Margaret Simonis, vice president and dean for the College of Business at Western Governors University, has served WGU for more than 15 years. During that time, Simonis previously served as director of program faculty, a program manager and program mentor, giving her a diverse perspective on the faculty model at WGU, which stands out among traditional faculty models at traditional universities. 

Simonis recently shared her perspective on this innovative faculty model with Mitsu Frazier, senior vice president of the WGU College of Business, and explained why the instructor role at WGU is so valuable, particularly in an online learning environment.

Mitsu Frazier: To get started, can you explain for our readers how the faculty model works at Western Governors University, and how it’s different when comparing it to a traditional faculty model at a traditional university?

Margaret Simonis: At WGU, the traditional faculty role is disaggregated into multiple distinct roles. There are instructors who teach the course content and bring course material to life. There are program mentors who help their students set overall goals for the term and degree completion and also serve as guides throughout the program to help students with everything from determining what courses to include in their term to a pacing strategy for how best to approach any challenges along the way that may impact their goals. There are also evaluators who are responsible for evaluating performance assessments and providing substantive written feedback. Finally, there are curriculum faculty, who are responsible for designing and developing courses and assessments. This faculty model allows focus and expertise on key components rather than needing to split time among many different responsibilities.

Frazier: From there, let’s take a closer look at the instructor role at WGU. Can you explain in more detail for our readers why this role is so valuable and unique?

Simonis: Our instructors get to focus on teaching! At WGU we have a master curriculum. Instructors are the key to bringing that curriculum to life. Instructors create strategies to support students both one-on-one and in small and large group settings to explain concepts further, provide examples, connect with students and connect students with their peers during live event sessions, and individualize their approach to each student’s unique needs and preferences.

Frazier: Let’s talk about how the instructor role is particularly valuable for students enrolled in WGU’s business degree programs. How do you see that role specifically benefiting our business students?

Simonis: Business moves rapidly, and students want to be able to apply their course learning as quickly as possible - often even before they have officially earned their degree – whether that be with their current employer or because they are changing career fields entirely. In WGU’s business programs, students will see relevant examples and have the flexibility to apply the learning to their chosen business area. They will meet with instructors who have relevant experience in that field, allowing them to apply concepts beyond just reading about what is in the course materials.

Frazier: I also know that our College of Business faculty members have real-world industry experience, which is crucial for our students. Talk about the benefit to the student and give some examples of the kinds of experience our instructors bring to the table. 

Simonis: Learning is enriched when it can be applied in a meaningful way. A course should be more than a degree requirement – it should result in applying a new way of completing a task at work, career development or even learning a skill that can immediately translate to new career opportunities. Real world industry experience is critical for this to happen as this allows students to retain concepts beyond the final assessment. For example, in several of our courses, instructors utilize case studies to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios. They draw on their own experience to make the content relevant and engaging. 

One instructor who teaches even draws on his own personal experience investing in real estate. When students ask for extra examples to better understand an Excel function, he can provide the students with interesting examples. They can see that the knowledge gained really will enhance their professional and personal lives. There are also many cases where our accounting instructors have utilized their experience, such as utilizing previous experience as a tax auditor to make the examples real instead of just hypothetical. In supply chain courses, instructors were able to quickly show students the impact of a post-COVID world. 

Frazier: There’s often a myth that there’s no personalized experience or human experience in an online learning environment. You and I know, from our work experience at WGU, that this is simply untrue. Can you talk more about this to debunk the myth once and for all?

Simonis: There are so many opportunities to engage with both faculty and other students in our environment, and sometimes even more so than the in-classroom environment given there is less of a barrier to time and place. Our instructors know how important it is to be available to our students during a variety of times and days. Additionally, because of our unique model, instructors can personalize their approach based on a student’s pace through the course, which is more challenging to do when everyone is moving through the content during a rigid, pre-established timeline. 

Frazier: As we wrap up, do you have any final thoughts you’d like to add on this important topic?

Simonis: Like most of our students at WGU, many of our instructors also juggled work, family and other priorities while completing their own degree programs. They understand and empathize with the many commitments our students have. They are here to help and can make a world of difference in not feeling alone through this journey. They are here because they are truly excited to give back and help our students not only earn their degree, but also further develop their love of learning along the way.

Learn more about WGU’s personalized learning model.