WGU Takes Winter Commencement to Atlanta

Online university takes commencement on the road for the first time; more than 2,200 to attend February 11 ceremony at Philips Arena

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For the first time, online, nonprofit Western Governors University (WGU), www.wgu.edu, will hold its semi-annual commencement in Atlanta, nearly 2,000 miles from its headquarters in Salt Lake City. While the university's headquarters are in Utah, its 30,000 students live in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as military bases overseas. More than 2,600 graduates – WGU's largest class ever – will be awarded diplomas during the ceremony, which will take place Saturday, February 11, at 9:45 a.m. (EST), at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

Although WGU students complete their studies online, the university holds "in-person" commencement ceremonies for its students twice a year. More than 370 graduates, along with family and friends, will attend the event, traveling to Atlanta from 39 states, including Alaska. Nearly 100 of the graduates attending are Georgia residents. For those who cannot attend in person, the ceremony will be streamed live on the WGU website.

John M. Steele, Senior Vice President of Human Resources for HCA, the nation's leading provider of healthcare services, will deliver the commencement address. HCA has chosen to partner with WGU to enhance educational and professional development opportunities for the corporation's employees. Nearly 300 HCA employees are currently enrolled at WGU.

"Our partnership with WGU enables our employees to advance their education affordably without interrupting their careers," said Steele. "WGU offers the rigorous, accredited degree programs that will help us ensure that we have the skilled professionals we need to serve our patients."

At Saturday's event, WGU will confer 1,583 bachelor's degrees and 1,071 graduate degrees in four disciplines: Business, Information Technology, Teacher Education, and Health Professions, including Nursing. Founded by 19 U.S. governors to expand access to higher education, WGU is designed to meet the needs of busy working adults. The average age for these graduates is 38; however, the ages range from 18 to 70. WGU's competency-based model makes it possible for students to benefit from prior education and experience by allowing them to move quickly through material they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn. This model has garnered national attention in recent months for its potential to drive new innovations in college affordability and accessibility. In December 2011, WGU President Robert Mendenhall was one of a select group of college presidents invited to the White House to participate in a roundtable discussion about making college affordable with President Obama. On February 2, 2012, Dr. Mendenhall was invited to testify before the Senate Committee on Heath, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

While WGU's online degree programs are rigorous and challenging, students with work and family responsibilities can schedule their studies to fit their lives. As a result the average time to complete a bachelor's degree is two and a half years.

For more information about WGU's 22nd semi-annual commencement or to watch the event live, go to www.wgu.edu/Winter2012 or call 1.801.428.5463.

About Western Governors University

Featured on NPR's "All Things Considered," The NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, and in The New York Times, WGU is the only university in the U.S. offering competency-based degree programs and the only nonprofit, fully online university with students in all 50 states. WGU offers 50 degree programs in Business, Education, Information Technology, and Health Professions, including Nursing. Since its inception in 1997, WGU has grown into a national institution, serving more than 30,000 students. 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 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.

In 2011, WGU received its second 21st Century Award for Best Practices in Distance learning from the United States Distance Learning Association, (USDLA). In addition, WGU President Robert W. Mendenhall was recognized for his achievements in higher education when he received the 2010 McGraw Prize in 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.

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Contact for media inquiries: Joan Mitchell, Director of PR, +1-801-428-5463, [email protected]

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

SOURCE Western Governors University