WGU Missouri and the Independence Chamber of Commerce today announced they have joined forces to provide Chamber members, staff and dependents with an affordable pathway to earning their bachelor’s or master’s degrees from WGU. Additionally, under the terms of the agreement, those 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 Collaborative Agreement Scholarship program.
The scholarships, each valued at up to $2,500, are applied to WGU Missouri’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. 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 students and in good standing. The program also provides devices to students who are in need.
“This partnership will not only provide higher education affordability, but it will also help expand our goal of increasing the profitability of local businesses by supporting workforce development through enhanced job skill readiness to improve the overall prosperity of Independence,” said Chamber President and CEO Tom Lesnak.
Founded in 1920, the Independence Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit, business organization dedicated to promoting the economic growth of Independence. With deep roots in the community, the Chamber represents a partnership of more than 700 member businesses and professionals located in and around the Independence area that are committed to making a difference. Accredited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Independence Chamber of Commerce’s goals and yearly planned program of work are accomplished through the collective efforts of a 22-member board of directors, seven staff members and hundreds of dedicated volunteers.
WGU Missouri offers Chamber members, staff and dependents 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’re proud to be partnering with the Independence Chamber of Commerce to help make affordable, high-quality higher education more accessible to its members and staff,” said Dr. Terrance Hopson, Regional Vice President of WGU Missouri. “The Chamber is committed to providing leadership that builds a business community of excellence, positively shaping Independence’s economy and the community’s overall way of life, and this partnership will further support that mission.”
For more information on the partnership between WGU Missouri and the Independence Chamber of Commerce, visit missouri.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).
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For more information, contact:
Merisa Ashbaugh
(314)436-9090
merisa@hausergrouppr.com