To help provide an affordable pathway for DMACC students to earn their bachelor’s degrees, fully online, nonprofit Western Governors University (WGU) today announced it has entered into a partnership with DMACC, Iowa’s largest community college. Under the terms of the agreement, DMACC students who have completed their associate degree and are interested in earning a bachelor’s degree in business, IT, K-12 teacher education or health professions – including nursing – will be able to seamlessly transfer their credits to WGU. Additionally, DMACC graduates enrolling in WGU will be eligible to apply for the university’s Community College Partnership Scholarships, valued at up to $2,500 each.
The scholarships are open to DMACC staff and graduates and will go toward WGU’s already-low, flat-rate tuition of about $3,500 per six-month term. Recipients of the scholarship will receive a $625 tuition credit each term, renewable for up to four terms based on satisfactory academic performance.
“DMACC enters into transfer agreements with high-quality universities such as WGU to give our students the greatest opportunity and scope for their life of learning that leads to a four-year degree,” said Rob Denson, President of Des Moines Area Community College. “DMACC advances the education and skills of as many students as we can, when and where we can – and the best we can, and this partnership with WGU supports those efforts.”
The partnership will benefit all DMACC students graduating from any of the college’s six campuses in Ankeny, Boone, Carroll, Newton, Des Moines and West Des Moines.
“Both WGU and DMACC are committed to providing greater educational opportunities to students interested in advancing their careers in high-demand fields, and this partnership will help further that mission,” said Dr. Angie Besendorfer, Regional Vice President of Western Governors University. “Our academic programs are an excellent next step for many DMACC graduates who desire an affordable option to continue their educational journey while providing students the flexibility they require to gain the skills they need to succeed in the evolving workplace.”
WGU, a fully online, nonprofit university, offers DMACC students a competency-based approach to learning. This method 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 and advancing as soon as they demonstrate they have mastered 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.
For more information, visit wgu.edu/cc.
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 117,000 students nationwide and has more than 157,000 graduates. 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 22 years, the university has become a leading influence in the development of innovative workforce-focused approaches to education. 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 DMACC
Des Moines Area Community College, a public institution serving the educational and career training needs of Iowans, is committed to the lifelong success of its students. Situated in one of America’s most vibrant regions, DMACC offers 200 programs, certificates and transfer degrees, annually serving more than 70,000 credit and noncredit students on six campuses and six learning centers. Thanks to college-wide innovation including Continuous Process Improvement (CPI), new programs and affordable tuition, DMACC continues to experience solid growth. For more information, please visit www.dmacc.edu.
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For more information, contact:
Pamela Powell
(314) 436-9090
pam@hausergrouppr.com