Western Governors University, Salt Lake City

Western Governors University, a public online university based in Salt Lake City and founded by 19 U.S. governors, continues to make a mark for itself in the competitive distance learning arena. The school, which educates more than 23,000 students in all 50 states, recently was recognized by the United States Distance Learning Association, winning it second “21st Century Award for Best Practices” in Distance Learning. An Associate Provost, Dr. Phillip Schmidt, received an “Outstanding Leadership” award.

University Recognition

WGU was recognized by the USDLA “for being a pioneer in distance learning by creating programs that are innovative, comprehensive, and effective.” The school, chartered in 1997 as a non-profit university, presents an academic model that is considered unique, even among providers of distance learning, called competency-based learning. This model, which uses technology to teach and allows students to advance when they demonstrate their knowledge, decreases the average time required to graduate without sacrificing academic rigor.

USDLA’s Award for Outstanding Leadership by an Individual in the Field of Distance Learning has been presented to Dr. Phillip Schmidt, Associate Provost, WGU Teachers College. Dr. Schmidt was recognized for his leading role in the development of the university’s math and science education programs, which are nationally known for their excellence, and for his efforts to earn accreditation for WGU’s teacher education programs. Before joining WGU in 2002, Dr. Schmidt served as Chair of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Berea College and Dean of the Department of Secondary Education at SUNY New Paltz. The author of several mathematics texts and numerous articles, Dr. Schmidt earned his Ph.D. from Syracuse University.

USDLA Recognition

“As a premier organization for the entire distance learning profession, we are honoring Western Governors University and Dr. Schmidt for their leadership in our industry,” said Dr. John G. Flores, Executive Director of USDLA. “The work being done by WGU and Dr. Schmidt continues to raise the bar and exceed best practices expectations for the industry as a whole, and we are truly honored by their contributions to the distance learning industry.”

WGU currently offers 50 degree programs in a variety of disciplines including business, health, education and technology. The school relies exclusively on tuition to fund its operation, charging students rates that are far below what many for-profit distance learning schools charge.¹

WGU Subsidiaries

In June 2010, WGU Indiana was launched and in April 2011 WGU Washington received approval from the state of Washington to operate. Both schools are subsidiaries of the Western Governors University and operate in partnership with the respective states. Degree programs are accredited through Western Governors University.²

References & Resources

United States Distance Learning Association: Home

¹ Western Governors University: Overview

² USA Today; Indiana Teams up with WGU to Educate Adults Online; Doug Lederman; July 14, 2010

Online education has created possibilities that previous generations couldn’t even fathom.

Literally, students can earn their entire degree at home, by working when it’s convenient for them, while wearing their pajamas. This amazing innovation has allowed for greater access to universities and targeted specializations that may not be locally available. It has also been especially beneficial for working adults or stay at home parents who are eager to earn a degree.

So, how did online education programs get started? Here is a brief history of online education.

The history of online education extends back further than you may think, with the very first virtual classroom environments being created in the 1960s. University of Illinois scientists created a classroom system based in linked computer terminals. There, students were able to access informational resources while listening to a professor whose lectures were brought in remotely, via some form of television or audio device.

Certainly not a form of “online learning” that stands up to the web learning of today, but it was the beginning of enhanced distance learning and the utilization of computer resources for educational purposes.

Universities quickly began to take advantage of these new resources by offering distance learning courses, using computer networking for information and resource sharing, and more. By the mid 1980s, college resources frequently included online access to course information and student networking tools.

Online only courses began emerging in the late 1980s, with some moderate success. The concept was further popularized as major corporations began using similar utilities to trim their training budgets. While businesses began with software training programs, the largest corporations started utilizing online tools to minimize software distribution costs.

Another phenomenon that contributed to online learning was the correspondence school. The original correspondence schools worked in a very straightforward way: You registered by mail, received materials by mail, then mailed the course work back for grading upon completion.

As the digital age swept across the nation, the correspondence school became more grounded in the virtual world, and the first online correspondence school, the University of Phoenix, made its way onto the scene in 1989. It was not a fully accredited institution at that time, however, and it wasn’t until 1993 that the first accredited university, the Jones International University, really opened the floodgates.

It was at this same time that a new innovation in the online world made more universities of this kind possible: the Mosaic web interface. This was the first graphic interface that reached out to more common users, allowing for unprecedented access and support. Since that time, hundreds of standard universities have started offering a variety of online courses.

Many institutions, as well as a number of digital correspondence schools, offer full degrees online. As the web continued to open doors, these universities expanded their degree selection. These days, it’s literally possible to graduate with the degree of your choice without ever having to set foot in a classroom.

Education Rocks

If you haven’t seriously weighed distance education as a learning method you may not have considered all the advantages. To that end we’ve listed 7 reasons why distance learning rocks:

1. Opens Doors – Distance education opens doors for millions of people who might otherwise not be able to set foot in a classroom due to accessibility issues including time, a physical handicap or location.

2. Flexible Schedule – There are two types of distance learning classes: synchronous and asynchronous. With the former, you’ll be gathering together with classmates and your instructor at a precise time during the week, the same as you if you attended school in person. With the latter, you establish your own learning schedule, relying on teaching materials and recorded data to accomplish your work.

3. Saves Money – Certainly, not every distance education program is cost effective which means students may still shell out a wad of cash for each course. But, some schools such as Western Governors University offer a value based package. In addition, you’ll use up less gas and your car won’t wear out as fast.

4. Customized Learning – You may find it easier to get the classes you want online than you would if you had to go to the Registrar’s office each semester. Moreover, some programs are tremendously flexible when you pursue a degree, allowing to basically customize what courses you take beyond core subject material.

5. Builds Confidence – Older students, especially those who have been away from the classroom for decades, can find online learning liberating. No need to keep pace with youngsters or feel embarrassed about asking questions in front of a class.

6. Career Changer – Over the past few years, millions of people have seen their careers go up in smoke. Many are making the transition to a new career with distance education playing a role in helping them reshape their lives.

7. Education Sampler – Lastly, online learning allows students to sample a variety of classes some at no charge. If you aren’t sure what you want to study, you may be able to preview class videos and notes before signing up. Save time and money by targeting the types of classes you want to take first.

Survey Says

More than likely when the next education survey is released, the number of schools offering online learning options will have increased. For a number of colleges and universities that is all they do while traditional campus based institutions are expanding to incorporate distance education.

Photo Credit: Simon Cataudo

Distance Learning

A new online school is attempting to change the way people view education by offering the world’s first tuition-free, online academic institution dedicated to the global advancement and democratization of higher education. The University of the People (UoPeople) has been launched an educational concept like none other.

Founder and President Shai Reshef, an Israeli citizen, started the school in hopes of bringing a university level education to millions of people around the world. All you need to participate is a computer and internet hook up with an easy admissions process in place to help enroll students with limited paperwork involved.

Low Fees

Though tuition free, there are some fees involved. An online application processing fee costs between $10-50 while an assessment processing fee at the end of each semester is also charged. These fees range from $10-100. Still, when all is said and done the costs of attending this school are limited to whatever you pay for your computer, your internet hookup and processing fees.

The UoPeople relies on peer to peer teaching with the support of volunteer instructors. The idea here is to have students—who must have a solid understanding of English—to exchange ideas, share resources, review and discuss weekly topics, submit assignments and take exams. The school believes that the peer to peer method encourages students to learn and retain more compared to listening to an online lecture or studying on their own.

Courses Offered

UoPeople, which got started in September 2009, currently offers three areas of study: Business Administration, Computer Science and General Studies. A review of their courses show many similar offerings found elsewhere including English Composition I and II, Macroeconomics, Financial Accounting, College Algebra, Introduction to Philosophy and other courses.

The school makes a point to let students know that it is not accredited nor has the school sought accreditation. UoPeople says that they expect to apply for academic recognition in the near future but they also warn students that they may finish their studies without an accredited degree. Notably, the school is not yet conferring degrees which is understandable as they just got started.

Measuring Success

Will UoPeople succeed? That’s hard to say although it is easy to believe that it won’t without paid faculty, a strong background and widespread academic support available. Currently, the university’s website lists a number of advisers, but they also rely on donations to keep the enterprise going.

Still, with no other choice available to them, students who want to gain knowledge to advance themselves can do so at no great cost to themselves. That could be just the type of leveling field supporters want to help transform higher education in the coming decades.

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Founded as the Denver Institute of Technology in 1953, Westwood College has seventeen campus locations in six states as well as an online division. Typically, when students search for information about distant learning through this for-profit school, they encounter the term Westwood College Online to help differentiate this program from on campus learning.

Westwood College Online offers twenty-five diploma, associate, bachelor’s and master’s programs in a wide range of fields from Business Administration to Game Art and from Interior Design to Web Design and Multimedia. The school says that they are an online branch of Westwood College – Los Angeles, but online learning is not available in every state. Westwood is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) and is candidate with The Higher Learning Commission and an affiliate of the North Central Association.

From Humble Beginnings

Westwood College is a division of Alta College, Inc. a privately-held, for-profit business founded by a pair of Harvard Business School grads – Kirk Riedinger and Jamie Turner. With no money of their own to invest, the men purchased the Denver Institute of Technology in 1987, the first of more than a dozen schools which are now part of their company.

“Over 75 percent of adult Americans don’t have bachelor’s degrees,” explained Riedinger to the Denver Business Journal in June 2002. “We offer career-focused education to prepare students who are launching a career, changing a career or enhancing a career. Our curriculum is constantly updated based on the industry and the feedback we receive.”

Looking Behind The Scenes

But re-minted Westwood College hasn’t been without controversy nor has Alta College, Inc. its owner. Earlier this year Westwood College settled a lawsuit brought against by the federal government, alleging that the school misrepresented the type of school that it is and did not provide careers for its students.

The suit alleged that Westwood College claimed that 97% of its graduates went on to get jobs, but those figures were later disproved and shown to me far lower. Some students complained that transferring credits from Westwood to another college or university wasn’t possible as Westwood had promised, meaning that their transcripts were rejected.

Westwood College settled its lawsuit with the federal government though the school without admitting to wrongdoing. Lately, the law firm of James, Hoyer, Newcomer, Smiljanich & Yanchunis, P.A. has been gathering evidence to present a class action suit against the school (see first YouTube video). The school has countered with its own YouTube campaign to refute allegations (see second YouTube video).

More Information

James, Hoyer, Newcomer, Smiljanich & Yanchunis, P.A. (class action suit information)

Riedinger, Turner head the class with Alta College

Westwood College settles federal lawsuit

Student Aid Map – print this 1-page map the summarizes your college financial aid options. Simply follow the path for scholarships, grants, aid steps, state aid, student loans, private loans, and other aid resources. Type: PDF file. FREE download. No registration required.

Your Time Is Limited

To keep up with these changes, we’ll be expanding our review of online education options by taking a look at specific programs available and the schools offering these programs. One commodity that many college students don’t have much of is time, but online education (distance learning) allows you to enroll and in many cases complete your studies at your own pace.

To that end, beginning this June we’ll take a look at specific online schools and what they have to offer to you. We’ll give you information to help you learn a lot more about that school, its programs, history, costs and related information. Moreover, we’ll be digging deep to pull up related sources to help you connect with other students, share with you what other people are saying about the school and include details you may not easily be able to uncover yourself. In other words, we’ll be tapping our resources and going well beyond them to present to you a concise and precise package of information.

First School To Be Featured

The first school we’ll be taking a look at is a household name — the University of Phoenix.  U of P happens to be the largest private college in the United States based on the number of enrolled students, a true pioneer in internet based studies.  Please check in the first week of June to find our review of the university and its programs.

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Probably the most important concern for students and their parents when it comes to college is how to pay for it. Indeed, even when scholarships and grant money is offered tuition bills can run into the tens of thousands of dollars. Thus, when we learned that a school based in Alabama has a program in place that charges no tuition, our interest was naturally piqued.

As a backgrounder, Andrew Jackson University or AJU is a for-profit, online or distance learning school. AJU offers Associate’s, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degrees in Business and Criminal Justice, with Communication, Public Administration, Health Care Management, and Psychology among the other degrees offered. Formed in 1994, the university has been accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC).

Sponsored Tuition Program Now Available

In a novel way of helping students cover the cost of their tuition, AJU has developed a sponsored tuition program where private companies cover tuition costs in exchange for enrollment in their programs. Three companies are currently acting as sponsors; I chose one of them when I signed up which involved me sharing minimal personal information about myself (email, phone, address). You are required to pay a $75 application fee to enroll and, if accepted into the program you’re responsible for covering the cost of your books and certain fees.

AJU President Don Kassner explained the university’s zero tuition program in a recently released press release by saying, “Most universities spend a tremendous amount of money to recruit students. Many spend as much as thirty-five percent of their revenue on marketing and advertising. They have to keep their tuition high to recover these costs. We eliminated these costs by structuring relationships with strategic partners that refer potential students to us. Therefore, we can operate a quality, degree granting institution without the escalating tuition and excessive fees deemed necessary by many schools.”

AJU’s sponsored tuition program is currently limited to one hundred students per month, but the university has plans to increase that number gradually over time.

(Source: Andrew Jackson University)

Related Information

College Scholarships For Every Type of Student

Free Tuition Colleges Really Exist!

Schools of higher education were among the first users touting the benefits of the internet, with the University of Phoenix getting its start in the 1980s, well before “modem” was a household word. Today, hundreds of schools are offering online degrees, including the following grad programs from five top flight universities:

Edinburgh Business School (EBS) — Located in Scotland, EBS is part of Heriot-Watt University and has a global reputation for providing an excellent MBA degree. Online learning is typically very expensive, but an MBA from EBS will cost approximately $15,000, adjusted for monetary variations.

Stanford Center For Professional Development — Stanford University’s reputation comes to your home computer, allowing students to receive grad degrees in Engineering.

Florida State University — FSU’s College of Social Work was one of the first schools to offer masters degrees to students, making their program available online in 2001.

The Franklin Institute Online — Drexel University’s Franklin Institute is educating students seeking an MS in Education. For taking classes online, Franklin offers students a 10-25% discount on tuition.

Carnegie Mellon — You can receive your Master in Software Engineering online thanks to a program developed by Carnegie Mellon.

Some schools, including Duke University, require grad students to spend a portion of their time on campus while pursuing a degree. Of course, this can severely limit people who cannot travel to Durham, North Carolina, but it may be an option for those who can.

Yes, online learning continues to grow and expand with schools offering certificates; associate, bachelor, and master degrees; even awarding doctorates over the internet.

Ivy Bridge College is an online-only school developed and run by Tiffin University offering associate degrees which can open up doors to a four-year degree at Tiffin and other schools. An independent, coeducational institution that has been educating students since 1888, Tiffin has achieved national recognition for its accredited on-campus and online courses.

Tiffin’s Ivy Bridge program is designed particularly to help students who need extra academic assistance to succeed and will team students with coaches who will monitor their progress. Specifically, Ivy Bridge College offers:

Log On Anytime. Students can log on to take classes at any time, setting their own schedule, and completing the program in as little as 20 months.

Connection with teachers and students. The school is encouraging email contact with teachers, news group discussions, online chats, and office hours. Students will be able to connect with each other as well.

A planned path. Ivy Bridge has agreements in place with Tiffin University and dozens of other colleges and universities throughout the United States. These agreements make it easier for students to be accepted into and to transfer credits to four-year institutions once they have completed their Ivy Bridge degree.

Earn a highly prized degree. Ivy Bridge students will earn a Tiffin University degree, which is authorized by the Ohio Board of Regents and accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Commission (NCA) and by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

Applications for new students is currently under way.

Resources

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College Tracking Sheets

Not every college that charges a mint for schooling can afford to match this initiative as they don’t have the funds available to cover student costs. According to an article appearing in the AACRAO Transcript, “Yale and Harvard Financial Aid Plans Put Pressure on Less Wealthy Colleges,” some of the less endowed, but expensive, colleges are feeling pressure from parents to develop their own aid packages.

Bryn Mawr and Dickinson College are two schools who are in the upper echelon of education and tuition costs, but their administrators say that they cannot match what Yale, Harvard and the others are doing. In fact, one father contacted a college official and said that the school should match what the Ivies and others are doing even though it would cost these schools a lot of money.

Some of the state universities may also start feeling the pressure as their tuition costs continue to climb. In California, for example, Berkeley educational costs are about $25,000 annually. Their funding, however, comes from state coffers and pressuring the legislature to provide additional funding may not come so easy — taxes would have to be raised or funds grabbed from other programs to cover costs.

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