Western Governors University

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Western Governors University

• Update February 2008

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Background

• Created by 19 Western Governors
• Students in all 50 states
• Private, Nonprofit, Online University
• Governed by Independent Board of Trustees
• Fully Accredited

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MISSION
The principal mission of Western Governors
University is to improve quality and expand
access to post-secondary educational
opportunities by providing a means for
individuals to learn independent of time and
place and to earn competency-based degrees and
other credentials that are credible to both
academic institutions and employers.
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Core Principles

• Competency-based
• Use technology to improve quality and efficiency
• Student-centric
• External learning resources plus mentoring
• Corporate management structure
• External Program/Assessment Councils

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Competency-Based Education

• Competencies developed with industry
• Degrees based on students demonstrating what they
  know and can do
• No grades or credit hours
• Holds learning constant, lets time vary

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Current Status

• 41 Bachelors and Masters Degrees
• Business
• Information Technology
• Teacher Education
• Health Professions
• 10,000 Students in all 50 states
• 28 Graduate, 72 Undergraduate
• Over 2,500 graduates

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WGU Students

• Working Adults who have competencies
• Average age 37
• 70 work full time
• 80 are Underserved
• 20 Minority
• 39 Low Income
• 22 Rural
• 41 1st generation to attend college

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Education Model

• Online Flexible Time Place
• Competency Based
• Utilizes Third Party Courses
• Mentoring
• Learning Communities

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