Nonprofit, fully online Western Governors University (WGU) and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce today announced they have joined forces to provide Chamber members and employees with an affordable pathway to earning their bachelor’s or master’s degrees. The partnership will further both organizations’ missions of continuing to develop the talent pipeline in hopes of building a future-ready workforce. Additionally, those who enroll in any of WGU’s 80-plus undergraduate or graduate degree programs in business, IT, K-12 teacher education or health professions – including nursing – will also be eligible to apply for scholarships offered through the university’s Partner Connect Scholarship program.
The scholarships, each valued at up to $2,500, 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. 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.
“We are excited to partner with Western Governors University to provide Chicago’s workforce with affordable and accessible higher education opportunities,” said Jack Lavin, President and CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. “This partnership will enable our members and the broader Chicago business community to upskill and reskill their employees, ultimately driving economic growth and competitiveness for the region.”
With a rich history of leadership and business advocacy, the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce team fosters a dynamic economy, delivers value to its members, and makes the Chicagoland area a world-class place to live and work. Representing more than 1,000 businesses from all major industries, $24 billion in economic impact, and over 400,000 member employees, the Chamber is Chicagoland’s most influential business organization.
WGU offers Chamber members and employees 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 Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce to help make affordable, high-quality higher education more accessible to its members and employees,” said Dr. Terrance Hopson, Regional Vice President of Western Governors University. “The Chamber recognizes how a skilled workforce is essential to accelerating our economic recovery and is committed to helping the region’s companies equip their employees with the skills needed to grow, thrive, and succeed. This partnership will further support that mission.”
For more information on the partnership between WGU and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, visit wgu.edu or chicagolandchamber.org.
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 140,000 students nationwide and has more than 300,000 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 wgu.edu.
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For more information, contact:
Merisa Ashbaugh
(314)436-9090