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#Western Governors University

Summary

School mission and unique qualities (as provided by the school):

WGU is the only online, fully-accredited, competency-based university. WGU is a private, non-profit university that was created by 19 US governors and incorporated in 1997. It is supported by more than 20 leading corporations and foundations, including AT and received approval for Candidacy for NCATE Accreditation for its Teachers College in just its third year of operation (2005). WGU received full unconditional accreditation for 5 years in October 2006, becoming the first online university ever to receive this prestigious accreditation. WGU has grown from 500 students in February 2003 to more than 24,000 students in March 2011.

WGU is the only university in the country that grants degrees based on demonstrated competency, measuring learning rather than time or class credits. The mission statement: The principal mission of WGU is to improve quality and expand access to post-secondary educational opportunities by providing a means for individuals to learn independent of time or place and to earn competency-based degrees that are credible to both academic institutions and employers. WGU was instrumental in creating the demonstration project for distance learning included in the 1998 Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, and WGU was the only institution named in that congressional legislation. Because of the work of WGU, Congress opened up financial aid for distance learning for online institutions generally. Also, competency-based education programs, only available at WGU, were approved as eligible for federal financial aid. WGU also won competency-based education approval for VA benefits (GI bill), Department of Defense tuition assistance, and corporate tuition reimbursement programs.

WGU was named a top military-friendly school by Military Advanced Education for five consecutive years.

WGU's College of Health Professions offers bachelor's and master's level nursing education programs, including a new B.S. in Nursing leading to RN licensure, as well as a B.S. in Health Informatics. WGU's B.S. in Health Informatics was accredited in 2011 by the Commission of Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education.The accreditation, which is granted after extensive reviews based on industry-developed standards, helps increase certification eligibility and job marketability for graduates of WGU's Health Informatics program.