Shriners Hospitals for Children and WGU Announce New Partnership

The employees of Shriners Hospitals for Children-St. Louis are now eligible for a 5 percent discount on tuition under a new partnership agreement between the pediatric orthopedic care hospital and WGU Missouri. The partnership discount will apply to any of WGU Missouri’s 50+ degree programs in business, information technology, education and health care. St. Louis Shriners Hospital employees will also be eligible to apply for scholarships available through the WGU Missouri Healthcare Partners Fund. The Fund grants scholarships of up to $2,500.

St. Louis Shriners Hospital is part of the Shriners Hospitals for Children network, which has 22 locations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico and is one of the nation’s most recognized names in pediatric specialty care for children. Founded in 1922, Shriners Hospitals for Children provides the highest quality care to children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries and cleft lip and palate, regardless of the families’ ability to pay. The environment at Shriners Hospitals embodies a compassionate, family-centered and collaborative care setting.

“Our goal is that 80 percent of our direct-care nurses have a bachelor of science degree in nursing or higher by 2020, as recommended by the Institute of Medicine,” said Marjorie McEttrick-Maloney, Chief Nursing Officer, Shriners Hospitals for Children. “We are committed to meeting this objective, and we value each and every one of our nurses for their dedication and passion. As such, Shriners Hospitals for Children looks forward to the partnership with WGU to meet the needs of our nurses’ and all employees’ future education.”

WGU Missouri’s competency-based learning model makes it possible for working adults to fit studying into their busy lives. While WGU Missouri’s online degree programs are rigorous and challenging, students can earn their degrees without sacrificing work, family and financial obligations. Students complete courses as soon as they demonstrate that they have mastered the materials, enabling them to move quickly through material they already know and spend more time on what they still need to learn. As a result, many students are able to accelerate their studies, finishing faster and saving money—the average time to complete a bachelor’s degree is about two-and-a-half years.

WGU Missouri’s tuition after the 5 percent discount is about $2,850 per six-month term and covers all coursework completed within that time. WGU Missouri offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in health professions (including nursing), information technology, business and teaching.

"WGU Missouri is committed to changing lives by giving people the opportunity to advance their education,” said Dr. Angie Besendorfer, Chancellor of WGU Missouri. “Our academic programs ensure graduates have the core knowledge and skills required to compete and succeed in the workplace, while also helping partners like Shriners Hospitals for Children-St. Louis address their critical professional development needs."

To learn more about the WGU Missouri-Shriners Hospitals for Children partnership, visit https://www.wgu.edu/landing/shriners.