The legislature is dimming and raising hopes for students interested in college education. Students face increasing tuition rates and reduced access, such as fewer state student offered positions in favor of more out-of-state students at the University Washington this spring.

 The legislature could raise hopes to cut costs by passing a bill to establish an online university based in Washington, the Western Governor’s University—Washington. The bill, HB1822/SB5136, “directs the Higher Education Coordinating Board to recognize and endorse online, competency based education, and integrate the academic programs of [WGU-Washington] into state policy and strategy.”

WGU offers baccalaureate and masters degrees in education, business, information technology and health services. Its motto is online, accelerated, affordable, and accredited.

It was established in 1997 by agreement among 19 governors, including former governor Mike Lowry. It earned accreditation in 2001 and now has 24,000 students and agreements with 30 states.

It’s ramping up growth by forming partnerships to establish state branches. Indiana governor Mitchell Daniels approved WGU-Indiana as its “eighth state university” and approved state-funded financial aid for Indiana residents.

The university assembles courses by purchasing curriculum from online resources and publishing materials. Competencies are established for each course and students must pass all courses to earn degrees.

WGU accepts only 37 percent of its applicants and more than 75 percent are on financial aid. Students average 36-years-of-age. Typically they’re working as teacher aides with a desire to earn a teaching degree, office worker earning a degree in business, or a health services employee earning a medical degree. They’re getting more competent as they serve you and me.

Students enroll in online courses to complete assignments, communicate with mentors, and view video lectures. One complaint I’ve read is that students must learn how to maneuver through the different technology tools in each course.

A faculty mentor is assigned to each student. Online blogs say most mentors are great but some students have, or hear, horror stories about mentors. Students have horror stories at every school I’ve taught in or attended. I’m probably in some of those horror stories.

The WGU competency standard requires students perform at a “B” grade level or fail. If students believe they already competent, they can pay for the course, and pass the competencies immediately.

A year’s tuition and fees for four-year teaching and business degrees are a flat rate of $5,780, more than a community college and less than our state universities. Overall costs for a degree are far less because graduates earn the degrees in 2.5 years instead of the average five years in four-year universities. Plus, WGU students avoid expenses for room and board at the university.

The school offers a quality education. President Mendenhall reports employer and graduate satisfaction rates greater than 95 percent. The most recent rankings from the Online Education Data Based Rankings (http://oedb.org/rankings) rated WGU the 11^th best university of 44 online universities and the highest online-only university. Student retention from 2007 shows 78 percent retention from 2006 to 2007. Harvard Business school reviewers recently reported WGU has done the best job of any non-profit in using technology to transform higher education.

In February concerns about WGU were voiced in the House, causing both Representative Armstrong and Condotta to vote against it. Concerns included equating competency programs with traditional curriculum, lack of face-to-face meetings and the availability of current online courses.

Kurt Hammond, from Rep. Condotta,’s office said, “There was concern from our side of the aisle that we were picking one university to give a state seal of approval. Why them versus some other school?”

Despite the concerns, the bill passed the House with bipartisan support and bipartisan opposition 70-26 and is now in the senate. The concerns deserve consideration, but shrinking opportunities for Washington students, the need for qualified workers and the increasing costs trump the concerns for this high-quality school.

Support WGU-Washington for Washington newest quality university. Urge Sen. Parlette to support it.