WGU Missouri and Blue Ridge Bank and Trust Co. today announced they have entered into a joint partnership that will provide Blue Ridge Bank and Trust Co. employees 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 scholarships offered through the WGU Collaborative Agreement Scholarship program.
The scholarships are designed for members and employees of WGU Missouri’s partner collaboratives that are seeking to advance their education. Each scholarship is valued at up to $2,500 and will be disbursed in increments of $625 per six-month term, renewable 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 so excited to enter this partnership with WGU,” said Blue Ridge Bank and Trust Co. President and CEO Bill Esry. “The flexibility of the programs will be a great fit for the bank associates interested in pursuing a degree in higher education.”
Blue Ridge Bank and Trust Co. is a locally owned community bank, established in 1958. With eight locations serving the communities of Independence, Raytown, Kansas City, Lee’s Summit, and Blue Springs, Blue Ridge Bank and Trust Co. has become one of the largest independently owned community banks in Missouri with services to meet every need. Located throughout Eastern Jackson County, the Bank has 133 employees and strives to support the upskilling of its staff by providing access to educational opportunities.
WGU Missouri offers Blue Ridge Bank and Trust Co. employees a competency-based approach to learning that 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 delighted to be partnering with Blue Ridge Bank and Trust Co. to help make quality, competency-based higher education more accessible to its employees,” said Dr. Angie Besendorfer, Chancellor of WGU Missouri. “Our academic programs are an excellent next step for individuals who desire an affordable option to continue their educational journey while offering students the flexibility they require to gain the skills they need to succeed in the evolving workplace.”
For more information on the partnership between WGU Missouri and Blue Ridge Bank and Trust Co., visit wgu.edu/partnerships. 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 Blue Ridge Bank and Trust Co.
Blue Ridge Bank and Trust Co. is an independently owned community bank with eight branch locations and over $700 million in assets. For over 60 years, Blue Ridge Bank has served the financial needs of Eastern Jackson County.
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For more information, contact:
Pamela Powell
(314) 436-9090
pam@hausergrouppr.com