To help provide greater educational opportunities for YWCA Minneapolis employees and their family members, health and wellness members, program participants and Early Childhood Education parents, Western Governors University (WGU) today announced it has entered into a joint partnership with the organization. Together, YWCA Minneapolis and WGU will seek to provide a streamlined approach and expand access to higher education for those who wish to pursue their bachelor’s or master’s degrees through the fully online, nonprofit university.
“We’re proud to be partnering with YWCA Minneapolis to help make affordable, high-quality college education more accessible to its association members and employees,” said Dr. Terrance Hopson, Regional Vice President of Western Governors University. “YWCA Minneapolis has been building stronger and more open-minded communities for over 130 years. From health access to racial justice, the leaders of YWCA Minneapolis have long been at the forefront of change, and this partnership will further support their mission.”
YWCA Minneapolis is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1891 as a member of YWCA USA, the oldest and largest multicultural organization in the world. The organization works to promote education, health and wellness through high-quality, equity-centered programs, with a mission to eliminate racism, empower women and foster peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. YWCA Minneapolis serves more than 30,000 people each year — ranging from families seeking group fitness classes to young girls interested in pursuing the fields of science, technology, engineering or math (STEM).
WGU offers YWCA Minneapolis employees and their family members, Early Childhood Education parents, program participants and Health and Wellness members more than 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the fields of business, K-12 teacher education, information technology and health professions, including nursing. The university pioneered online, competency-based education, a model that allows individuals to further their education and careers on their own timeline, no matter where they live. This approach allows students to take advantage of prior learning and work-based experience to move through courses at their own pace. Students study, complete coursework and take tests on schedules that fit their lives, advancing as soon as they demonstrate they have mastered the subject matter. All students at WGU who enroll will be paired with a program mentor who has expertise in their chosen degree program and supports students in learning and navigating their educational journeys from enrollment through graduation.
“YWCA Minneapolis is excited to partner with Western Governors University to remove barriers to education and help our employees, their families, our program participants and members gain access to high quality, affordable education,” said Shelley Carthen Watson, President and CEO of YWCA Minneapolis.
Under the terms of the agreement between YWCA Minneapolis and WGU, students who enroll in WGU will also be eligible to take advantage of scholarships to make tuition even more affordable. The Collaborative Agreement Scholarship is valued at up to $2,500 and designed for members and employees of WGU’s partner collaboratives that are seeking to advance their education. The scholarships will be disbursed in increments of $625 per six-month term and can be renewed for up to four terms based on satisfactory academic performance.
For more information on the partnership between WGU and YWCA Minneapolis, visit wgu.edu or ywcampls.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 www.wgu.edu.
About YWCA Minneapolis
YWCA Minneapolis is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating racism and empowering women and girls. For more than 130 years, we have worked to create opportunities to overcome social injustice, particularly in matters of race and gender. Annually, YWCA Minneapolis serves more than 30,000 people in our community through high-quality programs and advocacy focused on racial justice, early learning, youth development and wellness. To learn more, visit ywcampls.org or join the conversation at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
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For more information, contact:
Merisa Ashbaugh
314-436-9090