St. Louis City Residents Recognized at WGU Missouri Commencement

Four residents from St. Louis City were recognized for receiving their degrees at WGU Missouri’s commencement ceremony, held Saturday, June 25, at the Touhill Performing Arts Center in St. Louis. Those recognized include:

· David Kelley, of Dutchtown, Bachelor of Science in Business Information Technology Management

· Patricia Polley, of Dutchtown, MBA in Information Technology Management

· Courtney Pentenero, of the Hill neighborhood, Bachelor of Science in Business Human Resource Management

· Diana Johnston, of the Shaw Neighborhood, Bachelor of Science in Nursing

WGU Missouri, the only online, nonprofit university endorsed by the state of Missouri, provides an affordable and accessible path to college completion for Missouri’s working adults. The university, created in 2013 by Governor Jay Nixon in partnership with Western Governors University, has grown by 367 percent since its establishment, with 2,087 current students and 937 alumni.

Governor Jay Nixon served as the keynote speaker at the ceremony, addressing a crowd of nearly 850. During the ceremony, three student speakers also shared stories of their educational journeys. They include: Justine Eubanks, BA Interdisciplinary Studies, from Owensville, Mo.; Arnold Hogue, B.S. Business Management, from Normandy; and Janine Lange, M.S. Nursing Leadership and Management, from Imperial, Mo.

WGU Missouri Commencement by the Numbers:

· WGU Missouri graduates represent nearly 100 cities across the state and more than 50 counties.

· 166 undergraduate and 122 graduate degrees are being conferred.

· The average age of the graduates is 38; the youngest grad is 21; the oldest is 66.

· 92 percent of the graduates are over the age of 27.

· 43 percent of the graduates represent the first generation in their families to complete college.

· Degree distribution by college:

o College of Business – 109

o College of Health Professions and Nursing – 101

o College of Information Technology – 25

o Teachers College – 53

WGU Missouri’s online, competency-based model allows students to move quickly through material they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn. As a result, many students are able to accelerate their studies, finishing faster and saving money. Tuition is charged at a flat rate of $2,890 per six-month term for most programs, regardless of the number of courses completed. On average, students are able to complete a bachelor’s degree in less than three years, many while holding a full-time job and raising a family. The online model also enables students to enroll and study from anywhere across the state, and complete coursework at a schedule that works best for them. For more information, visit missouri.wgu.edu.

About WGU Missouri

WGU Missouri is an online, competency-based university created to expand access to higher education for Missouri residents. The university offers more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the fields of business, K-12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing. WGU Missouri faculty members serve as mentors, working one-on-one with students, offering guidance, support, and individualized instruction.

Established in 2013 through a partnership with nationally recognized Western Governors University, WGU Missouri is open to all qualified Missouri residents. The university is nonprofit and self-sustaining on flat-rate tuition of about $6,000 per year for most programs.

Degrees are granted under the accreditation of Western Governors University, which is accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Teachers College programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE*).

More information is available at missouri.wgu.edu or by calling 855.948.8493.

*Western Governors University offers nursing programs that are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 5380, Washington DC 20036, 202-877-6791).