Western Governors University (WGU) and the National Black MBA Association® (NBMBAA) Twin Cities Chapter today announced they have entered into a joint partnership that will provide NBMBAA Twin Cities Chapter members, employees and their family members with an affordable option to earning their degrees from WGU. 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 university’s Collaborative Agreement Partner Scholarship fund.
Each scholarship is valued at up to $2,500 and will be distributed in increments of $625 per six-month term, renewable for up to four terms based on adequate 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. The program also provides devices to students who are in need.
“The Twin Cities Chapter of the National Black MBA Association® is excited about our partnership with WGU,” says Antar Salim, the Chapter’s Director of Education/Leaders of Tomorrow Program (LOT). “This collaboration is a tangible illustration of our commitment to the education and professional development of our members. As we look to the future, we hope to foster continued relationships more fully with WGU.”
The National Black MBA Association® is a non-profit organization of minority MBAs, business professionals, entrepreneurs and MBA students working in both private and public sectors with a shared commitment to education and business – two key principles to the economic development of the Black community. Twin Cities Chapter members are graduate students and business professionals representing a variety of professional industries with the common goals of exposure, career development and advancement. The Chapter is also dedicated to providing valued-added programming and services that align with these goals.
WGU offers NBMBAA Twin Cities Chapter members, employees and their family members 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 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 are proud to partner with the National Black MBA Association® Twin Cities Chapter to help provide their members, employees and family members with an affordable pathway to furthering their education,” said Dr. Angie Besendorfer, Regional Vice President of Western Governors University. “The organization promotes education as the primary vehicle to economic mobility for our community, empowering visionaries intellectually and economically to create a world where diversity and inclusion are universal, and this partnership will support that mission.”
For more information on the partnership between WGU and the NBMBAA Twin Cities Chapter, visit wgu.edu/partnerships.
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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 257,000 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 www.wgu.edu.
About National Black MBA Association® Twin Cities Chapter
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, many African American managers relocated or were recruited to the Twin Cities to enhance their career opportunities. While moving to Minnesota was good for career advancement, largely, they found themselves socially and professionally isolated when away from their offices. This shared experience led charter members to create a professional support system – a local chapter of NBMBAA. In partnership with General Mills, Pillsbury, First Bank [now US Bancorp], Norwest Bank, 3M and Honeywell, a Twin Cities chapter was born.
For more information, contact:
Pamela Powell
(314) 436-9090
pam@hausergrouppr.com