WGU Texas Launches New Higher Education Partnership with TAB

AUSTIN, Texas, March 30, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With workforce shortages facing many cities in Texas across healthcare, IT and STEM education fields, WGU Texas and the Texas Association of Business (TAB) today announced a new partnership aimed at ensuring Texas has an educated workforce.

TAB members and their employees can get a five percent tuition discount for up to four terms to continue or complete their college degrees at WGU Texas. Additionally, TAB members and their employees are eligible to apply for the Institutional Partners Fund Scholarship valued at up to $2,000.

"This is an extremely important partnership and will allow the thousands of TAB members and their employees to gain valuable education while staying on the job," said TAB CEO Bill Hammond.  "TAB has always worked to find solutions to challenges facing the Texas workforce and business community. Teaming up with an innovative and proven partner like WGU Texas is a prime example of that work."

TAB is Texas' largest business and chamber organization, and benefits of the new partnership with WGU Texas are available to more than 4,000 TAB members statewide who employ more than 600,000 Texans.

WGU Texas is a nonprofit, online university designed to expand access to higher education for Texas residents. Established by the state of Texas through a partnership with nationally recognized Western Governors University, WGU Texas offers more than 50 accredited bachelor's and master's degree programs in high-demand career fields in business, K-12 teacher prep education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing.

WGU Texas has pioneered an innovative approach known as competency-based education, which measures knowledge and learning, not seat time.

"Learning is fixed, but time is variable, giving WGU Texas' students greater flexibility while earning their degrees. WGU Texas pairs competency-based education with a mentor-guided education model that has helped the university earn high marks in several national surveys and studies," said Veronica Vargas Stidvent, Chancellor of WGU Texas.

Texas Association of Business members and their employees who enroll in a degree program at WGU Texas are encouraged to apply for scholarships through the WGU Institutional Partners Scholarship program.  Once enrolled, verified and approved TAB members/employees will receive the scholarship via tuition credit.  The scholarship is renewable for up to four terms based on satisfactory academic progress.   

"TAB has been a supporter of WGU Texas since its creation in 2011," said Hammond.  "WGU Texas provides an affordable, flexible education option for busy working adults who can earn their degree while balancing work and family responsibilities at the same time."

To learn more about the partnership between WGU Texas and TAB, please visit texas.wgu.edu/tab.

About WGU Texas
WGU Texas is an online, nonprofit, competency-based university established to expand Texans' access to higher education throughout the state. Formed through a partnership between the state of Texas and nationally recognized Western Governors University, WGU Texas is open to all qualified Texas 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.

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

Learn more at texas.wgu.edu  or call 1-877-214-7011.

About TAB
As the state chamber of commerce, the Texas Association of Business is the most influential and dominant voice for public policy issues affecting business in Texas. Through proven results-oriented advocacy and member services, TAB develops a climate in Texas which enables more than 4,000 business members and their 600,000+ employees to operate efficiently and profitably, thus creating new jobs. TAB is proud to be the official state partner of the National Association of Manufacturers.

Learn more at http://www.txbiz.org. 

Contact for media inquiries
WGU Texas:
Erin Moore, PR Manager
385-428-8586 or 903-557-1008 cell
erin.moore@wgu.edu

TAB:
Bill Hammond
512-637-7701
bhammond@txbiz.org

SOURCE WGU Texas