) rather than spending time in class to accumulate credit
hours.
·
Competency-based
learning is ideal for adult learners, who enroll in college with different
levels of knowledge as well as a wide variety of learning styles, because it
allows them to move quickly through material they already know so they can
focus on what they need to learn.
·
Required
competencies for each degree program are defined in collaboration with external
program councils. Program councils are representatives from industry and
academia, and they help us ensure that our students are learning the
competencies they will need to be successful in their fields. In addition, they
regularly review curriculum to make sure that it is up to date and relevant.
·
Students
demonstrate their mastery of subject matter by successfully completing
assessments—objective tests, papers, projects, or presentations.
If you would like more info or
would like to speak with Chancellor Jean Floten, please contact Jake Riddell at
206-512-0025, jake.riddell@wgu.edu, or Lee Keller at 206-799-3805, lee@thekellergroup.com.
WGU Washington was
established by the State Legislature in 2011 in partnership with nationally
recognized and regionally accredited Western Governors University to expand
access to higher education for Washington residents.
The state-endorsed, online university offers more than 50
bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in business, information technology,
teacher education, and health professions, including nursing. WGU Washington’s
competency-based learning model is designed to meet the needs of working adults
by providing an affordable, flexible option for earning an accredited,
respected college degree. It’s a nonprofit and receives no money from the
state.
Degrees are granted under the accreditation of Western Governors
University, which is regionally accredited through the Northwest Commission on
Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Teachers College programs are accredited by
the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and Nursing
programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
(CCNE*).
The university has earned the support of more than 20 leading
corporations and foundations. They include institutions such as AT&T, Bill
& Melinda Gates Foundation, Lilly Endowment, HCA, Hewlett-Packard, Lumina
Foundation, Microsoft, Oracle, SunGard Higher Education and Zions Bank.
*Western Governors University offers
nursing programs that are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing
Education (One Dupont Circle, NW,
Suite 5380, Washington DC 20036, 202-877-6791).
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