Western Governors University
Announces up to $3 million in Scholarships for Students Impacted by
COVID-19 Pandemic
Nonprofit, online university to award up
to 1,000 scholarships worth $3,000 each to newly enrolled students
facing economic hardships as a result of Covid-19 closures and
layoffs
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[June 22, 2020]
In response to the unprecedented economic
hardships millions of American families are now facing due to the
COVID-19 pandemic, fully online, nonprofit university Western
Governors University is offering up to $3 million in scholarships to
impacted individuals looking to strengthen their skills by earning a
degree online, from the safety of their homes.
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The Bright Future Scholarship is open to new students
who have lost income due to the global health crisis and are
interested in earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree in any of
WGU’s 60-plus degree programs in information technology, business,
K-12 teacher education or health professions, including nursing.
Each Bright Future Scholarship is valued at up to $3,000 ($1,500 for
the first six-month term and then $500 per term for three subsequent
terms) and will be applied to Western Governors University’s
already-low tuition of about $3,500 per six-month term. The
needs-based scholarship will be awarded to individuals who can show
evidence of loss of income in their household as a result of the
pandemic. The deadline to apply is September 30, 2020.
“Since the start of physical distancing and mandatory business
closures in response to COVID-19, millions of Americans have filed
for unemployment, leading to the largest increase in unemployment in
U.S. history,” said Dr. Angie Besendorfer, Regional Vice President
of Western Governors University. “WGU’s mission has always been to
increase access to affordable higher education for adults looking to
further their education and that especially holds true today. We
hope this scholarship offering will help students who have been
directly impacted by job or income loss during this unique time earn
a degree that can help them find meaningful employment as they look
towards a brighter future.”
In addition to offering scholarships to those impacted by COVID-19,
WGU is also providing $7 million in emergency aid across the nation
to current students experiencing financial and healthcare hardships
as a result of COVID-19.
This includes non-tuition emergency aid to support
current students with expenses that threaten their academic
progress, such as rent, groceries, medical bills, internet service
and other essential needs; enhanced financial support to provide
hardship scholarships for current students who need tuition
assistance due to financial disruptions; funding for help with
restructured payment plans or tuition and fee credits for some
eligible students; and funding for interrupted terms to support
eligible current students, such as those who cannot complete
in-person demonstration teaching and clinical rotations.
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WGU is the leader in providing quality, online higher educational
opportunities that equip students with the skills they need to excel their
careers. Unlike a traditional college program, WGU caters to adults with
previous work experience or who are currently working and looking to further
their careers through education. The university’s competency-based education
model allows adult students to take advantage of prior learning and experience
to move quickly through material they already know so they can focus on what
they still need to learn.
For more information about Western Governors University or the “Bright Future”
scholarship, visit www.wgu.edu.
About WGU
Established in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors with a mission to expand access to
high-quality, affordable higher education, online, nonprofit WGU now serves more
than 121,000 students nationwide and has more than 166,000 graduates in all 50
states. Driving innovation as the nation’s leading competency- based university,
WGU has been recognized by the White House, state leaders, employers, and
students as a model that works in postsecondary education. In just 22 years, the
university has become a leading influence in changing the lives of individuals
and families, and preparing the workforce needed in today’s rapidly evolving
economy. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and
universities, has been named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies,
and was featured on NPR, NBC Nightly News, CNN, and in The New York Times. Learn
more at www.wgu.edu.
[Abigail A. Rolland| Senior Account
Executive
The Hauser Group, Inc.] |