WGU-competency-model

A cheaper alternative thanks to competency-based education?


WGU’s tuition rate, licensing policy and ability to employ its graduates may be a model for the future

WGU-competency-modelWestern Governors University (WGU) may hold a unique approach suited for future developments of higher-ed institution competency-based programs: A sustainable, flat tuition rate, and the ability to find employment for 89 percent of its graduates.

As a nonprofit university that offers a flat tuition rate rather than the typical course or per credit cost, WGU says it keeps tuition manageable specifically for those students who wish to return to school to obtain a degree to enhance their careers.

But how, when so many other colleges and universities are struggling to keep their tuition rates low at the same time that technology and student service demands increase, does WGU succeed in its flat tuition rate that hasn’t risen since 2008?

According to the University, it’s all in the licensing…and knowing what many of today’s job-seeking students need from higher education.

Instead of creating more curriculum , the online University licenses third-party learning resources to help students master competencies and pass assessments, allowing for a scalable model, explained David Leasure, Ph. D., provost of WGU.

Of course, knowing how to boost student enrollment year-to-year also helps.

(Next page: Utilizing CBE and structuring for measurable results)

As more students continue to flock to competency-based education, Leasure notes that WGU is able to self-sustain on tuition due to consistent growth in enrollment.

WGU also makes sure to keep its structure scalable  by leveraging technology for efficiency, along with focusing exclusively on functions and resources leading to student success.

“As our student body grows, there is a predictable corresponding growth in our need for faculty and staff, curriculum licensing costs, and technology. Our tuition is designed to cover those costs. Capitalizing on technology as a tool for boosting efficiency means growth in enrollment matches growth in costs; institutions are forced to increase tuition when the learning infrastructure is designed in such a way that growth drives disproportionate cost increases,” Leasure explained.

The university bases its success on the foresight shown by the founders’ (19 U.S. governors) original mission, created in 1997: to harness distance learning technologies and a competency-based approach to education to improve quality. Moreover, all 19 governors aimed to expand access to higher education in order to meet their states’ workforce needs.

In particular, WGU’s four disciplines—education, IT, business, and nursing—were the areas where the founders saw high need.

The feasibility of a flat tuition fee

Offering a flat tuition fee allows students to pay the same flat rate for each semester, where students are expected to take a full-time load, while being able to add as many courses as they are able to successfully complete in a six-month term without an increase in tuition, Leasure explained.

Moreover, students are able to move through coursework at their own pace. Thus, students are allotted real-time savings by finishing courses when they can prove that they have mastered the material, he explained. The knowledge those students may have from previous work experiences may accelerate the rate at which they complete their courses, and in turn receive their degree in less time and with less money.

However, such competency-based education does come with its caveat.

A structure that includes defined terms is necessary for administering financial aid and ensuring satisfactory academic progress. Moreover, required competencies for each degree program are defined in collaboration with employers. In doing so, it ensures that “students graduate with both real-world knowledge and skills employees need,” Leasure said.

While the traditional faculty role includes curriculum development, assessment, teaching, and mentoring, WGU uses an alternative form of advising for students. With its model, these roles are done by specialist faculty, where mentoring is the central focus to personalized learning, providing each student with an assigned faculty mentor advising on anything from enrollment to graduation.

Furthermore, in effort to expand course knowledge and retention, each course has assigned course mentor faculty who are “subject matter experts,” said the University, with the goal of helping students master more difficult course material.

(Next page: Seeing measurable results)

Seeing measurable results

In addition to faculty mentors, each program requires a program council to regularly review the competencies and curriculum to ensure that they are up to date and coherent with labor market research.

Partnering companies include professional associations and academic institutions, such as the Hospital Corporation of America, the National League of Nursing, Microsoft, AT&T, Oracle, American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education, and the Florida Virtual School, among many others.

Running such a model enables WGU to provide more employment opportunities to its students post-graduation when compared to the national employment outcomes, said Leasure.

According to a 2012 Harris Poll Online survey, WGU was able to employ 89 percent of its graduates—a 5-percentage point increase from the national 84 percent. Moreover, 83 percent of the total numbers of students employed were employed within their degree field, compared to the 81 percent nationally. [The poll surveys 1,548 new college graduated nationwide and 1,079 WGU graduates.]

“There will always be a place for traditional higher education [and] we don’t see that changing, Leasure concluded. “[However,] as the demographics of higher education change, technology and other innovations—such as competency-based education—will be used to better serve consumers of higher education. […] As the landscape continues to evolve, changes to the higher education system are likely.”

Carly Morales is an intern with eCampus News.

Sign up for our newsletter

Newsletter: Innovations in K12 Education
By submitting your information, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Comments are closed.

Oops! We could not locate your form.

Sign up for our newsletter

Newsletter: Innovations in K12 Education
By submitting your information, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.