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Governor Ricketts Signs Accord to Expand Access to Affordable Post-Secondary Education in Nebraska
Left to right: Dr. Paul Illich, President of Southeast Community College. WGU President Scott Pulsipher;
WGU Alumnus Brenda Soto, Chief of Emergency Preparedness and Response, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
WGU student Amanda Redler, 6th grade teacher at St. Edward Public School. Governor Ricketts (podium); and Frances Beaurivage, ASL interpreter
Lincoln – Today, Governor Pete Ricketts signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Western Governors University (WGU) to expand access to affordable, quality degree programs for the people of Nebraska.
Our partnership with WGU complements the learning opportunities available through Nebraska’s public colleges and universities. It is designed for an estimated 306,000 Nebraskans with college credit but no bachelor’s degree. WGU offers Nebraska residents a competency-based approach to learning. This allows you to use your previous education, training, and experience to complete your degree quickly and cost-effectively.
“The state is helping Nebraskans get the skills and education they need to find high-paying jobs in a growing industry,” said Ricketts. “Western Governors University is a trusted partner with a proven track record of success in adult education. Today’s agreement will create affordable learning opportunities for working Nebraskans to take the next step in their careers.” It will be like this.”
WGU was founded in 1997 by a group of 19 US governors to address the growing need for an educated workforce. They saw technological advances as a way to expand access to higher education by enabling students to study and learn anytime and anywhere. Nebraska is one of the states to support the launch of the WGU and, along with other members of the Western Governors Association, has pledged to create policies that support the university’s goals. Since then, WGU has grown to become the largest online, competency-based university in the United States. Nebraska has more than 750 of her WGU alumni. Nearly 70% of her WGU students in Nebraska come from historically underserved demographics, including large numbers of rural residents, first-generation college students, and low-income Nebraskans.
WGU President Scott Pulsipher said: “This partnership will provide thousands of Nebraskans in need of post-secondary education and training with an avenue of opportunity to advance their careers and, in turn, grow their families. , is grateful for the opportunity to advance workforce development in the state.”
According to the MOU, Nebraska is committed to supporting partnerships by asking relevant agencies to facilitate and cooperate with WGUs, and to address underserved workers such as displaced workers, veterans, and rural residents. The focus is on targeting people. In addition, WGU will work with Nebraska employers and employer associations to meet workforce needs throughout Nebraska. At today’s signing ceremony, WGU announced that it has finalized its partnership with a community college in Nebraska. This allows a student who graduates with an associate’s degree to seamlessly transfer credits to the bachelor’s degree program offered at her WGU.
WGU specializes in serving adult learners. The average age of her WGU students in Nebraska is 34 years old and 85% of her students are employed while enrolled in a degree program. The university offers more than 60 workforce-tailored bachelor’s and master’s degree programs through its College of Information Technology, College of Business, College of Teachers, and College of Health Professionals.
To provide assistance to Nebraskans who have earned a bachelor’s or graduate degree from a WGU, the Nebraska Postsecondary Education Coordinating Board recently made available state-provided financial assistance to Nebraskans participating in a WGU. I took administrative action to qualify for it. This means that Nebraskans who choose to join WGU are eligible to apply for a Nebraska Opportunity Grant (NOG). Nebraska offers grants to students who meet certain residency, admissions, and financial need qualifications. Additionally, in commemoration of the establishment of the WGU Nebraska Chapter, WGU established her WGU-Nebraska Partnership Scholarship, which provides financial assistance of up to $200,000. The grants and scholarships add to WGU’s already low flat tuition fees. Currently, it’s around $3,800 every 6 months for most programs. Students can learn more at wgu.edu/nebraskascholarship.
“WGU’s competency-based online format has been instrumental in my success,” said Amanda Redler, a current WGU primary education program student who lives in Albion, Nebraska. “It saved me a lot of time because I didn’t have to do anything I didn’t need to do. I proved I knew it and was able to move on. I feel like I learned more from WGU than anywhere else.”
You can watch the video of today’s signing ceremony here.
About Western Governors University (WGU)
Founded in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors with a mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable tertiary education, the non-profit WGU currently serves more than 130,000 students nationwide. , and has over 272,000 alumni. Driving innovation as the nation’s leading competency-based university, his WGU is recognized by the White House, state leaders, employers and students as a model that works in postsecondary education. In just 25 years, the university has become a leading force in developing innovative educational approaches that focus on the workforce. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and has been named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies. For more information, please visit www.wgu.edu.
