Dr. Robert Mendenhall, 2010 McGraw Prize in Education Winner

Video profile of Dr. Robert Mendenhall, a 2010 Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education winner. Mendenhall established Western Governors University (WGU), an innovative online university that offers the flexibility, accessibility and affordability to make college degrees widely attainable. WGU has 20,000 students in all 50 states, and continues to grow more than 30 percent annually. WGU's competency-based degrees allow students to earn degrees by demonstrating competency -- what they know and can do -- rather than by accumulating a certain number of credit or clock hours. The average student works full time and is 36 years old. More than 80 percent are classified as underserved. Undergraduate tuition is less than $5,800 per year, and has increased by only $200 in the past four years. WGU was founded and is supported by 19 governors as well as more than 20 leading corporations and foundations.