WGU Partners With American Red Cross to Boost Volunteerism

ST. LOUIS, May 15, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Employees and nursing students at WGU Missouri, the state-endorsed online university, will work more closely with Missouri chapters of the American Red Cross under a new partnership agreement. The partnership also provides a tuition discount to expand access to high-quality, affordable degree programs for Red Cross employees and volunteers.

The agreement makes WGU Missouri's parent university, Western Governors University, a national education partner of the Red Cross. The partnership allows WGU Missouri nursing students to fulfill clinical requirements through volunteer work with the nine Missouri Red Cross chapters. WGU Missouri will also encourage its students, faculty, and staff to participate in Red Cross activities including Blood Services, Disaster Cycle Services, Service to the Armed Forces, Preparedness, Health and Safety Services, and International Services.

In addition, WGU Missouri will offer Red Cross employees and volunteers a 5 percent tuition discount (for up to two years) off WGU Missouri's affordable, flat-rate tuition of about $6,000 per year. The discount assists those looking to pursue a bachelor's or master's degree in any of WGU Missouri's programs in business, IT, teacher education, and healthcare. Red Cross staff and volunteers will be eligible for the WGU Missouri Healthcare Partners Scholarship Program, which offers up to $2,500 for new students. Employees and volunteers must meet application requirements.

"Public service is a huge part of the WGU Missouri ethos," said Angie Besendorfer, WGU Missouri chancellor. "This partnership will provide meaningful opportunities for our nursing students to fulfill their clinical hours, and provide more access to quality higher education to the great volunteers and staff of the Red Cross in Missouri."

"I'm delighted to welcome members of the WGU community to serve as Red Cross volunteers," said Linda MacIntyre, chief nurse for the American Red Cross. "The agreement between WGU and the Red Cross is a great way to leverage our mutual goals and the great work of our organizations to better serve our communities."

For more information about WGU Missouri and the partnership, visit missouri.wgu.edu/redcross. 

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross is a volunteer-led humanitarian organization dedicated to helping people in need throughout the United States and, in association with other Red Cross networks, throughout the world. Through its mission, the Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or follow @RedCross on Twitter.

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 fields of business, K-12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing. WGU Missouri faculty members serve as mentors, working one-on-one with students, offering guidance, support, and individualized instruction.

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 flat-rate tuition of about $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

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