Hoosiers Work with WGU to Create "Indiana's Eighth State University"

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Mark A. Sykes, Jul 14, 2010.

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  1. Mark A. Sykes

    Mark A. Sykes Member

    A Marriage Made in Indiana

    Rather than sink millions the state doesn’t have into a new [online] institution, or prod its current existing institutions to ramp up their online offerings, perhaps distracting them from their existing missions, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels has opted to go another, more unusual route: essentially subcontracting the job out to Western Governors University, a nonprofit institution based in Salt Lake City.

    Under the arrangement, announced last month, the state would set up a "private label" version of Western Governors known as WGU Indiana, creating, in essence, what Daniels called "Indiana's eighth state university."

    From Inside Higher Ed.

    Mark
     
  2. AUTiger00

    AUTiger00 New Member

    I like the idea, but the name could use some work. I certainly wouldn't call "WGU-Indiana" a private label. Somebody needs to teach the governor a bit about marketing.
    How about Indiana Governors University or UIUC.
     
  3. Petedude

    Petedude New Member

    I'll second that-- they need a better name for the venture.

    On the bigger front, I think the joint venture's really good for WGU and its students. I little bit more external involvement from the university establishment might help WGU sharpen up some of its rough edges.
     
  4. siersema

    siersema Active Member

    This was in the local paper the other day. I don't see the point. It's WGU but with a different name. Same programs, same website, same tuition. Maybe this opens up some funding options and creates a better transfer relationship with the other Indiana schools but I don't see how those goals couldn't have been accomplished without a re-badge of WGU. It seems more like an elaborate marketing effort to me. Perhaps I'm missing something.
     
  5. AUTiger00

    AUTiger00 New Member

    It may be a marketing effort, but it certainly isn't an elaborate one. They mention wanting a "private label", but Indiana isn't doing anything to differentiate itself from WGU. Private label products or services are provided by one company for offer under another company's brand. For instance, Hanes makes all Ralph Lauren Polo under garments but you'll pay 2-3 times as much for the items that are branded "Polo".

    Obviously, WGU has the core competency to offer distance ed/cater to non-traditional students, and you can't fault Indiana for partnering with them. But they should make an attempt to differentiate themselves from WGU. As it stands, the product is exactly the same, now students can simply choose if they want their diploma to read WGU or WGU-Indiana? I see no benefit there.

    If the classes are being offered through WGU, there must be profit sharing between the state and Western Governors for students enrolled under the WGU-Indiana monicker. If that is the case, and tuition is the same for both WGU and WGU-Indiana students, doesn't it only make sense that WGU administrators would push potential students to enroll via WGU to increase revenue for their institution?

    Indiana should really look at coming up with a name that is completely stand alone from WGU to differentiate itself, even if they are offering identical products.
     

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