Online. Accelerated. Affordable. Accredited.

Online. Accelerated. Affordable. Accredited.

WGU’s Beginnings Western Governors University was founded in 1997 by the member states of the Western Governors Association. The governors’ collective vision was to set up a nonprofit university, create competency-based degrees and certificate programs, and share educational resources across state lines via technology and the Internet.

WGU’s Mission To improve quality and expand access to postsecondary educational opportunities by providing a means for individuals to learn independent of time and place and to earn competency-based degrees and other credentials that are credible to both academic institutions and employers.

The Competency Difference Graduation is not based on accumulation of credits or hours of seat-time; it is based on demonstration of competence. The model makes it ideal for adult students who have achieved a great deal of prior learning applicable to a job or career change. WGU is a leader in the assessment field and offers a range of knowledge, skill, and performance tasks and assessments specific to each academic program.

A Flexible Approach WGU’s competency-based degrees allow students to tailor a program to their specific needs. Learning from prior college, life, or work experience can apply directly toward program completion and enable students to avoid taking courses whose content they have already mastered through another medium. The extent of prior learning is measured via the same assessments every WGU graduate takes. No one skips assessments. Programs are all asynchronously Internet-delivered, providing “anytime, anywhere” convenience for working adults who are also raising families.

Regional Accreditation WGU has multiple regional accreditation, a first in the history of American higher education. The regional associations and commissions involved: Northwest Association of Schools & Colleges North Central Association of Colleges & Schools Western Association of Schools & Colleges: Accrediting Commission for Community & Junior Colleges Western Association of Schools & Colleges: Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges & Universities

Other WGU Facts The sitting governors of the 19 member states comprise the nonprofit corporation. Both a Democrat and Republican governor always serve as co-chairs of WGU’s Board of Trustees. Currently these are Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico and Gov. Kenny Guinn of Nevada. WGU is supported financially by 25 major corporations and foundations.

WGU National Advisory Board 3Com America Online Apple Computer AT&T Cisco Systems Convergys Drake International Farmers Insurance Group Gates Foundation IBM Corporation Hewlett-Packard KPMG Consulting Marriott Corporation Marriott Foundation Micron Microsoft Novell Oracle Qwest Sallie Mae SCT Sloan Foundation Sun Microsystems Swartz Foundation Thomson /Prometric

Student Support Systems Each student is individually assigned a faculty mentor who works with him/her from beginning to end of program and acts as instructional resource, advisor, and always-available guide on the side. Students belong to online cohort communities. They begin their WGU experience with a course called “Education Without Boundaries.” They have access to a WGU-dedicated “cyberarian” through the Univ. of New Mexico library system. Federal financial aid is available.

WGU Central Library Questions? Contact Barbara Rosen, WGU Librarian [email protected] or (505) 277-7176 Office hours: 8am - 5pm Mountain Time, Mon.-Fri. (Requests will be processed within 24-48 hours) Using the LibraryLearn about the WGU Library and get tips on doing research at a distance.

Other Links on Library Homepage Find Articles Find Books Search for Subject Guides & the Web E-Reserves Quick Links ILLiad -- First Search -- ProQuest / ABI -- Ingenta -LIBROS -- WGU Home -- My WGU The WGU Central Library is operated by the University of New Mexico General Library

Linked from “Find Articles” Members of the Western Governors University community have access to over 60 data-bases at no charge. Citations and full-text documents can either be downloaded, printed, or sent to an email address. Connect to FirstSearch View a list of FirstSearch database descriptions and connect to over 60 databases. Connect to ABI/Inform (Business) If your subject area is Business, Management or Computers, try this database. Connect to ILLiad If you cannot find your articles "full-text" in the above databases, or already have citations to any articles you know you need, order your articles through Interlibrary Loan (ILLiad). E-Reserves If your mentor has requested you read material on reserve, use the Electronic Reserves above. link

Linked from “Find Books” To find books by subject, author or title, first look in LIBROS, the Web book catalog: LIBROS If you were not able to find books in the LIBROS system, you can try WorldCat, a database in FirstSearch. NOTE: Be sure to allow time for books to be borrowed from other libraries around the country. WorldCat (world catalog of books) You can use the Interlibrary Loan service to have the book(s) delivered to your home: ILLiad Or you may choose to purchase the book from the Bookstore: WGU Bookstore Or you may want to check other sites to purchase new or used books. Adebooks.com – Alibris – Book Sense – Amazon.com

Linked from “Web Search” Search electronic reference books like almanacs, dictionaries, telephone books, and encyclopedias. Electronic Reference Shelf Search the WGU subject pages. Discover Resources by Subject Search the Web by more focused subject areas organized by "professionals." Metasites by Subject Search the entire Web using search directories and engines, like Yahoo and Google. Search Directories and Engines Search for Web sites that teach you how to use and evaluate the Web. Web Tutorials and Evaluation

Final Points WGU Central Library is password protected. Though employed by the University of New Mexico, Barb Rosen is dedicated full-time to WGU’s library needs. Each month new students begin at WGU, and their first WGU experience is an online course called Education Without Boundaries -- a 4-week course, one week of which is dedicated to a library orientation.

Marti Watson Garlett, Ph.D. Dean of the Teachers College [email protected]