Western Governors University (WGU) and the South Dakota Board of Technical Education today announced they have entered into a joint partnership that will provide graduates and staff of four South Dakota technical colleges with an affordable pathway to earning their bachelor’s or master’s degrees from WGU. Additionally, under the terms of the agreement, students who enroll in any of the 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 scholarships offered through the university’s Community College Partner Scholarship program.
The scholarships are valued at up to $2,500 each and are applied to WGU’s already-low, flat-rate tuition of about $3,800 per six-month term. Recipients of the scholarship will receive a $625 tuition credit each term, renewable for up to four terms based on academic performance.
“This partnership signals an opportunity for South Dakotans to access high-quality post-secondary education and to use their earned credentials to build a pathway to career success.” said Nick Wendell, Executive Director of the South Dakota Board of Technical Education. “Eligibility through their Community College Partner Scholarship program will also lead to a greater degree of affordability for South Dakota students.”
South Dakota recently set a goal that 65% of residents, ages 25-34, will hold a postsecondary credential by 2025, with only 46% of residents currently meeting that goal. This new partnership between WGU and South Dakota Board of Technical Education will assist South Dakota in achieving its attainment goal by providing non-traditional and rural students who want to continue their education with access to high-quality, affordable college education.
WGU offers South Dakota technical college staff and graduates a competency-based approach to learning which 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 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 are delighted to provide continuing education options to the graduates and staff of South Dakota technical colleges,” said Dr. Angie Besendorfer, Regional Vice President of Western Governors University. “WGU values the important role technical colleges play in upskilling the workforce and is pleased to provide pathways to higher education and career advancement, which will lead to better lives for South Dakotan families.”
For more information on the partnership between WGU and South Dakota Board of Technical Education, visit www.wgu.edu/sdcc.
About WGU
Established in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors with a mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable higher education, online, nonprofit WGU now serves more than 130,000 students nationwide and has more than 250,000 graduates in all 50 states. Driving innovation as the nation’s leading competency-based university, WGU has been recognized by the White House, state leaders, employers, and students as a model that works in postsecondary education. In just 25 years, the university has become a leading influence in changing the lives of individuals and families and preparing the workforce needed in today’s rapidly evolving economy. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, has been named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies, and has been featured on NPR, NBC Nightly News, CNN, and in The New York Times. Learn more at www.wgu.edu.
About South Dakota Board of Technical Education
The South Dakota Board of Technical Education, with the input of the local governing boards of each of the postsecondary technical institutes, provides overall policies, goals, and objectives for the management of the postsecondary technical institute system to ensure that the needs of the public, business, and industry are met to the highest possible degree and in the most cost-effective and efficient manner.
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For more information, contact:
Pamela Powell
(314) 436-9090
pam@hausergrouppr.com