Nonprofit, fully online university WGU Missouri and its parent university, Western Governors University, were recently honored by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation/International Quality Group (CHEA/CIQG) with the inaugural 2018 CIQG Quality Award. The university was recognized from several worldwide submissions for its “outstanding performance of higher education in meeting the CIQG International Quality Principles.” The award was presented during last month’s Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.
“The award is a celebration of good practice and a demonstration of the major stake that higher education providers have in improving quality around the world,” said Concepcion Pijano, an international consultant on accreditation and chair of the CIQG Advisory Council, which works to address higher education quality assurance worldwide
The international organization recognized WGU for its effective and innovative methods, citing 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.”
WGU was one of two institutions to win the inaugural award, joining Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, located in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.
“We applaud Conestoga College and Western Governors University for their commitment to advancing higher education quality,” noted CHEA President Judith Eaton.
WGU Missouri offers more than 60 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in business, K-12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing. The university works closely with industry leaders to ensure quality and relevance to today’s workforce needs. Because of this close collaboration, WGU is able to identify the competencies needed in the workforce and develop accredited degree programs fit for these purposes.
“WGU Missouri is focused on advancing the quality of higher education and improving the lives of students by providing them with opportunities to earn degrees that are respected by employers, accreditors and accrediting bodies throughout the world,” said Dr. Angie Besendorfer, Chancellor of WGU Missouri. “This award validates the commitment we have to our students in helping them meet their education goals and advance their careers.”
Members of the CIQG Quality Award international judging committee included Carolyn Campbell, Senior Consultant and Board Member of the Observatory on Borderless Education; Peter Okebukola, President of the Global University Network for Innovation – Africa; Concepcion Pijano, and Jamil Salmi, global tertiary education expert and former Tertiary Education Coordinator for the World Bank.
WGU Missouri is a competency-based, online university created to expand access to higher education for Missouri residents. The university offers more than 60 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 provide one-on-one guidance, support, and 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 $7,000 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*).
*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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