Completing Your Bachelor s Degree, Gaining STEM Mastery, and Obtaining Licensure at WGU

Completing Your Bachelor’s Degree,

Gaining STEM Mastery, and

Obtaining Licensure at WGU

Dr. Stan Schmidt

Western Governors University

National Association Of Community College Teacher Education Programs

Economic Benefits of Earning Advanced

Western Governors University

Mission Statement

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

5 Reasons to Complete Your

Bachelors/Masters Degree at WGU

• 1. WGU is a fully accredited, national university

• 2. WGU is uniquely competency based

• 3. Employers value a WGU education

• 4. WGU students are fully supported with resources and social interaction

• 5. WGU is affordable and cutting edge

WGU is the Nation’s Largest, Fully Accredited,

Teachers College

• The Teachers College at WGU is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)-the first exclusively online

teacher education institution to achieve this distinction.

• WGU's "home" accrediting commission is the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the same organization that accredits such

leading traditional institutions as the University of Washington, University of Oregon, University of Utah, Brigham Young University, and other public and private colleges.

• WGU boasts 12,619 students in Teachers College, 55, 000 students total, and 40,000 graduates.

• 5% of all education degrees in U.S. are now awarded by WGU.

WGU is Uniquely Competency Based

• Competence is the top priority of every degree program. Each

program emphasizes the mastery of essential skills and knowledge, which is an approach to online learning that rewards focused, hard-working adult learners. Progress toward your degree is based on

passing rigorous competency-based assessments that measure your skills and knowledge in your field of study.

• You can progress as quickly as you are able to demonstrate competency in each assessment.

• “Every adult considering enrolling in an online degree program should take a close look at Western Governors University…..Two things stand out, besides the very reasonable cost, and they are:

competency-based learning and the overwhelming positive reviews this school receives from its students and graduates.”

Employers Value a WGU Education

• Results of 2014 Harris Poll Survey of 300 Employers:

• 99% said that WGU graduates meet or exceed expectations (92% exceed expectations)

• 96% said their WGU graduates were prepared for their jobs; 89% said very well or extremely well prepared.

• 93% of employers rate the “soft skills” of WGU graduates as equal to or better than graduates from other institutions.

WGU Graduates Work Placement

• Comparison of results of a 2014 Harris Poll Online survey of 1,561 new college graduates nationwide with a survey of 1,213 WGU graduates.

• Employment Outcomes WGU National

• Total Employed 92% 91%

• Employed in degree field 86% 81%

WGU Students are Fully Supported with

Resources and Social Interaction

• Each WGU student has a student mentor, and a course mentor for each assessment

• Textbooks are embedded in courses of study and are not purchased by students

• Provision is made for objective exams to be proctored at student’s home.

• Evaluation of written assignments are returned with feedback for improving resubmission.

• Subject specific communities provide interaction.

2014 National Survey of Student Engagement

(NSSE) poll of 350,000 students at 600

institutions)

• Quality of interactions with WGU faculty -20% (higher than national average)

• Quality of academic support – 23% higher

• Would attend same institution again – 25% higher

• Rating of entire educational experience – 16% higher

• Time spent per week on studies – 13% higher

WGU is Affordable

• WGU’s tuition of about $6,000 per year has not increased since 2008

• Tuition is charged at a flat rate per six-month term regardless of the number of courses attempted.

• WGU is self sustaining on tuition, receiving no ongoing state or federal funding.

• 73% of WGU students receive financial aid

• 40% of WGU undergraduates receive Pell grants

• In 2014, WGU awarded more than $2.5 million in need-based scholarships

• In 2014, WGU’s 3-year student default rate was 6.6%, compared with

national average of 13.7%

• In 2014, University Research & Review honored WGU with its Best Value Award.

WGU is Cutting Edge

• WGU was recently honored with the 21st _{Century Award for Best}

Practices in Distance Learning (4th _{time since 2008)}

• WGU has received Sloan

Consortium’s Ralph E. Gomery Award for Quality Online

Education

• NCTQ ranked WGU #1 for

secondary teacher preparation programs

STEM – A Promising Future

• STEM positions will grow 1.7 times faster than non-STEM positions

• Math and Science (especially chemistry and physics) are high demand

• WGU is the leading producer of math and science degrees

according to Eduventures, (2013).

• 15% of all master’s degrees in STEM teaching are awarded by WGU

• WGU is a charter member of the 100Kin10 program

Obtaining Licensure at WGU

• WGU maintains state licensure in all 50 states

• Enrollment counselor helps you enroll in desired degree plan. • WGU accepts transfer credit

• You are assigned to a student mentor

• You are assigned to a course mentor for each assessment

• Field Experiences helps prepare your placement for preclinical observations and demonstration teaching.

• WGU assists you in preparing for Praxis II exams (tutoring, pays for 1st _exam)

• WGU assists with state testing and endorsement • WGU supports students with professional portfolios

• WGU provides for professional development and networking • WG enjoys a strong and growing alumni association

WGU State Partnerships

• WGU has been adapted by the follow states and endorsed as a state university

• Indiana

• Missouri

• Tennessee

• Texas

• Washington

• (tuition discounts, scholarships, professional development)

Completing Your Bachelor’s Degree, Gaining STEM

Mastery, and Obtaining Licensure at WGU

Thank you for attending!

(and special thanks to Carrie Pottinger) Dr. Stan Schmidt

References

Babson Research Group. (2014). The value of online education. Retrieved from:

http://www.university.com/the-value-of-online-education/ Education Pays. (2013). Retrieved from:

http://trends.collegeboard.org/sites/default/files/education-pays-2013-full-report.pdf

• http://www.affordable-online-colleges.net/30-highest-rated-affordable-online-colleges-u-s/

• http://www.wgu.edu/about_WGU/best_value_school_4-2-14

• http://www.bestvaluecolleges.org/nominees-more.php?id=43

• http://www.wgu.edu