CHRISTUS Health Partners with WGU to Offer Employees High-Quality Educational Pathways

AUSTIN, Texas, March 28, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Online, nonprofit university WGU Texas (texas.wgu.edu) announced today that it has signed one of the nation's largest Catholic health systems as a national partner with Western Governors University (WGU).

The new partner, CHRISTUS Health, is ranked among the top 10 Catholic health systems in the United States by size, and includes more than 60 hospitals and facilities in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Iowa, Missouri, Georgia, and New Mexico, with additional facilities in Mexico. The nonprofit's headquarters are in Irving, Texas.

 "We applaud the commitment CHRISTUS Health has demonstrated in supporting the ongoing education of its employees," said WGU Texas Chancellor Dr. Mark David Milliron.  "We look forward to working with them not only in Texas but across the nation to develop their staff and help their employees and leaders meet their goal for providing high-quality healthcare through innovation, education, and the highest level of well-informed practice."

The partnership includes a 5% tuition discount and scholarship opportunities to CHRISTUS Health employees (called Associates). The national agreement entitles Associates who live outside Texas to participate through parent institution WGU or one of its state institutions where they live in the U.S.

WGU (www.wgu.edu) uses a competency-based approach to learning that is ideal for working adults because it allows students to take advantage of prior education and work experience by moving quickly through material they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn. The approach has proven to be a great fit for working professionals who amass considerable knowledge and expertise in their field prior to earning a university degree. All programs offer flexible online study, state-of-the art learning resources, expert faculty, and individualized mentor-guided support.

 "At CHRISTUS Health we are committed to improving the health of individuals and communities so that all may experience God's healing presence and love," said Lisa Reynolds, system director, Organizational Effectiveness for CHRISTUS Health. "To meet that goal and to achieve measurable, sustainable improvements in the well-being of the people and communities we serve, CHRISTUS Health must ensure our Associates have state-of-the-art training and education that prepares them to provide compassionate care of the highest quality. We are confident the rigor of the WGU Texas graduate and undergraduate programs will provide them the opportunity to earn that expertise and support CHRISTUS Health as we continue to fulfill our mission of extending the healing ministry of Jesus Christ."

About WGU Texas:

WGU Texas is a private, nonprofit, online university expanding access to quality higher education for Texas residents. Established by the state of Texas through a partnership with nationally recognized Western Governors University, WGU Texas is accredited and open to all qualified Texas residents. It offers more than 50 undergraduate and graduate online degree programs in key workforce areas including business, information technology, teacher education, and health professions including nursing. WGU Texas uses an innovative competency-based academic approach that allows working adults to fit their education into their lives. WGU Texas measures learning, not seat time. All programs offer flexible online study, state-of-the art learning resources, expert faculty, and individualized mentor-guided support. WGU Texas provides a convenient, cost-effective way for self-directed, hard working adults to earn a degree and get ahead. An affordable model, tuition is charged at a flat rate every six months and averages $2,890 per term. WGU Texas undergraduate and graduate nursing degree programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. To learn more, visit texas.wgu.edu.

About CHRISTUS Health: CHRISTUS Health, an international Catholic, faith-based, not-for-profit health system, is headquartered in Dallas and is comprised of almost 350 services and facilities, including more than 60 hospitals and long-term care facilities, 175 clinics and outpatient centers and dozens of other health ministries and ventures. CHRISTUS services can be found in 60 cities in Texas, Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, Georgia and New Mexico in the U.S. and Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Puebla, San Luis Potosí, and Tamaulipas in Mexico.  The system employs approximately 30,000 Associates and has over 9,500 physicians on facility medical staffs who provide care and support for patients.  CHRISTUS Health is listed among the top ten Catholic health systems in the U.S., and provided more than $313.5 million in total community benefit in Fiscal Year 2011, which equates to more than $858,900 a day in community benefits.

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SOURCE WGU Texas