WGU Missouri and Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City (BBBSKC) today announced they have entered into a joint partnership that will provide BBBSKC employees, “Littles” and their guardians with flexible, personalized pathways to earning their degrees. Additionally, under the terms of the agreement, those who enroll in any of the fully online, nonprofit university’s 60-plus undergraduate or graduate degree programs in business, IT, K-12 teacher education or health professions – including nursing – will now be eligible to apply for the WGU Collaborative Agreement Scholarship.
The scholarships, each valued at up to $2,500, are designed for members and employees of WGU Missouri’s partner collaboratives that are seeking to advance their education. The scholarship will be disbursed in increments of $625 per six-month term and can be renewed for up to four terms based on satisfactory academic performance. Applicants who lack access to affordable, high-speed internet will also be eligible to apply for the WGU Online Access Scholarship, which covers internet installation and monthly access costs for the duration WGU students who qualify are active and in good standing and also provides devices to students who are in need.
“We are happy to partner with WGU Missouri to provide access and opportunity for our Littles, Families and Bigs to have affordable and flexible higher education options,” said Kristi Hutchison, Chief Marketing Officer for BBBSKC. “We are grateful for partnerships like WGU that help us defend potential for children and teens in our community.”.
WGU Missouri offers BBBSKC employees, “Littles” and their guardians more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the high workforce-need areas of business, IT, K-12 teacher education and health professions, including nursing. The university’s competency-based approach to learning allows students to take advantage of their knowledge and previous experience to quickly move through material they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn. Students complete their programs by studying on schedules that fit their lives, advancing as soon as they demonstrate that they have mastered the subject matter. WGU faculty members work one-on-one with students as mentors, offering guidance, support and individualized instruction. While WGU’s degree programs are rigorous
and challenging, competency-based learning makes it possible for students to accelerate their progress and graduate faster, saving both time and money.
“We’re pleased to partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City to provide their members and employees with an affordable pathway to furthering their education,” said Dr. Angie Besendorfer, Chancellor of WGU Missouri. “BBBSKC strives to support the upskilling of its employees, “Littles” and their guardians by offering pathways to pursue educational opportunities in order to advance personal and professional development goals, and this partnership will help carry out that mission.”
For more information about WGU and its partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City, visit wgu.edu/partnerships. To learn more about BBBSKC, visit www.bbbskc.org
About WGU Missouri
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 serve as mentors, working one-on-one with students, offering guidance, support, and individualized instruction.
Established in 2013 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 $7,600 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). Nursing College programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE*), and the Health Informatics program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). More information is available at missouri.wgu.edu or by calling 855.948.8493.
*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).
About BBBSKC
Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City (BBBSKC) works to clear the path to a child’s biggest possible future by matching them with a caring, adult mentor in a one-to-one friendship. “Bigs” help “Littles” ignite, empower and defend their potential by standing with them. Last year, 99% of the Senior Littles graduated high school, 83% reported improved self-esteem and 71% reported improved grades since being matched. For more information about BBBSKC, visit www.bbbskc.org.
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For more information, contact:
Pamela Powell
(314) 436-9090
pam@hausergrouppr.com