To help provide an affordable pathway for students of Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) to earn their bachelor’s degrees, Western Governors University (WGU) and EICC today announced the two institutions have entered into a joint partnership.
Under the terms of the agreement, students who have completed an associate degree at EICC and are interested in transferring to WGU to earn 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, EICC graduates enrolling in WGU will be eligible to apply for the university’s Community College Partnership Scholarships, valued at up to $2,500 each.
WGU, a leader in providing high-quality, fully online education to adults interested in advancing their careers, will be hosting webinars on July 20 at noon and 5:30 p.m. for EICC students and alumni who are interested in learning more about WGU.
“We are proud to partner with Western Governors University, whom we know as a high quality non-profit provider of postsecondary education,” said EICC Chancellor Don Doucette. “WGU has long been an innovator in providing working adults with flexible online education to help them complete bachelor’s and graduate degrees and advance in their careers. We believe our partnership with WGU will provide EICC students great opportunities to further their educational aspirations after graduating from our colleges.”
EICC, which serves students from Clinton, Jackson, Muscatine and Scott counties, as well as parts of Cedar and Louisa counties, has more than 7,000 students enrolled in its Associate Degree programs, which feature more than a dozen transfer major options and over 30 career programs. The partnership with WGU will benefit all EICC students graduating from the Clinton, Muscatine and Scott Community College campuses.
WGU offers EICC students a competency-based approach to learning, allowing them 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 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.
“WGU and EICC are both committed to providing greater educational opportunities for 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. “WGU’s innovative academic model will make obtaining a bachelor’s degree easy and affordable for EICC graduates and will equip students and staff with the skills they need to succeed in the evolving workplace.”
EICC graduates and staff members transferring to WGU have the opportunity to apply for the university’s Community College Partnership Scholarships. Each scholarship will be applied toward WGU’s already-low flat-rate tuition of about $3,500 per six-month term. Recipients will receive a $625 tuition credit each term, renewable for up to four terms based on academic performance.
For more information about the partnership, visit www.wgu.edu/iacc or join one of the webinars on July 20 at noon or 5:30 p.m.
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 131,000 students nationwide and has more than 217,000 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 24 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 Eastern Iowa Community Colleges
Eastern Iowa Community Colleges includes Clinton, Muscatine and Scott Community Colleges. Stretched along the banks of the Mississippi River, the district covers all of Clinton, Jackson, Muscatine and Scott Counties, as well as parts of Cedar and Louisa Counties. The district regularly boasts fall enrollments of more than 7,000 students in both Associate in Arts / College Transfer programs as well as more than 30 Career Technology options. The district also registers more than 30,000 students each year in its Business and Industry, Continuing Education and Adult Education classes. These short-term classes are specifically designed to help individuals improve a job skill, upgrade general educational skills or pursue a topic of interest. With our wide range of locations, degree options and business training, we are proud to be THE Community’s College.
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For more information, contact:
Abigail Rolland
314-436-9090