Western Governors University

Not to be confused with Governors State University.
"WGU" redirects here. For other uses, see WGU (disambiguation).
Western Governors University
TypePrivate online university
Established1997; 27 years ago (1997)
FounderMike Leavitt
Roy Romer[1]
AccreditationNWCCU
Budget$800 million (2019)[2]
PresidentScott Pulsipher[3]
ProvostCourtney Hills McBeth[4]
Academic staff
2,974 (full-time)[5]
1,220 (part-time)[5]
Students156,935 (fall 2022)[5]
Undergraduates112,807 (fall 2022)[5]
Postgraduates44,128 (fall 2022)[5]
Location
Millcreek
,
Utah
,
U.S.

40°41′06″N 111°52′12″W / 40.685°N 111.87°W / 40.685; -111.87
CampusOnline[5]
ColorsNavy and gold
   
NicknameNight Owls
MascotSage the Night Owl
Websitewww.wgu.edu

Western Governors University (WGU) is a private online university based in Millcreek, Utah, United States.[6][7] The university uses an online competency-based learning model, providing advanced education for working professionals.[8] Degrees awarded by WGU are accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).[9][10] The university was founded by 19 U.S. governors in 1997, after the idea was formulated at a 1995 meeting of the Western Governors Association to expand education offerings to the internet.[11]

  1. ^ "Articles of Incorporation of the Western Governors University". Western Governors University. January 15, 1997. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  2. ^ Williamson, Richard; Burton, Paul; Sigo, Shelly (11 June 2019). "How online learning is reshaping higher education". The Bond Buyer. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  3. ^ "University Governance". Western Governors University. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Dr. Courtney Hills McBeth Takes Helm as New WGU Chief Academic Officer and Provost". Western Governors University. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Western Governors University. National Center for Education Statistics (College Navigator). Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  6. ^ "How a group of governors disrupted higher education to create an online university". Deseret News. 2022-08-05. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
  7. ^ Contact WGU. Western Governors University. Accessed 2022-11-06.
  8. ^ Johnstone, Douglas B. (2005), "Western Governors University and Competency-Based Education", Encyclopedia of Distance Learning, IGI Global, pp. 2029–2035, doi:10.4018/978-1-59140-555-9.ch309, ISBN 978-1-59140-555-9, retrieved 2021-04-26
  9. ^ "Accreditation & Recognition". Western Governors University. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  10. ^ "WGU's Business Programs Now Accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs". Keyc.com. Archived from the original on 2018-05-11. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  11. ^ "Our Story". Western Governors University. January 13, 2009. Retrieved December 19, 2016.