Policy Priorities
To find out what is being done to close the digital divide in your state, reach out to our Government Relations representatives.
WGU's Policy Priorities
WGU believes in the inherent worth and talent of every individual. In order to connect talented individuals with opportunity, higher education must be more accessible and affordable than it has traditionally been, especially for students from socioeconomically underserved populations.
We believe that higher education should be accessible, accommodating, achievable, affordable, and applicable.
We support working adult learners by advocating for policies that:
- Remove barriers to make postsecondary education more accessible.
- Enhance wraparound support services to make postsecondary education more accommodating.
- Expand competency-based learning to ensure that higher education is more achievable.
- Encourage innovation and accountability to make higher education more affordable.
- Align higher education with workforce needs so credentials and degrees are more applicable.
To find out what is being done to close the digital divide in your state, reach out to our Government Relations representatives.
Montana Governor Greg Gianforte and WGU President Scott Pulsipher sign an MOU expanding state financial assistance eligibility to WGU students in the state.
2023 State Policy Playbook
The Western Governors University 2023 State Policy Playbook highlights specific barriers that impact working adult learners, with a focus on adults in low-income, low-resiliency jobs, who are referred to as rising and stranded talent. This playbook offers recommendations for policymakers and provides examples of existing policies that help working adult learners succeed.
Policy Briefs and Statements
To find out what is being done to close the digital divide in your state, reach out to our Government Relations representatives.
Higher Education and Workforce Alignment
Employers appreciate that WGU’s competency-based model aligns with workforce needs by adapting programs to meet industry demands. Hundreds of companies have partnered with WGU as the educational provider for their employees because the university offers degree programs and certifications that exclusively lead to in-demand careers.
To find out what is being done to close the digital divide in your state, reach out to our Government Relations representatives.
Expanding Access to Workforce Training
Employers appreciate that WGU’s competency-based model aligns with workforce needs by adapting programs to meet industry demands. Hundreds of companies have partnered with WGU as the educational provider for their employees, and most WGU alums complete their degrees in under two-and-a-half years with minimal debt.
To find out what is being done to close the digital divide in your state, reach out to our Government Relations representatives.
Impacting the Teaching Workforce
Although this issue has become more visible since the COVID-19 pandemic, teacher shortages have existed for many years. These shortages are often localized, affecting some geographies, academic subjects, and demographic groups more severely than others.
To find out what is being done to close the digital divide in your state, reach out to our Government Relations representatives.
WGU Position Statement on Measures to Restrict or Limit DE&I Efforts
DE&I is not about being politically correct. It’s a rejection of “one-size-fits-all” education. Above all, it’s about honoring diverse perspectives and lived experiences, and responding to students’ individual needs with personalized interventions so that every learner succeeds.
To find out what is being done to close the digital divide in your state, reach out to our Government Relations representatives.
Affordability
The high cost of obtaining a college degree disproportionately leaves
underserved students with limited access to postsecondary education.
Affordability is often a reason why many leave college without a degree,
often with student loan debt.
To find out what is being done to close the digital divide in your state, reach out to our Government Relations representatives.
Responsible Borrowing
Approximately 43 million Americans owe more than $1.7 trillion in
public and private loans, making student loans the nation’s largest
source of non-mortgage debt. This debt can have a disruptive effect on
borrowers’ lives, with repayment being an obstacle for many.
To find out what is being done to close the digital divide in your state, reach out to our Government Relations representatives.
Online Learning
Online education continues to grow in popularity, even as the total number of college students decreases. The online format is particularly attractive to working learners, rural learners, and people living in education deserts, who are drawn to the flexibility and accessibility that online learning provides.
To find out what is being done to close the digital divide in your state, reach out to our Government Relations representatives.
National Nursing Shortage
Policymakers on the state and federal levels can combat the nationwide nursing shortage by increasing access to competency-based nursing education. The prioritization and investment in education would offset current healthcare costs, which is approximately 18% of the U.S. GDP.
To find out what is being done to close the digital divide in your state, reach out to our Government Relations representatives.
Short-Term Pell Expansion
While Pell Grants can currently be used for programs lasting 15 weeks or more, pending legislation would extend Pell eligibility to programs of at least eight weeks. Proponents of short-term Pell believe the added financial support can help more students obtain valuable, career-relevant skills. However, there is also concern that shorter programs are prime targets for bad actors, who will develop programs that do not translate to increased income or career success.
WGU President Testifies Before Congress on Higher Ed’s Path Forward
On Feb. 8, 2023, WGU President Scott Pulsipher was invited to testify before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce on the topic of “American Education in Crisis.” As part of his testimony, President Pulsipher outlined three deliverables upon which higher education should focus:
- Higher education should be accessible, traversable, and equitable. Our current system is leaving human potential on the table and is failing to serve as a catalyst for human progress. While many colleges and universities are innovating to create pathways to opportunity that are accessible to all, equity gaps stubbornly remain.
- Higher education must create value for students. The current state of higher education is perhaps best summarized by the Postsecondary Value Commission, supported by the Gates Foundation and the Institute for Higher Education Policy. Their study found that 650 institutions serving approximately 1.5 million students do not provide their students with a minimum economic return after accounting for the cost of attendance.
- Higher education must meet the needs of the workforce. As an extension of providing individuals a pathway to opportunity, a secondary benefit is realized: Workforce needs become aligned with talent supply.
As part of his testimony before the committee, President Pulsipher submitted a detailed written plan for how to make this shift, including policy recommendations. Those written remarks are available for download as a white paper.
Learner Profiles
- Accessible
- Accommodating
- Achievable
- Affordable
- Applicable
Kevin Ninkovich
Washington
B.S. Business Administration, Healthcare Management
Kevin left college two semesters short of graduating and fell into the service industry as a bartender. After the pandemic shut down his employment in San Francisco, Kevin enrolled at WGU in healthcare management. Although he had positive experiences at two previous higher education institutions, it took finding WGU for him to finally complete his degree. He now works as a project manager for a large software development company.
Rosa Ballenilla Mateo
New York
B.A. Educational Studies
At the age of five, Rosa emigrated from the Dominican Republic with her family and faced challenges including learning a new language and a new culture.
Rosa uses her own experience as an immigrant to help others find their way. Her commitment to helping kids enter a path to success in education is her greatest strength. Rosa earned her bachelor’s degree in educational studies in elementary education from WGU in 2022.
Jillene VanNostrand
Silver Spring, MD
B.S. Cybersecurity and Information Assurance
MBA Information Technology Management
While studying Arabic as a linguist in the U.S. Army, Jillene developed a love for protecting others and learning. After 18 years as a stay-at-home mom to five children, she enrolled at WGU, where she applied her skills, passions, and life experience.
It only took Jillene nine months to earn her bachelor’s degree, and she recently received an MBA in Information Technology Management. As a participant in the Cybersecurity Talent Initiative, Jillene is currently employed in a two-year job placement with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
WGU’s competency-based program allowed Jillene to move at her own speed, and she attained short-term industry certifications while receiving her degrees. “The ability to customize my pace, and that flexibility that WGU offers has been really instrumental in my success,” she said.
Damien Mills
Tacoma, WA
B.A. Special Education
Damien’s original career path began with an associate degree in video production since he dreamed of creating magic behind the camera and producing inspirational videos. But an oversaturated market and the 2008 recession led him to begin a para-educator job at a local middle school.
Working one-on-one with students, Damien found his true gift: an ability to relate to and shape the lives of this generation, one smile at a time. One of the things that makes it so easy for Damien to relate to his students is that he has learning disabilities, too.
After depleting federal funds, WGU scholarships helped him bridge his financial gap. His perseverance paid off, and Damien is now a fully certified special education teacher.
Antonesha Lewis
Midwest City, OK
B.S. Nursing
Antonesha is a pediatric registered nurse. As a single mother, she knew that 43% of single mothers drop out of college, and only 31% of single mothers ages 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree. She beat those odds while also working two jobs, and she chose nursing because her daughter has epilepsy. An advocate for healthy families and higher education, Antonesha earned her B.S. in nursing from Western Governors University in 2021.
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WGU's Public Policy Team works on issues related to removing barriers for working learners. If you'd like to join the conversation, please reach out.
