WGU Receives 21st Century Best Practices in Distance Learning from USDLA

Online university honored for third time in four years at USDLA 2012 International Conference

ST. LOUIS, May 1, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For the second straight year, Western Governors University, www.wgu.edu, has received the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) 21^st Century Award for Best Practices in Distance Learning. The nonprofit, online university received the award yesterday at the association's international conference in St. Louis, Missouri. This is the third time in four years WGU has been recognized with this award.

The nation's leading distance learning organization, USDLA, presents these prestigious awards annually to organizations and individuals engaged in the development and delivery of distance learning programs. The awards were created to acknowledge major accomplishments in distance learning and to highlight distance learning instructors, programs, and professionals who have achieved and demonstrated extraordinary results through the use of online learning and technology.

Now with more than 32,000 students and 15,000 graduates nationwide, WGU uses an online, competency-based learning model that measures learning rather than time. This approach allows students to earn their degrees by demonstrating their mastery of subject matter rather than spending time in class to accumulate credit hours. Designed to meet the needs of adult learners, WGU's innovative learning model makes it possible for students to take advantage of prior education and experience to move quickly through material they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn. As a result, the average time to complete a bachelor's degree is 30 months.

WGU offers more than 50 online bachelor's and master's degree programs in the high-demand fields of business, information technology, K â€" 12 teacher education, and health professions, including nursing.

"As a premier organization for the entire distance learning profession, we are honoring Western Governors University as a leader in the industry," said Dr. John G. Flores, Executive Director of USDLA. "WGU has raised the bar of excellence, and we are truly honored by its contributions to the distance learning industry."

About Western Governors University

Featured on NPR's "All Things Considered," the NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, CNN's "Schools of Thought," and in The New York Times, WGU is the only university in the U.S. offering competency-based degree programs and the only nonprofit, online university with students in all 50 states. Since its establishment in 1997, WGU has grown into a national institution recognized for its innovation, quality, and affordability. WGU is self-sustaining on tuition of approximately $6,000 per 12-month year for most programs.

WGU is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and nationally accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). WGU's nursing programs have been accredited by the Commission for Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and its B.S. in Health Informatics is accredited by CAHIIM (Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education). WGU's Teachers College is the first and only exclusively online provider of teacher education to receive accreditation for its teacher licensure programs from NCATE, the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.

On June 11, 2010, WGU Indiana was created by Governor Mitch Daniels as Indiana's eighth state university. WGU Washington was established by the Washington State Legislature on April 22, 2011. On August 3, 2011, the state of Texas created WGU Texas. WGU Indiana, WGU Washington, and WGU Texas are state endorsed and offer degree programs that are accredited through Western Governors University.

The university has earned the support of more than 20 leading corporations and foundations. They include institutions such as AT&T, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Lilly Endowment, HCA, Hewlett-Packard, Lumina Foundation, Microsoft, Oracle, SunGard Higher Education, and Zions Bank. More information is available at www.wgu.edu or by calling 866.225.5948.

About United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA)
The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit association formed in 1987 and is located in Boston, Massachusetts. The association reaches 20,000 people globally with sponsors and members operating in and influencing 46% of the $913 billion U.S. education and training market. USDLA promotes the development and application of distance learning for education and training and serves the needs of the distance learning community by providing advocacy, information, networking and opportunity. Distance learning and training constituencies served include pre K â€" 12 education, higher and continuing education, home schooling, as well as business, corporate, military, government, and telehealth markets. The USDLA trademarked logo is the recognized worldwide symbol of dedicated professionals committed to the distance learning industry. http://www.usdla.org

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Contact for media inquiries:
Joan Mitchell â€" Director of PR
801-428-5463
[email protected]

Contact for enrollment information:
866-225-5948
www.wgu.edu

SOURCE Western Governors University