Online. Accelerated. Affordable. Accredited.
WGU’s Beginnings
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Western Governors University was founded in
1997 by the member states of the Western
Governors Association. The governors’ collective
vision was to set up a nonprofit university, create
competency-based degrees and certificate
programs, and share educational resources across
state lines via technology and the Internet.
WGU’s Mission
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To improve quality and expand access to
postsecondary educational opportunities by
providing a means for individuals to learn
independent of time and place and to earn
competency-based degrees and other
credentials that are credible to both academic
institutions and employers.
The Competency Difference
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Graduation is not based on accumulation of
credits or hours of seat-time; it is based on
demonstration of competence.
The model makes it ideal for adult students
who have achieved a great deal of prior learning applicable to a job or career change.
WGU is a leader in the assessment field and
offers a range of knowledge, skill, and
performance tasks and assessments specific
to each academic program.
A Flexible Approach
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WGU’s competency-based degrees allow students to tailor a
program to their specific needs.
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Learning from prior college, life, or work experience can
apply directly toward program completion and enable
students to avoid taking courses whose content they have
already mastered through another medium.
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The extent of prior learning is measured via the same assessments every WGU graduate takes. No one skips assessments.
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Programs are all asynchronously Internet-delivered, providing “anytime, anywhere” convenience for working adults
who are also raising families.
Regional Accreditation
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WGU has multiple regional accreditation, a first in the
history of American higher education.
The regional associations and commissions involved:
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Northwest Association of Schools & Colleges
North Central Association of Colleges & Schools
Western Association of Schools & Colleges: Accrediting
Commission for Community & Junior Colleges
Western Association of Schools & Colleges: Accrediting
Commission for Senior Colleges & Universities
Other WGU Facts
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The sitting governors of the 19 member states
comprise the nonprofit corporation.
Both a Democrat and Republican governor
always serve as co-chairs of WGU’s Board of
Trustees. Currently these are Gov. Bill
Richardson of New Mexico and Gov. Kenny
Guinn of Nevada.
WGU is supported financially by 25 major
corporations and foundations.
WGU National Advisory Board
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3Com
America Online
Apple Computer
AT&T
Cisco Systems
Convergys
Drake International
Farmers Insurance Group
Gates Foundation
IBM Corporation
Hewlett-Packard
KPMG Consulting
Marriott Corporation
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Marriott Foundation
Micron
Microsoft
Novell
Oracle
Qwest
Sallie Mae
SCT
Sloan Foundation
Sun Microsystems
Swartz Foundation
Thomson /Prometric
Student Support Systems
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Each student is individually assigned a faculty mentor
who works with him/her from beginning to end of
program and acts as instructional resource, advisor, and
always-available guide on the side.
Students belong to online cohort communities.
They begin their WGU experience with a course called
“Education Without Boundaries.”
They have access to a WGU-dedicated “cyberarian”
through the Univ. of New Mexico library system.
Federal financial aid is available.
WGU Central Library
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Questions?
Contact Barbara Rosen, WGU Librarian
wguclr@unm.edu or (505) 277-7176
Office hours: 8am - 5pm Mountain Time, Mon.-Fri.
(Requests will be processed within 24-48 hours)
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Using the Library
Learn about the WGU Library and get tips on doing
research at a distance.
Other Links on Library Homepage
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Find Articles
Find Books
Search for Subject Guides & the Web
E-Reserves
Quick Links ILLiad -- First Search -- ProQuest / ABI -- Ingenta -LIBROS -- WGU Home -- My WGU
The WGU Central Library is operated by the
University of New Mexico General Library©
Linked from “Find Articles”
Members of the Western Governors University community have access to over
60 data-bases at no charge. Citations and full-text documents can either be
downloaded, printed, or sent to an email address.
Connect to FirstSearch
View a list of FirstSearch database descriptions and connect to over 60 databases.
Connect to ABI/Inform (Business)
If your subject area is Business, Management or Computers, try this database.
Connect to ILLiad
If you cannot find your articles "full-text" in the above databases, or already have citations
to any articles you know you need, order your articles through Interlibrary Loan
(ILLiad).
E-Reserves
If your mentor has requested you read material on reserve, use the Electronic Reserves
above.
link
Linked from “Find Books”
To find books by subject, author or title, first look in LIBROS, the Web
book catalog:
LIBROS
If you were not able to find books in the LIBROS system, you can
try WorldCat, a database in FirstSearch.
NOTE: Be sure to allow time for books to be borrowed from other
libraries around the country.
WorldCat (world catalog of books)
You can use the Interlibrary Loan service to have the book(s)
delivered to your home: ILLiad
Or you may choose to purchase the book from the Bookstore:
WGU Bookstore
Or you may want to check other sites to purchase new or used books.
Adebooks.com – Alibris – Book Sense – Amazon.com
Linked from “Web Search”
Search electronic reference books like almanacs, dictionaries, telephone books, and
encyclopedias.
Electronic Reference Shelf
Search the WGU subject pages.
Discover Resources by Subject
Search the Web by more focused subject areas organized by "professionals."
Metasites by Subject
Search the entire Web using search directories and engines, like Yahoo and Google.
Search Directories and Engines
Search for Web sites that teach you how to use and evaluate the Web.
Web Tutorials and Evaluation
Final Points
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WGU Central Library is password protected.
Though employed by the University of New
Mexico, Barb Rosen is dedicated full-time to
WGU’s library needs.
Each month new students begin at WGU, and
their first WGU experience is an online course
called Education Without Boundaries© -- a 4week course, one week of which is dedicated
to a library orientation.
Marti Watson Garlett, Ph.D.
Dean of the Teachers College
mgarlett@wgu.edu