gets the green light Sandoval endorses online university startup in Nevada | Las Vegas Review-Journal
What is the purpose of Western Governors University with state designation? I mean I don't see the differences between Western Governors University vs Western Governors University of Texas.
Not in Texas, but in some of the other states, students qualify for state financial aid. Texas only gives state financial aid to students at Texas public colleges, and they don't treat WGU Texas like a state institution.
Beyond the financial aid thing, it's also an exchange of marketing benefits for WGU and state politicians. WGU gets to look like it's especially interested in people in that state, and the politicians get to look like they've provided a whole new university without actually having to do anything.
I think it also helps to break down any remaining stigma attached to DL for some students. Face it, if you live in Alabama and have, as clearly indicated by your resume, never left the state of Alabama the degree from Edinburgh Business School might look a little weird. I think most employers are pretty accepting of the fact that DL is here to stay at this point. But the lack of geography associated with many online ventures is kind of a turn-off. When I was choosing between AIU and CTU the Colorado thing made me think CTU looked, sounded and felt more credible. It had a place right in its name. If I live in Texas then maybe being able to say I graduated from WGU-TX would be a big selling point. Maybe I want to downplay the DL aspect. Or maybe I just really want to be able to say that my college had the name "Texas" in it. Keep in mind also that WGU is a non-profit university. As such, they can (and do) solicit donations. This might also play into a strategy for alumni engagement. The TX students who graduate from WGU-TX may be easier to engage as a group and potentially solicit donations from. And if that group is especially active then maybe they could convince a guy (or gal)in New York with a WGU-TX degree to donate as well. I doubt it's any one thing. It's most likely a part of a broader strategy that encompasses state financial aid (in states where that matters for non-public schools), engagement, marketing and rubbing the tummies of politicians (and probably some other things as well). Advantage for the student? Well, which one do you want on your resume? If you work at a casino in Atlantic City but hope to one day transition to Las Vegas then maybe having WGU-NV on your resume will make your resume "feel" more Las Vegasy. Maybe you just really dig the Cowboys and want TX on your degree. Or maybe none of this matters and the good ol' fashioned WGU-Classic is your beverage of choice.
