Western Governors University (WGU) Awards 600 Degrees to Graduates
Western Governors University (WGU), a nonprofit university based in Utah, has lately awarded more than 600 degrees to graduates from across 45 states at its winter commencement. Even though the students at Western Governors University earn their degrees completely via online education, more than 80 graduates from 20 states gathered at Kingsbury Hall to take part in the graduation ceremony. The commencement address was delivered by Sun Microsystems Chairman and Co-founder Scott McNealy.
Western Governors University is an online university which was founded by 19 U.S. governors to make access to higher education easier for professional adults. The university is based is Salt Lake City and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in Education, Information Technology, Business and Healthcare.
"Distance and online education used to be viewed as the wave of the future, but the success of the WGU graduates proves that the future is now," said McNealy. "Eliminating the digital divide has long been our cause at Sun, as has eliminating the educational divide through Curriki, and WGU’s unique approach embodies the power of technology for making higher education more affordable and accessible for people from all walks of life. It’s demanding and highly respected curriculum ensures that graduates are well prepared to thrive in today’s dynamic and challenging workplace."
Not all of the graduates who attended the commencement were from Utah; people like Tarra Patrick, a U.S. Navy wife, will travel all the way from England to receive her diploma. Western Governors University will be broadcasting the ceremony live over the internet via streaming video for all those who could not make it to the ceremony for some reason or the other.
Even though the twice yearly commencement ceremonies at Western Governors University follow the cap and gown traditions of higher education, they further pay respect to some of the unconventional aspects of online higher education. Online graduates are called on to speak and share their online degree experience for each commencement. These stories in a majority of cases turn out to be rather inspirational as they speak about the challenges and impediments that they have overpowered to earn their online degrees.
