Western Governors University Increases Benefits for NEA Members

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Jul 01, 2011, 02:45 ET

NEA Academy Members Now Eligible for Scholarships Up to $2,400 at Online University

SALT LAKE CITY, July 1, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NEA Academy Partner Western Governors University, www.wgu.edu, has doubled its scholarship program for NEA members seeking their master's degrees. The enhanced program offered by the NCATE-accredited, online university provides up to $2,400 for NEA members who participate in local, state, regional, or national leadership positions. The scholarships will be awarded at the rate of $800 per six-month term, for up to three terms.

As a partner selected by the NEA Academy for the quality of its degree programs, accessibility, and affordability, WGU offers all NEA members a 5% tuition discount and a waiver of the university's $65 application fee.

WGU's Teachers College, which has more than 10,000 students nationwide, offers 12 online master's level programs in Education as well as English Language Learning (ESL) and Educational Leadership Endorsement programs. All Teachers College programs are accredited by NCATE, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. Programs include:

To be eligible for the NEA Academy Partner Scholarship, students must be admitted to WGU, participate in local, state, regional, or national association leadership positions as an NEA member, and demonstrate that their work with NEA has had a positive impact on public education. Multiple scholarships will be awarded. Details regarding the scholarship can be found at http://www.wgu.edu/NEAScholarship.

Western Governors University is ideal for working teachers who wish to advance their careers and enhance their teaching effectiveness by completing a master's degree in Education. The university uses a mentor-guided, competency-based learning model that allows students to advance by demonstrating their knowledge rather than logging time in class. This model, which uses technology to teach and allows students to take advantage of their experience and prior education, offers working adults a flexible and affordable way to complete a graduate degree. For more information about WGU, go to www.wgu.edu, or call 1.800.225.5948.

About Western Governors University

"[WGU is] the best relatively cheap university you've never heard of."– TIME magazine

Featured on the NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, WGU is the only university in the U.S. offering competency-based degree programs and the only nonprofit, fully online university with students in all 50 states. WGU offers 50 degree programs in Business, Education, Information Technology, and Health Professions, including Nursing. Since its inception in 1997, WGU has grown into a national institution, serving more than 25,000 students. WGU is self-sustaining on tuition, and does not rely on state or national support to fund its operations.

On June 11, 2010, WGU Indiana, referred to by Governor Mitch Daniels as Indiana's eighth state university, was formed through a partnership with the state. WGU Washington was established by the Washington State Legislature on April 22, 2011. Subsidiaries of Western Governors University, WGU Indiana and WGU Washington are state-endorsed and offer degree programs that are accredited through Western Governors University.

WGU is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and nationally accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). WGU nursing programs have been accredited by the Commission for Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and its B.S. in Health Informatics is accredited by CAHIIM (Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education). WGU's Teachers College is the first and only exclusively online provider of teacher education to receive accreditation for its degree programs that lead to teacher licensure from NCATE, the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.

In 2011, WGU received its second 21^st Century Award for Best Practices in Distance learning from the United States Distance Learning Association, (USDLA). In addition, WGU President Robert W. Mendenhall was recognized for his achievements in higher education when he received the 2010 McGraw Prize in Education.

The university has earned the support of more than 20 leading corporations and foundations. They include institutions such as AT&T, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Dell, Lilly Endowment, HCA, Hewlett-Packard, Lumina Foundation, Microsoft, Oracle, Qwest, SunGard Higher Education, and Zions Bank. More information is available at www.wgu.edu or by calling 866.225.5948.

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Contact for media inquiries:
Joan Mitchell – Director of PR
801-428-5463
[email protected]

Contact for enrollment information:
866-225-5948
www.wgu.edu

SOURCE Western Governors University