Exploring WGU and Competency-Based Learning in Depth
Western Governors University, now the nation's largest university, was established in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors, guided by three central ideas: the potential of the internet to boost educational access, the need for a more affordable education model, and the efficiency of competency-based education. Each founding state contributed $100,000, and a $10-million grant from the U.S. Department of Education in 2001 kickstarted the creation of a teacher's college, followed by a college of health professions in 2006. This paved the way for rapid growth to 38,000 students by 2012. Today, WGU boasts over 180,000 students and nearly 350,000 alumni, offering more than 80 degree programs in its four schools of business, education, technology, and health. WGU's growth is reshaping the U.S. workforce, contributing substantially to various sectors, including education (accounting for 5.2% of all U.S. bachelor's degrees), healthcare (training 2% of the nation's registered nurses), and cybersecurity (offering the largest program in the U.S.).
At the heart of WGU's approach is Competency-Based Education (CBE), which the university developed in consultation with subject experts and industry representatives. Some consider CBE a fusion of liberal arts and professional education, urging that CBE's curriculum should be dynamic, constantly evaluated, and revised to prepare students for the rapidly changing workplace. CBE relies on students demonstrating mastery of real-world applications of subjects through projects, exams, and portfolios, which students complete at their own pace.
WGU's adoption of CBE saw traditional faculty roles transforming into specialized functions focused on student mentorship and support. Faculty at WGU and similar institutions now consist of mentors and subject experts, who provide discipline-specific expertise and answer focused questions, as well as assessment specialists, who evaluate data to improve the curriculum. These new roles present challenges for conventional universities and colleges, as they lack the necessary structures to implement CBE effectively.
While WGU stands out as a pioneer in CBE, other institutions have adopted this approach to cater to diverse learners. Northern Arizona University offers a "Personalized Learning" initiative, employing adaptive learning systems that adapt to student data, and developing real-world projects within degree programs. For instance, students within computer information technology and liberal arts degree programs get hands-on experience completing projects related to these fields.
Purdue Global's ExcelTrack program offers self-paced degrees in various areas, including business administration, cybersecurity, and nursing, at low tuition rates. Students can complete as many one-credit courses as their schedules permit, enabling them to earn their degrees faster. East Texas A&M University and Southern New Hampshire University offer CBE programs in various subjects, helping guide other CBE programs.
WGU's success in adopting CBE stems from its ability to build its university around the approach. WGU's executive leadership, academics, operations, and finance departments collaborate closely to ensure that every student benefits from one-on-one mentoring and personalized instruction. The university relies on technology for efficiency, with a global tech staff distributed across the U.S. and Mexico working on AI projects to enhance the student experience.
In essence, WGU's CBE model is akin to a hospital team, with faculty mentors acting as the patient's nurses, providing personalized guidance, and subject experts as the doctors, offering domain expertise when needed. WGU closely monitors student progress using technology and analytics, ensuring that every student achieves success in their studies and beyond.
- Western Governors University, with its focus on workforce-focused degrees, has successfully implemented digital student mentoring in its online degree programs, leveraging the expertise of its mentors and subject specialists.
- The Affordable Higher Education provided by WGU, along with its adoption of competency-based education (CBE), has inspired other Institutions, such as Northern Arizona University, to introduce personalized learning programs for their students.
- Western Governors University's innovative approach to education has led to the integration of AI in education platforms, allowing for efficient monitoring and analytics of student progress, akin to a hospital team.
- WGU's commitment to CBE and flexible education models has contributed to its remarkable growth, now serving over 180,000 students, thereby reshaping the U.S. workforce with degrees in fields like healthcare, education, and cybersecurity.
- Online education innovation, as demonstrated by WGU, has sparked the creation of self-paced degree programs, such as Purdue Global's ExcelTrack, providing a more affordable and flexible solution for students in various fields.
