Also, I live in Bellingham, so if you would like to discuss alternative education pros and cons over coffee, let me know! That’s what it boils down to. I graduated magna cum laude with a biological science degree from The George Washington University and began my WGU’s graduate program in May 2017 after researching and perusing information available from US DoE, regional accrediting organization, professor academic credentials, program course content and textbook requirements, and, at my request, a conversation with a course professor. Lectures only cover some parts of any college course. Yes, each WGU academic course is competency based; however, competency-based education does not necessarily diminish academic quality nor does it equate to academic fraud. Reviews from Western Governors University employees about Western Governors University culture, salaries, benefits, work-life balance, management, job security, and more. The second major determination by the audit was that WGU wrongly labeled its self-paced courses as credit-hour courses. I do not get what Professor Neem left out. As you complete assignments, you simply upload your work to the Academy’s custom-designed Learning Management System (LMS) where it’s shared with your class, and your instructor can leave visual markups, video, written and recorded feedback. I had to read a lot but that is true with any nursing program. Every respectable school, I noted, listed faculty members on their websites so I would know who would be my academic mentors and teachers. Since my enrollment at WGU, I’ve had a professor for each of my courses and each professor holds at least a graduate degree in the field of study with most holding both a graduate and doctoral degree. Johann N. Neem is Professor of History at Western Washington University and author of Democracy’s Schools: The Rise of Public Education in America.. As a current student, I can provide a first-hand account of the WGU student experience. The resume writing services will be particularly useful as part of assembling your Professional Portfolio. When WGU denied the charge, the audit noted that WGU’s denial was “contrary to its advertising materials.”. I not sure what program you are in but I had to take just a few tests. Discover a wide range of support services for online coursework. But I pushed on. Study on your own time, at your own pace. But it ensures that they get a degree. As a student, it is my responsibility to initiate communication with my professor to discuss any issue with my understanding of the assignment or instructions provided by the professor. I guess the “little people” need to learn their place ? Don’t be so “uppity” ? Network with fellow creators from other departments to collaborate on projects, and bring your creative visions to life. So I won’t have teachers? If you can’t get-up an hour earlier in the morning, or log in after a long day at work to study or work on a paper, this university is not for you. As an independent student, I have not interacted as often with my professors at my discretion. I was confused. Tips and Tricks: Western Governors University Caught Defrauding Taxpayers. Most of my classes required extensive written papers sometimes multiple papers to complete my nursing degree along with hands on skills testing. LOOKING FOR CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST WGU. All tailored to make your online education rich and engaging. I took classes at WGU. It is the individual student’s responsibility to utilize all available resources and tools provided, to seek and engage and allot the time to be an active participant in their academic studies. The use of independent evaluators for the final project mitigates professor bias and each course evaluator has provided me with substantive critique of my work. In other words, students received credit without instruction. Combine online and on-site classes. http://www.nbcrightnow.com/story/23240604/president-obama-recognizes-wgu-for-innovation. I see. StraighterLine Partner:WGU Take the general education courses you need to complete your degree at WGU with fast, affordable and transferable online college courses from … We built this from the ground-up and geared specifically towards art and design. WGU fits me and my family. WGU is not for everyone, but if you are a committed, proactive student with strong reading comprehension, research, writing, analytical and critical thinking skills, then you will have a smoother academic experience, you will reap the benefits of this competency-based model, and you will likely succeed at WGU. ), WGU: “They’re supporting your educational experience, they’re not really teaching you.” They offer you “tips and tricks” to “help you understand.”. If you have questions regarding WGU courses, contact records@wgu.edu for assistance. Submit your artwork for evaluation, and if you’d like, include audio, video, and/or written descriptions of the work, and instructors can provide detailed feedback in the same way. As an online student, you will have full access to collaborative spaces in the Learning Management System (LMS). WGU’s own phone operator/recruiter admitted to me that the school offers no education. If you cannot read them reach out for help. I wasted a year at WGU and many dollars. WGU was singled out by President Obama as an example of what Universities should be. Enter your e-mail address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Back in 2011, when WGU was first coming to my state of Washington, I decided I needed to learn more about this school with no professors that policy makers seemed to love. This article is not accurate. Prior to mentoring, I was a community college instructor. After studying 61,180 students in 2013-14, the DoE concluded that at least 62% took one or more courses that did not meet the law’s expectations. My experience with WGU was not a good one. That’s what policy makers love about it. Our online programs are purpose-built to deliver art and design courses. As a student mentor, I speak with students regularly about how their coursework relates to their work and goals, various study strategies, and and emgage them in discussion about what they are learning. School of Writing for Film, Television & Digital Media. The Academy Resource Center (ARC) is open to all students, and supports student success with: ARC Workshops & Tutoring, English for Art Purposes (EAP) language support, Accessibility Services, and Online Student Support. I got a job immediately even before graduating nursing school. I looked into Prof Neem—turns out that he has done some research on WGU. Visual, interactive and dynamic. Recently, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General issued the findings of a long-awaited audit in which it concluded that Western Governors University (WGU) had defrauded the federal government … They tell you that you can earn a degree quite quickly, but I found that to be untrue. Perhaps nothing better sums up what WGU offers. From what I have been able to ascertain, WGU course mentors and evaluators must be credentialed (most positions require a PHD). The Academy provides the coursework—including beautifully produced videos, narrated slideshows, digital documents, interviews with experts, livestreams and more. The courses are about reading an online book, taking a quiz, then taking a final exam to pass the courses. At the heart of the audit’s determination were two factors. For information click here: Courses of Study (Assessments) Use "Ctrl + F" to search the list of WGU courses below for the appropriate Course Description or Course of Study.Once you find the document you are looking for, you can download a copy for your records. In addition to the respective course professor, all WGU students have an assigned mentor to guide and pace their progress for the duration of the program. They work 24 hours a day to offer 900+ online courses spanning 35 online majors, using 1,500 instructional videos per semester to teach students from 50+ countries. Here’s a rough transcript of my conversation: Me: I can’t find any information on teachers or professors. Mentors, course instructors, and additional resources are all available, almost 24/7. I am a student mentor at WGU. The program’s flexibility gives me great freedom to manage my time, work on side projects, and even come to study abroad for the summer semester! 740.1.5: Self Advocacy of the Nurse – The graduate integrates strategies of self-awareness and self-care into professional practice to ensure personal health and well-being. They apparently do not know what is covered on the final exams. So I called again on September 30, soon after the audit’s release. So the teachers don’t teach? As a current graduate student, I have been pleasantly surprised by the academic richness and rigor of my courses and my overall student experience with this competency-based academic education that I am considering pursuing a second graduate degree from WGU. The rubric for the final project or exam requires the student to demonstrate mastery of the subject through written application of information synthesis, analysis and critical thinking to successfully pass the course. I am not as eloquent as Science Girl, but here is a “Shout-Out” – Thank You. The student and course mentors are not helpful in the sense of being able to give advice on what to expect on the final exams. https://www.straighterline.com/colleges/western-governors-university/, https://www.straighterline.com/colleges/wgu-college-of-business/course-equivalency/, https://www.straighterline.com/colleges/wgu-college-of-information-technology/course-equivalency/, https://www.wgu.edu/financial-aid-tuition/scholarships/partner/straighterline.html, https://www.wgu.edu/blog/wgu-straighterline-formula-success1712.html, https://allnurses.com/wgu-straighterline-advice-t633535/, https://partners.wgu.edu/Pages/Transfer.aspx?iid=130&institution=Straighterline, https://community.infosecinstitute.com/discussion/81945/straighterline-vs-wgu-gen-ed-courses, https://www.wgu.edu/admissions/nursing-health-requirements/alternative-transfers-prelicensure.html, https://www.reddit.com/r/WGU/comments/ayjvfq/tipsopinions_on_straighterline/, https://www.reddit.com/r/WGU/comments/6ewqet/straighterline_courses/, https://partners.wgu.edu/Pages/Course-Descriptions-and-Courses-of-Study.aspx, https://www.reddit.com/r/WGU/comments/85l0ba/those_of_you_who_have_done_straighterline_how/, https://allnurses.com/wgu-straighterline-courses-t580290/, https://www.reddit.com/r/WGU/comments/9ks2gu/should_i_take_straighterline_courses_just_in_case/, http://ab.legalmodel.it/course-hero-wgu-reddit.html, https://www.reddit.com/r/WGU/comments/aq27jr/straighterline_or_wgu/, https://www.onlineclasshero.com/take-my-online-wgu-class-exam-proctored-test-for-me.php, https://www.reddit.com/r/WGU/comments/7u72pa/which_classes_should_i_take_at_striaghterline/, https://allnurses.com/just-started-prereqs-straighterline-t568895/, https://partners.wgu.edu/Pages/Single.aspx?aid=15753&pid=86, https://academy.wgu.edu/help-center/credit-transfer, https://allnurses.com/wgu-straighterline-classes-t410845/, https://www.xpcourse.com/straighterline-easiest-classes, https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/01/06/western-governors-deepening-partnership-straighterline-creates-new-path-completion, https://allnurses.com/wgu-straighterline-advice-t633535/?page=2, What colleges accept straighterline courses. AAUHOO, a student-run Facebook group, has more than 6,000 members and welcomes you to join this thriving online community. See his article: http://www.nea.org/assets/docs/HE/2012-TA-Neem.pdf I also found on the NEA website this useful article on competency based education written by a different professor, but applicable here: http://www.nea.org/home/68532.htm. Course mentors predominately have PhDs in their disciplines as well as teaching experience, and they spend extensive time with students in one-on-one and group instruction as well as developing ancillary materials to enhance student learning. This weekly live contact requirement with the mentor is documented and it is the student’s responsibility to comply with this requirement. PROFESSIONAL ROLES & VALUES. In February 2017 I called WGU to inquire about their competency-based model and my experience with the operator was different than that of Mr. Neem. Freely exchange thoughts, post work, and provide or receive constructive feedback—just like you would in a campus environment. Surely, things have now changed. Do what is good for you! What if I struggle, I asked. Academy of Art University’s online screenwriting course is proud to have working professionals in the film and television industry teaching our students. I will tell you that I was not a nurse before going to their school so it was all brand new to me. Second, he is reporting on a phone call that he made to WGU, so that part is based on evidence too. WGU: “If you don’t understand, you call your mentor, and your mentor will provide you resources—a link, a module, a webinar, something like that.”. But once I use my tips and tricks to do well and pass my classes, I wondered who grades my work. Recently, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General issued the findings of a long-awaited audit in which it concluded that Western Governors University (WGU) had defrauded the federal government over $700 million in student aid dollars for pretending to be something it was not. We have mentors. You’re learning on your own.”. WGU: “basically it’s an independent study, individually driven.”, What? But this is no different than what the Great and Powerful Oz offered to the Scarecrow. But that could not be. Over 100 Academy of Art employees create and support online programs, dedicating more resources into production than any other. Of note, to date, I have never heard of a “life coach” nor have I been told of such a coach and my mentor does not address course specifics in lieu of the professor as Mr. Neem asserts. Describing WGU as a diploma mill is a stretch. I would be graded by “course evaluators.” When I pushed for their qualifications, the operator/recruiter responded: “I don’t know the exact level of education for the evaluators.” But don’t worry. I have since completed my Masters degree. Assessments are developed by assessment development experts (unlike textbook testbanks) based on competencies. With his impressive academic achievements, I would expect Mr. Neem to have engaged in proactive and meaningful peer-to-peer dialogue rather than rely on a telephone operator as the basis of evidence for his assertion that WGU merely hands out diplomas or wait for the US DoE to render a decision on the audit recommendation before boasting of having fact-based expert knowledge of the matter. I then asked how I would know who will be my teachers. If you need a live instructor, go to a brick-and mortar. I had qualified professors and they were active in the courses and I could communicate with them whenever I wanted/needed. Competencies: 740.1.4: Professional Accountability – The graduate analyzes the responsibilities and accountability of the professional nurse. Even when I took my first degree at a brick and mortar college, in needed to be able to read and write. divides up the components of faculty work, Law Professors Refute Claim that Sen. Harris Ineligible for Presidency, Donald Trump’s Incredible Attack on Free Speech, Protecting International Students from the Trump Administration, Visiting Professor Sentenced to Death in Iran, http://www.nbcrightnow.com/story/23240604/president-obama-recognizes-wgu-for-innovation, http://www.nea.org/assets/docs/HE/2012-TA-Neem.pdf, AAUP Launches a COVID-19 Governance Investigation, Statement on President Trump's Attack on Critical Race Theory, Letter Addresses Program Cuts and Appointment Terminations at Illinois Wesleyan, Contingent Faculty and the Global Pandemic, Statement of Solidarity with Medical Faculty, AAUP Joins Amicus Brief Opposing DHS Directive, Statement on DHS Ruling on International Students. Among them: WGU graduates are more likely to get jobs, according to a 2016 Gallup-Purdue Index poll commissioned by the school: WGU’s employment rate after graduation is … (Remember: WGU has no professors; it divides up the components of faculty work—mentoring students, designing curricula, teaching, assessing student work, and academic program governance—into distinct jobs. One the rare occasion when I have needed clarification or further explanation regarding any part of the course assignments or final project or exam, I have scheduled a telephone or computer interactive meeting with my professor to address the issue. The Academy provides the coursework—including beautifully produced videos, narrated slideshows, digital documents, interviews with experts, livestreams and more. “Academy of Art University’s Online Education provides me the privilege to receive quality education while staying with my family in Hong Kong. They don’t need to evaluate complicated work because, she earlier told me, “you’re graded directly off the rubric.”. The operator asked me for basic personal information and provided me with basic information on WGU to address some of my questions posed before transferring me to an enrollment counselor for the program of interest. Mentors don’t teach your classes. Online or not, that will never change. My mentor (who holds both MBA and PhD degrees and is a former professor at Columbia University) and I have a required weekly telephone meeting for which I select the amount of time needed–15, 30 up to 60 minutes–to discuss my weekly academic progress or issues that may hinder such progress or pace. More BS vomited out by the unknowing, claiming that WGU “stole our tax money” with of course the idea being that “all taxes are theft by the goberment” and how DARE they try to educate them people. Upload your videos to garner constructive feedback from your peers and instructors. Tips and tricks. BY JOHANN NEEM. This sounds awfully like a self-paced course, and it sounds like I’m on my own academically. In addition, course mentors provide a lot of one-to-one instruction. This is a biased, inaccurate article. You may not be on campus, but you’re not alone. Earn your screenwriting degree online at your own pace, in your own time. The final exams are proctored by a company in India, and at times the language barrier makes it difficult to understand. The only students who excel are avid readers, because that’s all the courses are about, reading pages and pages of information, and taking a test on everything you read. [I am not, nor have I ever been, an employee or student at WGU; I’m just interested in what they are doing, so have done some investigating on my own], This was written by a professor from a competing University which coincidentally, offers accelerated online degrees. We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Democracy’s Schools: The Rise of Public Education in America. The law set a floor to avoid a race to the bottom on public dollars. NOW I am sorry if you cannot graduate but being able to read is required of ANY college. The final exams are set to trick you. A “rough transcript” of a supposed phone call is absolutely not evidence, as anyone in academia should know. WGU’s competency-based model has required assignments and the exercises within the readings are designed to build knowledge and reinforce comprehension. He based the column on an Ed Dept report that offered empirical evidence for his claims, unlike the anecdotal evidence in the comments. There were also qualified professional mentors for student support. Advertising agencies go through pitch processes to determine what their creative approach is going to be for the season. Join study groups. This article was published October 30, 2017 and depicts the author’s personal experience with a WGU telephone operator in 2011. My experience with the enrollment counselor was no different than my experience with the enrollment counselor at reputable brick and mortar universities I had contacted. This is no different than my action taken at my previous brick and mortar school when assistance was needed on a one-on-one with the professor. You will find all your classes, profiles, news, assignments, grades, ESL support, support, and more in the Learning Management System (LMS). So the operator/recruiter admits that WGU offers self-paced courses without adequate instruction, as the Department of Education’s Inspector General concluded. WGU Career and Professional Development Services WGU provides several resources to help you transition from student life to work life. WGU: “We don’t have teachers. I need to learn on my time, have resources available when I need them, and be able to take a final at 3:00 AM if necessary. Be guided throughout a custom-designed hands-on training curriculum, supported by engaging online coursework. Credit-hour courses are required to offer a minimum level of weekly instruction that self-paced programs are not. The model (competency-based learning) recognizes that many non-traditional students are much more self-directed than their traditional peers. Be part of our vibrant, creative community. I also interacted with other students. It provides non-traditional students who deserve more with less. There is a formal articulation agreement between. A diploma.” Like the Great and Powerful Oz, WGU hands out diplomas to hide the fact that what appears magnificent is less so when one peers behind the curtain. I asked them about their professors. Lower cost schools ? Learned folks, Oz informed Scarecrow in the film Wizard of Oz, “have one thing you haven’t got. A 2008 federal law requires distance learning institutions to “support regular and substantive interaction between the students and the instructor” to qualify for expanded federal aid. I am a recent graduate of WGU (BS IT). Isn’t that why WGU has been asked to refund taxpayers over $700 million? WGU: Every “course is a preset independent study module system with course instructors—not a typical class when teachers teach you—it’s an independent study tool.”, The operator continued that WGU does not publish information on their instructors because “they’re not really teaching you” and “it’s all independent.”. This article leaves a lot out. Some of us, of course, have long known that WGU, which proclaims itself a university but has no professors, has been a diploma mill for a long time. Our revolutionary online courses provide the same rigorous education that we offer on campus with greater flexibility. How dare you. Now the federal government’s own auditors have reached the same conclusion. We’re constantly innovating our curriculum created by instructional designers and industry professionals, as well as building new courses, reworking old ones, and adding features to our LMS based on student feedback. Created in-house by industry experts and exclusive to the Academy, the classes are a mix of lecture content, video, written content, recorded audio, interactive slideshows, and hands-on work. “Their active practice in the industry brings a wealth of real-world, real-time experiences and industry connections to our students.”. WGU: “We don’t have a link for professors.”. I have especially benefited from the online career talks which helped me land my current position at an animation studio.”, Music Production & Sound Design for Visual Media, Writing for Film, Television & Digital Media, Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education. When my WGU professors have not heard from me during the course they have reached out to me and inquired on my progress and have offered assistance. Why would WGU not do that for their “course mentors”? Course instructors do not offer instruction, much less the kinds of deep, active learning that defines good teaching on a college campus. My experience so far has been good at some points, great at others, and only once so far very frustrating. Johann N. Neem is Professor of History at Western Washington University and author of Democracy’s Schools: The Rise of Public Education in America. In the absence of such critical facts, Mr. Neem’s critique is merely founded on anecdotal evidence. So I gave them a call. You and your peers support and push each other, creating long-lasting connections that live beyond the course.

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