When was wgu founded

Overcoming this challenge was at the heart of the WGU idea. It was the mids, and a new technology was quickly emerging—the internet. And more than simply delivering traditional, lecture-based learning via modem and monitor, our founders recognized that technology could be used to fundamentally change the way college students learn. Harnessing the power of the internet and our innovative learning model—competency-based education—WGU revolutionized the way students learn, master concepts, and progress to a degree.

As a nonprofit, online university founded by governors, WGU is different. But even beyond the unique story of our founding and the foresight of our founders, WGU is different for a more fundamental reason— We do education differently. We exist to ensure that the promise of higher education is made real for more individuals.

To do that, we take education beyond convention. We're willing to do whatever we can to ensure our students have everything they need to succeed. WGU also has the distinction of being the only university to have received regional accreditation from four regional accrediting commissions at the same time.

In part because of our founding by 19 state governors, who represent a wide geographic region of the United States, in WGU was simultaneously reviewed by a special committee—the Inter-Regional Accrediting Committee—comprising representatives from four regional accrediting commissions.

The international organization recognized WGU for its "outstanding performance of higher education in meeting the CIQG International Quality Principles," noting that "the university, which uses a competency-based learning model with students working online, monitors its performance in key areas and works for continuous improvements and adjustments to improve the quality of students' educational experience.

By submitting you will receive emails from WGU and can opt-out at any time. We're emailing you the app fee waiver code and other information about getting your degree from WGU. Ready to apply now? Key leaders in higher education were instrumental in the development and acceptance of WGU. Two years later, WGU opened its virtual doors.

Mike Leavitt: "Overcoming thousands of years of tradition is no small task, and higher education has essentially thought the same way about the learning process for a long time. Bill Simmons: "There is a real negative reaction that this was going to threaten everything that higher education stood for. Janet Schnitz: "There were many hurdles and misunderstandings about what technology could do to help with teacher education. Dell Loy Hansen: "It needed credibility, and most universities fought this concept of not having a bricks and mortar building with a university president and a year history.

Mike Leavitt: "WGU was at a very critical moment. We were facing at least two or three more years before we were accredited. We were running out of money. We had lots of skeptics. We needed a new leader. Bob Mendenhall: "My message is that it's possible to have high quality, affordable higher education, but it will require new models, not just tweaking the existing system. As we talked, it became evident to me that this was the right person. Bob Mendenhall joined WGU in By the end of that year, the first programs in IT and education were launched.

Bob Mendenhall: "A couple years of great planning had taken place, and the foundation for the educational model was already in place. We had a challenge to gain accreditation. Chip Johnstone: "To get four essentially four regions to agree that WGU met standards for accreditation was a first in higher education, and it was a hurrah experience.

The day we were granted that, we all celebrated. It was just party time. David Simmons: "We all knew that growth would be there if the model was working right, if the students were satisfied with its success. The addition of the College of Health Professions in sent it soaring. Newscaster: "Tonight we introduce you to a university aimed at adult students who don't have time for traditional bricks and mortar schools.

It turns out, that's just what many Americans find they need as they rush to reinvent themselves.