Nonprofit, fully online Western Governors University (WGU), and White Earth Tribal & Community College (WETCC), today announced they have entered into a new joint partnership. Under the terms of the agreement, WETCC employees and graduates will be offered affordable pathways to earning their bachelor’s or master’s degree through WGU. The goal of the partnership is to provide expanded higher education and professional development opportunities for WETCC employees and graduates in hopes of building a future-ready workforce in Minnesota.
“WETCC is excited to announce a partnership with WGU, which will provide another pathway for students and the community to access higher education,” said Dr. Francis Oakgrove, Academic Dean of White Earth Tribal & Community College. “This partnership provides programs that will meet the workforce needs of our community while reducing the barriers to access through online education, which is a challenge for rural communities.”
White Earth Tribal & Community College is a private institution of higher learning dedicated to academic excellence grounded in Anishinaabe culture, values and traditions. With 38 employees and 144 students, the college serves 10 tribes across rural Northern Minnesota, as well as the local community. WGU provides students graduating from WETCC with affordable access to more than 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the fields of business, K-12 teacher education, information technology and health professions, including nursing. Those who enroll in any of WGU’s programs will be able to apply for the Community College Partner Scholarship, which is valued at up to $2,500 each and will be applied to WGU’s already-low, flat-rate tuition of about $3,800 per six-month term.
WETCC students transitioning to WGU will be also able to take advantage of the university’s online-competency-based education model, which will allow them to use prior education and work-based experience to move through courses at their own pace and graduate quicker. 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. Like all students at WGU, WETCC employees and graduates who enroll will also 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.
“We are pleased to provide continuing education options to graduating students and staff of White Earth Tribal & Community College,” said Dr. Terrance Hopson, Regional Vice President of Western Governors University. “Both WETCC and WGU are committed to providing busy adults from underserved communities with access to high-quality education and preparing these individuals for dynamic and rewarding careers that promote lifetime success and meet workforce needs of the region. This partnership will help support those efforts.”
For more information on the partnership between WGU and White Earth Tribal & Community College, visit wgu.edu or wetcc.edu.
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.
About WETCC
White Earth Tribal and Community College (WETCC) is a small, two-year institution of higher education located in rural northwestern Minnesota on the White Earth Reservation with a mission to provide academic excellence grounded in Anishinaabe culture, values, and traditions. The White Earth Tribal Council chartered WETCC in October 1997 as a nonprofit tribally-controlled educational institution of higher learning. WETCC was granted membership to the American Indian Higher Education Consortium in 1998 and designated as a Land Grant Institution in 2002. The majority of WETCC’s students are first-generation and Native American. High unemployment, persistent poverty, and the vast geographic area of the Reservation create challenges for people living here who are seeking higher education. WETCC has worked to address barriers to education and increase student success since it was established. It is a beacon of hope for the people who live here and an opportunity for a brighter future while embracing the culture and teachings of the Anishinaabe people.
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For more information, contact:
Merisa Ashbaugh
314-436-9090