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WGU Tennessee Announces Creation of “Happy New You” Scholarships for Adults Returning to College in Early 2014

WGU Tennessee Announces Creation of “Happy New You” Scholarships for Adults Returning to College in Early 2014

By MP&F Staff

NASHVILLE, Tenn.– Nonprofit WGU Tennessee has announced a new scholarship program designed to encourage qualified Tennessee adults to go back to school in 2014 for their bachelor’s or master’s degrees in business, information technology, education, or health professions, including nursing.

“New Year’s resolutions can often be difficult promises to keep”

The WGU Tennessee Happy New You Scholarship provides $500 toward WGU Tennessee’s already-low tuition per six-month term, up to four terms, for a total value of up to $2,000 per recipient.

“New Year’s resolutions can often be difficult promises to keep,” said Dr. Kimberly K. Estep, WGU Tennessee chancellor. “With the Happy New You Scholarships our goal is to help more working adults make good on the promise of furthering their education and improving their lives.”

Inspired by the fresh optimism that accompanies the New Year’s holiday, WGU Tennessee created the Happy New You Scholarship program as an incentive for working adults who are ready to turn possibilities into realities.

“Our students are typically driven, highly motivated people who know exactly what they want and are willing to work hard to achieve it,” Estep said. “The start of a new year is the perfect time for career changers to reinvent themselves and for career climbers to make their move.”

Launched by Gov. Bill Haslam earlier this year, WGU Tennessee is an online, accredited, nonprofit university aimed at expanding Tennesseans’ access to higher education. Established to meet the needs of working adults who wish to complete a bachelor’s or master’s degree and advance their careers, WGU Tennessee was created through a partnership between the state of Tennessee and nationally recognized Western Governors University. WGU Tennessee is ideal for busy adults with family and job responsibilities.

The university is a pioneer in competency-based education, which measures learning rather than time spent in class. Students advance in their degree programs when they demonstrate mastery of course materials, allowing them to move quickly through material they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn. For many students, this makes it possible to accelerate and complete their degrees faster. Combined with a self-paced, online learning format that offers one-on-one mentor support, competency-based learning at WGU Tennessee provides the kind of flexibility busy adults need in order to earn their degrees.

WGU Tennessee’s 50-plus accredited degree programs are designed in collaboration with councils of experts from industry and academia, ensuring that students graduate knowing what they need to know to be successful. Students begin their terms on the first day of any month, and they graduate as soon as they are able to complete all the required coursework.

To be eligible for a WGU Tennessee Happy New You Scholarship, an applicant must be a new WGU Tennessee student, officially admitted to WGU Tennessee. As many as 50 scholarships will be awarded; however, it is a competitive program, with scholarships awarded based on a candidate’s essay, academic record, readiness for online study at WGU Tennessee, current competency, and other considerations. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2014.

For more information on other requirements and to apply, visit http://tennessee.wgu.edu/tuition_financial_aid/scholarships/happy_new_you_overview. Visit the WGU Tennessee YouTube page to view a message from Chancellor Estep about the scholarship.

About WGU Tennessee

WGU Tennessee is an online, nonprofit, competency-based university established to expand Tennesseans’ access to higher education throughout the state. Formed through a partnership between the state of Tennessee and nationally recognized Western Governors University, WGU Tennessee is open to all qualified Tennessee residents. The university offers more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the high-demand career fields of business, K-12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing.

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 Tennessee, there are four 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; and WGU Missouri, established in February 2013.

For more information, visit the WGU Tennessee website, http://tennessee.wgu.edu/, or call 855-948-8495.

*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).