WGU Tennessee grows in its first five years

WGU Tennessee, the online university launched in 2013 as part of Gov. Bill Haslam’s Drive to 55 initiative, has grown to the third-largest private, nonprofit university in the state based on full-time enrollment of 4,100 students.

In its first five years, WGU Tennessee said it has conferred more than 3,000 degrees and helped

115 Tennesseans find jobs in their trained field since its start. Degrees are granted under the accreditation of Western Governors University, which is accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

WGU also said it has formed more than 50 partnerships with companies and institutions across the state, including partnerships with all 13 of Tennessee’s community colleges and Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology and has awarded more than

$1.5 million in scholarship funding to Tennesseans.

“What impresses me the most about WGU Tennessee’s growth is the demographics of its students, many of whom wouldn’t be able to pursue degrees if not for the affordability and flexibility provided by WGU,” Gov. Bill Haslam said Monday. “More than 40 percent of its graduates are first-generation college completers, and the average student age is 37 — proof that the university is fulfilling its intended mission and helping us reach our Drive to 55 goal.”

The university’s innovative approach, known as competencybased learning, is key to its success and popularity — especially among working adults with busy schedules. The school measures competencies rather than time spent in a classroom, allowing students to move at a faster pace.