business backgrounder | employment & workplace
“I studied in any spare moment. I learned how to be a
better student, too, so that when I go back for my master’s
I’ll be able to do it a lot more efficiently.”
– Josie Meyer, 2011 WGU Washington graduate
additional information
Bachelor’s post-baccalaureate and master’s degrees are offered in four colleges:
• College of Business
• College of Information Technology
• Teachers College
• College of Health Professions
wgu washington advisory board members:
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Don Brunell, president, AWB
Phyllis Campbell, chairman, Pacific Northwest, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Al Davis, principal, Revitalization Partners
Dr. Carver Clark Gayton, education and workforce development consultant
Dr. Rich Cummins, president and CEO, Columbia Basin College
Steve Mullen, president, Washington Roundtable
Hilary Pennington, director of education, postsecondary success and special
initiatives, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Rogelio Riojas, CEO, Sea Mar Community Health Centers
Dr. Kathleen Ross, president emeritus, Heritage College
Dr. Samuel H. Smith, president emeritus, Washington State University
John D. White, vice president, BergerABAM
“I studied in any spare moment,” Meyer
said. “I learned how to be a better student,
too, so that when I go back for my master’s
I’ll be able to do it a lot more efficiently.
“The mentor made it for me,” she added. “I
would’ve been lost without that.”
WGU Washington offers 50 bachelor’s,
post-baccalaureate and master’s degrees in
four disciplines: business, information technology, education and health care.
filling a void
Despite an existing network of public, private
and for-profit online universities, it’s clear that
WGU Washington is helping to fill a void.
By 2018, 67 percent of jobs in Washington will require a college degree, and yet
the state ranks 48th in degree production,
Floten said. More than 950,000 Washingtonians have started but not finished a college
degree.
“We need more higher education capacity,”
she said.
That not only hurts job-seekers, but it
increases the burden on employers, as well.
That’s why the university’s advisory board
– Jean Floten, chancellor, WGU Washington
includes representatives of the business
community, including AWB President Don
demonstrating what they already know, and concenBrunell.
trating on what they still need to learn.
Floten previously served as president of Bellevue
This turned out to be a good fit for Meyer. Although
College, and her decision to leave the community colshe lacked a four-year degree when she started, Meylege last year took some by surprise. She told AWB
er did have a two-year degree, as well as a wealth of
that WGU Washington offers a
experience gained from
unique model, adding “that is
her years of work.
By 2018,
of
what’s really exciting to me as
Another way is by keepan educator.”
jobs in Washington will require
ing the price relatively
Based on the results, students
low. Tuition is $2,890 per
a
and employers should be happy
six-month term, or about
with the new model. Ninetyone-third to one-half the
four percent of employers say they are satisfied with
cost of other online universities.
the employees they hire and would hire another
Because it’s entirely online, students can work
WGU graduate.
on degrees at their own pace and at any time. They
Fifty-six percent of graduates end up getting
receive weekly phone calls from mentors who keep
promotions, pay raises or successfully change jobs.
tabs on their progress and offer help when they
Including Josie Meyer.
encounter a problem.
“We need more higher education capacity.”
67 percent
college degree
spring 2012 49