Dr. Allen Goben to Lead WGU Missouri

ST. LOUIS, June 20, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- WGU Missouri, missouri.wgu.edu, the nonprofit, online university established by the state of Missouri, has appointed Dr. Allen Goben as its first Chancellor. Dr. Goben joins WGU Missouri with more than 20 years of experience in education, including specific focus on higher education for nontraditional students. Dr. Goben joins WGU Missouri after serving as president of Heartland Community College in Normal, Illinois. He will lead the growth and development of the state's newest university from its headquarters in St. Louis.

In addition to Heartland Community College, Dr. Goben served as president of Hazard Community and Technical College (HCTC) in Kentucky. Before joining HCTC, Dr. Goben worked as a Senior Executive for Higher Education Development at SAS Institute and held leadership positions at a private business college and two community colleges.

Dr. Goben earned a Doctor of Education degree with a focus on Educational Administration from The University of Texas at Austin where he was recognized as a Distinguished Graduate. His work at HCTC led to the college being recognized as one of the "Best Places to Work in Kentucky" and as one of the Chronicle of Higher Education's "Great Colleges to Work For" as the college improved student success rates by 24%. He recently served on a national steering committee for accountability in education and a national commission on the future of education in America.

Dr. Goben and his wife Kelly, a native of Hannibal, are moving to Missouri with their three daughters.

WGU Missouri was established February 15, 2013, by Governor Jay Nixon. The state's only fully online, competency-based university, WGU Missouri offers more than 50 accredited bachelor's and master's degrees in business, information technology, K-12 teacher education, and health professions, including nursing. A state-based subsidiary of nationally recognized, nonprofit Western Governors University, WGU Missouri is open to all qualified Missouri residents.

WGU Missouri uses an innovative learning model called competency-based education, which measures learning rather than time spent in class. Designed to meet the needs of adult learners, competency-based education allows students to take advantage of prior learning and experience to move quickly through material they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn. WGU Missouri faculty members, called Mentors, work one-on-one with students, offering guidance, support, and individualized instruction. While WGU Missouri's programs are rigorous and challenging, competency-based learning makes it possible for students to accelerate their programs, often finishing sooner, saving both time and money. Tuition at WGU Missouri is affordable, approximately $6,000 for a 12-month year, and it is charged at a flat rate, so students can take as many courses as they are able with no increase in tuition costs.

"WGU Missouri represents the future of higher education and offers a unique opportunity for working adults in the state to complete a bachelor's or master's degree," said Dr. Goben. "I am looking forward to working with community and business leaders and to partnering with other higher education institutions throughout the state to establish WGU Missouri as one of the state's great higher education opportunities. And I'm excited to begin the work of building a vibrant community of WGU Missouri students, alumni, and faculty."

About WGU Missouri

WGU Missouri is a competency-based, online university created to expand access to higher education for Missouri residents. The university offers more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the high-demand career fields of business, K-12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing.

Established through a partnership with nationally recognized Western Governors University, WGU Missouri is open to all qualified Missouri residents. The university is nonprofit and self-sustaining on tuition of less than $6,000 per year for most programs.

Degrees are granted under the accreditation of Western Governors University, which is accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). 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*).

More information is available at missouri.wgu.edu or by calling 855.948.8493.

*Western Governors University offers nursing programs that are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 5380, Washington DC 20036, 202-877-6791).

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SOURCE WGU Missouri