Western Governors University?

Does anyone have information about Western Governors University?

http://www.wgu.edu/wgu/index.html

 

Originally...

It began with high expectations. Governor's Romer of Colorado, and Utah's Mike Levitt, Nevada, and several other western states faced with high population growth and spiraling higher ed costs--not to add the hyped expectations of internet-mania and the foresight of John Malone (or some other Denver area cable magnate--my memory fails on this point, but lots of corps thought similarly and supported it)--sought a solution by combining resources. The explosive internet growth made this ambitious consortium seem logical and desirable. Since it was a western gubernatorial initiative and an outgrowth of annual meetings they hold (http://www.westgov.org/), WGU made good sense, and "Western Governors University" it was. (I do vaguely recall fear from established universities being expressed--always a hopeful sign that something right is being done!)

They stated in Jan 2001:"Recognizing the challenge, the governors of 19 western states, in collaboration with business leaders in the new economy, established WGU as an institution representing a new model for higher education. WGU uses the Internet as a broad-based access mechanism to achieve greater reach and more attractive economies of scale than traditional infrastructures. WGU delivers competency-based degree programs utilizing online resources from multiple universities, colleges and commercial providers."


Expectations may have been to "revolutionize" higher ed delivery, but the reality has been underwhelming. Mostly one-of students. I do know they have graduated their first class of Bachelors students. They are expected, if they don't already have it, to soon have RA. (As of Jan 2001, "WGU has now been granted "Candidate for Accreditation" status by The Interregional Accrediting Committee. It is the only online, competency-based university to achieve accreditation status.) They do accept every established method of ed delivery, and they do try to be flexible, recognizing "competency based learning." and admission requirements are minimal--be 16 years old and have a HS diploma or the equivalent. But as far as meeing the goal of being "competency based" like other older colleges? Its lack of transparency makes it neither fish nor foul--few know precisely what to make of it!

An early history of the WGUs startup (circa 1996, '97, '98, respectively) , with a few online references, can be found at
http://www.du.edu/~buffer/julaug96/wesgovu.html,

http://www.wooster.edu/realpower/edtechnology/Reviews/wgu.html,

AND
http://horizon.unc.edu/projects/OTH/6-4.asp

--Orson

 

They currently have DETC accreditation, but not RA. They are a candidate for RA. I remember reading that Peter French did some consulting on their start up. Lawrie Miller either enrolled or was about to enroll, but found the program lacking for his needs. In many ways WGU is similiar to the big three w/o RA and with much less spelled out. Good luck.

 

It's legit--but wasn't well organized. At least that was the impression that I had when I enrolled there in 2001. Although looking at the webpage now, it seems to be a bit better organized. It has a better webpage and they are offering online Teaching Accreditation now, but for the most part, the coursework seems to be exactly the same as when I enrolled there back in 2001.

At the time, I was interested in their MA in Education Technology and I was supposed to "fill in the pieces." (Whatever that means!!) I was confused about what to take, what I needed to know--and it was so open ended I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone. I felt so lost, I ended up taking the MS Ed in Online Teaching and Learning at Cal State Hayward instead.

I just finished and feel like I learned alot as well as had direction about what I was expected to do. I'm glad I went with Cal State instead of WGU. I guess I needed a more traditional way to do the degree. That's my 2 cents, anyway.

 

Say jimwe...

I hope you'll email those WGU folks with your feedback! If you've not done so already. It sounds like you achieved your aims thru CSU, and WGU had no one to help you. Good for you!
And shame on them.

--Orson