Nonprofit, online university to award $10,000 in scholarships to busy Nevada adults
NEVADA – It’s back-to-school time across America, but just because classes have already started on traditional campuses doesn’t mean it’s too late for busy working adults to realize their dreams of a college education this fall. To encourage those aspiring students to take the leap by October 31, WGU Nevada will award Back-to-School Scholarships.
The scholarships, worth up to $2,000 each, will be awarded to 5 new students who apply this fall to attend the nonprofit, online university. Unlike traditional schools, WGU Nevada starts new terms on the first of every month, so it’s not too late to apply for one of WGU Nevada’s more than 50 bachelor’s or master’s degree programs in business, IT, K–12 teacher education, or health professions, including nursing.
To be considered for these competitive scholarships, prospective students must first be admitted to WGU Nevada and then submit a scholarship application at nevada.wgu.edu/backtoschool by October 31. Applicants must complete an essay about “My Motivation for Earning a Degree” and participate in an interview with a scholarship counselor. The scholarship will be applied at the rate of $500 per six-month term, renewable for up to four terms, toward WGU Nevada’s already-low tuition of about $3,000 per term for most programs.
WGU Nevada uses an innovative approach to earning a degree called competency-based education, which measures learning rather than time spent in class. Students earn their degrees by demonstrating mastery of the subject matter they need to know to be successful—real-world competencies developed with employer input. Designed to meet the needs of adult learners in Nevada, competency-based education allows students to take advantage of their knowledge and experience to move quickly through material they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn. WGU Nevada faculty members work one-on-one with students as mentors, offering guidance, support, and individualized instruction. While WGU Nevada’s degree programs are rigorous and challenging, competency-based learning makes it possible for students to accelerate their programs, saving both time and money. For more information about WGU, visit nevada.wgu.edu.
While multiple scholarships will be awarded, the Back-to-School Scholarship is a competitive program. Scholarships will be awarded based on the student’s academic record, previous college experience, readiness for online study, current competency, as well as other considerations. The application deadline is October 31, 2015. For more information about the Back-to-School Scholarship, visit http://nevada.wgu.edu/backtoschool
About WGU Nevada
WGU Nevada is an online, nonprofit, competency-based university established to expand Nevadans’ access to higher education throughout the state. Formed through a partnership between the state of Nevada and nationally recognized Western Governors University, WGU Nevada is open to all qualified Nevada residents.
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)*.
In addition to WGU Nevada, there are five other WGU state-based, state-endorsed universities: WGU Indiana, established in June 2010; WGU Washington, established in April 2011; WGU Texas, established in August 2011; WGU Missouri, established in February 2013; and WGU Tennessee, established in July 2013. For more information, visit the WGU Nevada website, nevada.wgu.edu, or call 877-214-7005.
*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).
