HVCC and Western Governors University Partnership Increases Educational Access in Capital Region
January 30, 2023
Transfer agreement broadens options for Hudson Valley’s growing online community; WGU’s accredited competency-based programs offer an alternative for students with work and family obligations
Hudson Valley Community College and nonprofit, accredited Western Governors University (WGU) today announced the signing of an agreement that creates educational pathways for Hudson Valley graduates and employees to earn a WGU degree.
The partnership gives Hudson Valley a transfer option for those seeking fully online undergraduate programs, either because of learning preferences or personal circumstances. WGU pioneered the online competency-based model, which measures mastery of skills rather than time spent in a classroom, providing a viable alternative for students with work or family obligations.
As part of the agreement, WGU will apply credits earned in an associate degree at Hudson Valley toward a bachelor’s degree at WGU. In addition, Hudson Valley graduates and employees will be eligible to apply for specially designated WGU Community College Partner Scholarships, worth up to $2,500.
“Hudson Valley is thrilled to partner with WGU to provide more opportunities for our graduates and employees to earn bachelor’s degrees in a format that works for them, regardless of their schedules,” said Hudson Valley Community College President Dr. Roger Ramsammy. “As a community college, Hudson Valley is committed to increasing access to education for all, including students whose schedules and lifestyles may not fit a traditional daytime, in-person class model. This partnership is an excellent opportunity for those graduates to continue their studies more seamlessly after they finish their time at Hudson Valley.”
WGU offers more than 60 bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the high-demand fields of business, information technology, K-12 education, and healthcare, including nursing. WGU’s competency-based, high-quality and low-cost learning model lets students accelerate at their own pace. Asynchronous courses allow students to log in and study whenever their schedules permit. Tuition is around $3,700 per six-month term for most undergraduate degree programs, and students can take as many courses per term as they and their mentors are comfortable with.
“This collaboration will allow Hudson Valley’s students, graduates and employees a chance to continue their educational journeys at a reasonable cost, with minimal disruption to their lives,” said WGU Northeast Region Vice President Rebecca Watts, Ph.D. “WGU is excited to join with Hudson Valley to further our objective of making higher education accessible to working adults and historically underrepresented students, all while contributing in a meaningful way to the region’s workforce pipelines in health professions, business, teaching and technology.”
WGU degree programs include undergraduate and graduate degrees in cybersecurity, human resource management, data management/data analytics, information technology management, business management and leadership, nursing and healthcare management. To learn more, go to www.wgu.edu.