Western Governors University Announces Investment in WGU Indiana

Online university allocates part of grant from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to help expand the reach of competency-based higher education in the state

INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- WGU Indiana, indiana.wgu.edu,  is one of three state subsidiaries that will be supported by a $4.5 million grant to Western Governors University  from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.  The overall grant is aimed at leveraging WGU's state subsidiaries in Indiana, Washington, and Texas to expand the reach of affordable, competency-based higher education.  The investment in Indiana will help support development and outreach for WGU's first subsidiary, WGU Indiana.

WGU Indiana was established by the state in early 2010 as an all-online competency-based university. Created to expand access to higher education for Indiana residents, nonprofit WGU Indiana offers busy working adults an affordable, flexible option for earning an accredited college degree. The university's four colleges – Business, Information Technology, Teachers College, and Health Professions (including Nursing) – offer more than 50 accredited bachelor's and master's degrees, many with industry-specific certifications. Established through a partnership with Western Governors University, WGU Indiana is open to all qualified Indiana residents.

Designed to meet the needs of working adults, WGU Indiana uses a competency-based learning model, which allows students to advance by demonstrating their knowledge and abilities, rather than accumulating credit hours. Students can take advantage of prior education and experience to move quickly through course material they already know, allowing them to focus on new learning. In addition, students may enroll at the beginning of any month and terms are six months long with no limit on the number of courses a student may complete per term. Tuition is affordable, less than $6,000 per year for most programs. For more information, go to indiana.wgu.edu.

"College students have changed, and it's time higher education made some changes to keep up with them," said Hilary Pennington, director of Postsecondary Success at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. "The foundation is pleased to support Western Governors University because they have a strong track record of providing a high-quality, affordable, and flexible college experience that meets the needs of today's students.  In these tough economic times, it is more important than ever to support students who are juggling jobs and families while trying to make a better life for themselves."

About WGU Indiana

WGU Indiana has been established by the state of Indiana as an online, competency-based university to expand access to higher education for Indiana residents. Formed through a partnership with Western Governors University, WGU Indiana is open to all qualified Indiana residents. The university offers 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Business, Education, Information Technology, and Healthcare Professions, including Nursing.

Degrees are granted under the accreditation of Western Governors University, which is regionally accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) and nationally accredited through the Distance Education and Training Commission (DETC). Teachers College programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and Nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

WGU Indiana is an approved education provider for Indiana state grants and scholarships offered through the State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana (SSACI).  In addition, the university has partnered with Ivy Tech to offer graduates who have completed their associate's degrees a seamless transfer to complete their bachelor's degrees at WGU Indiana, including application fee waivers and tuition discounts.

For more information, visit the WGU Indiana website indiana.wgu.edu or call 1-877-214-7014.

Follow WGU Indiana:
http://www.facebook.com/WGUIndiana
http://www.linkedin.com/companies/western-governors-university
http://twitter.com/WGUIndiana
http://www.youtube.com/wguindiana

Contact for enrollment information:
877-214-7014
indiana.wgu.edu

Contact for media inquiries:
Chad Mertz – WGU Indiana
317-631-6400
304-550-8883 cell
[email protected]

SOURCE WGU Indiana