Western Governors University

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Western Governors University
Motto: Online. Accelerated. Affordable. Accredited.
Established: 1997
Type: Private
President: Robert Mendenhall
Faculty: 100+
Undergraduates: 4,000+
Postgraduates: 1,900+
Location: Online, USA
Campus: Online
Status: Non-profit
Website: www.wgu.edu

Western Governors University (WGU) is a non-profit, online university [1] that specializes in adult education [2]. It was founded in 1997 [3] by 19 governors [4], led by Democrat Roy Romer [5]when he was governor of Colorado and Republican Michael O. Leavitt [6]when he was governor of Utah. George W. Bush was also a signatory governor but beyond that his level of involvement with the university was minor [7]. The ongoing bi-partisan support from politicians received by WGU is attested to by the governors who are active on the board in 2006: Janet Napolitano, Democratic governor of Arizona, and Jon Huntsman, Jr., Republican governor of Utah.

As an online school, WGU has no campus. Instructors are called 'mentors' and live in over thirty states. Its administrative offices are in Salt Lake City, Utah.

WGU is regionally accredited and grants degrees based on competency. WGU's programs are not based upon required courses, but instead on a student's ability to demonstrate skills and knowledge through various assessments, including exams and assignments.

Contents

[edit] Accreditation

Regionally and Nationally Accredited Western Governors University is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, one of the major accrediting commissions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. WGU has the distinction of being the only university to receive regional accreditation from four regional accrediting commissions. WGU is also nationally accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). In October 2006, the WGU Teachers College became the first and only online provider of teacher education to receive accreditation from the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). WGU is the first online, and the first non-traditional program to receive this.[citation needed]

[edit] Member State Governors

  • Jim Geringer Governor, Wyoming 1995-2003
  • Michael O. Leavitt Governor, Utah 1993-2003
  • Alaska Governor Palin
  • Arizona Governor Napolitano
  • Guam Governor Camacho
  • Hawaii Governor Lingle
  • Idaho Governor Otter
  • Indiana Governor Daniels
  • Montana Governor Schweitzer
  • Nebraska Governor Heineman
  • Nevada Governor Gibbons
  • New Mexico Governor Richardson
  • North Dakota Governor Hoeven
  • Oklahoma Governor Henry
  • Oregon Governor Kulongoski
  • South Dakota Governor Rounds
  • Texas Governor Perry
  • Utah Governor Huntsman
  • Washington Governor Gregoire
  • Wyoming Governor Freudenthal

[edit] Board of Trustees as of May 2008

  1. The Honorable Jim Geringer, Chairman Governor of Wyoming, 1995-2003
  2. Frank D. Alvarez President and CEO, The Hispanic Scholarship Fund
  3. Dr. Carl A. Cohn Superintendent, San Diego Unified School District
  4. Dr. Therese Crane Senior Education Advisor, e-Luminate Group
  5. Kate Driscoll Area Vice President, Government, Education and Healthcare, Sun Microsystems
  6. Robert Evanson Former President, McGraw-Hill Education
  7. The Honorable Jon Huntsman, Jr. Governor of Utah
  8. Dr. Robert Mendenhall President, Western Governors University
  9. Dr. Mark Milliron President and CEO, Catalyze Learning International
  10. The Honorable Bill Ritter, Jr. Governor of Colorado
  11. David E. Simmons President, Simmons Media Group
  12. Dr. Samuel H. Smith President Emeritus, Washington State University
  13. Bess Stephens Partner, McDowell Stephens Associates
  14. Dr. Jerry Wartgow President Emeritus, Colorado Community College System Former Superintendent, Denver Public Schools
  15. Dr. Blenda Wilson Acting President, Cedar Crest College

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.sloan-c.org/news/pr/pr071018.asp, http://www.wgu.edu/index.asp, http://www.hrmreport.com/pastissue/article.asp?art=25662&issue=145, http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20070238.htm
  2. ^ http://www.adultlearn.com/western-governors-university.htm, http://www.sloan-c-wiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Western_Governors_University_-_Strategies_for_Mentoring_Online_Adult_Learners_in_a_Competency-Based_Degree_Program, http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=783685
  3. ^ http://www.clir.org/activities/registration/sympslides2004/garlett.ppt, http://cshe.berkeley.edu/research/ebusiness/casestudies/wgu.htm, http://www2.nea.org/he/head9697/advo9711/inknow.html, http://www.answers.com/topic/western-governors-university, http://www.springerlink.com/content/1v28jd3lv2yufrdx, http://www.governor.state.ut.us/governor/5julupdt.htm, http://chronicle.com/colloquy/99/online/background.htm
  4. ^ http://www.westgov.org/wga/press/web-fcc.htm, http://www.wgu.edu/index.asp, http://www.edinformatics.com/online_degrees/teacher_administrator_programs.htm, http://www.petersons.com/distancelearning/code/articles/distancedollars.asp, http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS193567+19-Mar-2008+MW20080319, http://www.ncate.org/public/1031_WesternGovernorsU.asp?ch=148, http://www.firstmonday.dk/issues/issue3_5/margolis/index.html
  5. ^ http://connect.educause.edu/Library/Abstract/AMatterofDegreesColoradoG/40958, http://www.govtech.com/gt/95141, http://www.du.edu/~buffer/julaug96/wesgovu.html
  6. ^ http://www.govtech.com/gt/95141, http://www.du.edu/~buffer/julaug96/wesgovu.html, http://www.utah.gov/governorwalker/newsrels/1998updates/updates_110798.html, http://www.governor.state.ut.us/governor/25aprupd.htm
  7. ^ http://www.tarleton.edu/~lilly/F.htm, http://www.utah.gov/governorwalker/newsrels/1997updates/updates_112297.html, http://www.hro.house.state.tx.us/interim/interm10.pdf, http://www.ed.gov/offices/OIIA/OIA/edreview/2001/9-14-01.html

[edit] External links