On February 12, 2011 the President and Chief Executive Officer of Zions First National Bank, A. Scott Anderson was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa. WGU President Dr. Robert Mendenhall confers the honorary doctoral degree. This commencement was held at Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Article from "Bloomberg Businessweek" describing the various merits of WGU. The complete title of this article is "Online Education, with a Low-Cost Twist, Western Governors University delivers online education at a fraction of the cost of for-profit players, and cash-strapped states are taking notice.
Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)
Letter from the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) awarding Initial Accreditation to the Health Information Management Baccalaureate Degree Program at WGU. The vote took place on January 18, 2011. The letter is dated March 28, 2011.
House Bill 1822 which establishes WGU Washington. The bill was passed by the Washington State House on February 26, 2011; the Washington State Senate on April 8, 2011; signed by Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire on April 22, 2011; and filed in the Washington State Office of Secretary of State on April 22, 2011.
Display copy of Washington State House Bill 1822 which establishes WGU Washington. The bill was passed by the Washington State House on February 26, 2011; the Washington State Senate on April 8, 2011; signed by Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire on April 22, 2011; and filed in the Washington State Office of Secretary of State on April 22, 2011.
Charlie Earl and Jan Yoshiwara of the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges discuss how online degree programs through WGU Washington help Washington community and technical college students further their education. Following that, leaders from SBCTC and Western Governors University sign an agreement making an online education more seamless for Washington college students.
Dan Sweetwood is a student at Western Governors University - http://www.wgu.edu - and talks about his experiences at an all-online, fully accredited nonprofit university at the launch of WGU Washington.
Seattle Community Colleges Chancellor Dr. Jill Wakefield and Seattle Central Community College President Dr. Paul Killpatrick welcome WGU Washington, http://washington.wgu.edu, as the newest state-endorsed university and celebrate the partnership between the accredited online university and the state's community and technical colleges.
Leslie Goldstein, Washington Governor Christine Gregoire's education policy advisor, welcomes the newest state-endorsed university, WGU Washington - http://washington.wgu.edu - an all-online accredited nonprofit university that the governor calls "ground-breaking without breaking ground."
Representative Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney, D-46th District in the Washington state Legislature, welcomes WGU Washington as the newest state-endorsed university. As an all-online, fully accredited, nonprofit university, WGU Washington - http://washington.wgu.edu - offers a unique new model for Washington state's adult learners.
Senator Jim Kastama, D-25th District in the Washington state Legislature, welcomes WGU Washington as the newest state-endorsed university. As an all-online, fully accredited, nonprofit university, WGU Washington - http://washington.wgu.edu - offers a unique new model for Washington state's adult learners.
Jean Floten, the new chancellor of Washington's first all-online, state-endorsed, fully accredited nonprofit university, WGU Washington - http://washington.wgu.edu - discusses the value of an online degree and an online education at the school's launch event in Seattle, May 2011.
Washington State University President Emeritus Dr. Samuel Smith, who sits on Western Governors University's Board, and WGU President Dr. Robert Mendenhall speak of WGU's unique online education model and the value of an online university as part of Washington state's higher education system.
Article from "State Legislatures" magazine discussing how "Lawmakers will need to make decisions soon to comply with federal regulations for the growing world of online higher education."
On July 23, 2011 the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Lumina Foundation for Education, Jamie P. Merisotis was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa. WGU President Dr. Robert Mendenhall confers the honorary doctoral degree. This commencement was held at the Nu Skin Theatre at the EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah.
On August 2, 2011, Texas Governor Rick Perry issues Executive Order RP 75. With the support of Higher Education Chairs Senator Judith Zaffirini and Representative Dan Branch, WGU Texas was launched. This video was played at the WGU Texas launch event.
Addendum to the 1997 "Memorandum of Understanding Regarding the Western Governors University" and the State of Texas. Texas Governor, Rick Perry and WGU President Robert Mendenhall signed this document. This document, in conjunction with the "Executive Order by the Governor of the State of Texas, Executive Order RP 75," establishes WGU Texas.
Executive Order RP 75 from the state of Texas. The Governor of Texas, Rick Perry signed this executive order. This document, in conjunction with the "Addendum to Memorandum of Understanding between the State of Texas and Western Governors University," establishes WGU Texas.
Article from "The Texas Tribune" discussing the launch of WGU Texas. This announcement was made by Governor Rick Perry, Representative Dan Branch, R-Dallas, and Senator Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo.
Article from the "San Antonio Express-New" describing a $4.5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to WGU Texas. This article has a "Texas Coalition for Excellence in Higher Education" banner.
Article from the "Washington Monthly" describing how "by offering adults an education that is faster, cheaper, and better than the likes of Kaplan, Phoenix, or Capella, the nonprofit Western Governors University just might eat their lunch."
Article from "The New York Times" discussing a meeting between President Obama, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, WGU President Robert Mendenhall, a dozen other college presidents, and other leaders from nonprofit education organizations. They met to discuss the costs of higher education and increasing graduation rates.