Montgomery County Community College: Western Governors University Announces New Educational Partnership And Scholarships

Press release from the Montgomery County Community College:

Dulcey Antonucci & Diane VanDyke

June 14, 2021

Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) and nonprofit, accredited Western Governors
University (WGU) announced the signing of an agreement that creates pathways for MCCC
students, alumni, and employees to earn a WGU degree.  As part of the agreement, WGU will apply credit earned at the associate level at
MCCC toward a bachelor’s degree at WGU. In addition, MCCC students, alumni and employees
will be able to apply for specially designated WGU Community College Partner Scholarships.

This agreement supports MCCC’s mission and commitment to provide meaningful learning
experiences and opportunities that will continue student success beyond the College’s
campuses.

“We are very pleased to partner with Western Governors University to offer online
pathways for our graduates and employees to seamlessly continue their education -
with full junior standing – and with quality curricula and teaching in the areas of
business, information technology, health sciences and education,” said Dr. Victoria
L. Bastecki-Perez, MCCC President. “The flexible format will support their success
in accomplishing their academic and career goals and will meet the needs of all students
balancing the complexity of personal and professional lives.”

WGU offers more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degrees in the high-demand fields of business, information technology, K-12 education, and
healthcare, including nursing. WGU’s competency-based, high-quality and low-cost learning
model allows students to accelerate at their own pace. Asynchronous courses allow
students to log in and study whenever their schedules permit. Tuition is around $3,250
per six-month term for most undergraduate degree programs, and students can take as
many courses per term as they and their mentors are comfortable with.

“Partnering with Montgomery County Community College will make it possible for their
graduates and employees to complete their degree at a low cost, without disrupting
their lives,” said Regional Vice President Rebecca Watts, Ph.D.  “After they are admitted
and enroll at WGU, our online, competency-based model allows working adults to advance
their careers, with personalized support from a faculty mentor.”          

Watts continued, “At a time when so many people are in need of higher education opportunities
that align with employer and industry needs, WGU is thrilled to partner with MCCC
to advance our mission of providing higher education access to historically-underrepresented
communities, like working adults.”

WGU degree programs include undergraduate and graduate degrees in cybersecurity, human
resource management, data management/data analytics, information technology management,
business management and leadership, nursing and healthcare management. 

About Western Governors UniversityEstablished in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors with a mission to expand access to high-quality,
affordable higher education, online, nonprofit WGU now serves more than 131,000 students
nationwide and has more than 230,000 graduates across all 50 states and territories.
Driving innovation as the nation’s leading competency-based university, WGU has been
recognized by the White House, state leaders, employers, and students as a model that
works in postsecondary education. In just 24 years, the university has become a leading
influence in changing the lives of individuals and families, and preparing the workforce
needed in today’s rapidly evolving economy. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission
on Colleges and Universities, has been named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies, and was featured on NPR, NBC Nightly News, CNN, and in The New York Times. 

This press release was produced by the Montgomery County Community College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.