Flexible Learning Online

Flexible Learning Online
I enrolled at Western Governors University (WGU) because the program was more flexible, cost-effective and geared towards helping me obtain a degree than other online degree programs. I can complete my WGU courses around my schedule with a minimum weekly time commitment. Because I can set my pace, I can graduate faster, saving thousands of dollars while earning my degree. WGU actually encourages accelerated education and provides personal mentors and course mentors to help me reach my goals by keeping me on track.
When I began my search for an online degree program that fit my life I was very discouraged. Many online degree programs require you to participate in group projects and attend scheduled online lectures in addition to completing weekly assignments. I could not see myself dutifully turning in homework after a fifty-hour work week and caring for my family and home.
WGU is very different from those programs. WGU curriculum is entirely self-study and based on my own competency. Instead of wasting time on tasks, group course work and message boards, I can dedicate my valuable time to studying only the information I don’t already know. Many WGU courses have pre-assessments that help me determine which topics I should focus on to prepare for the final project or assessment. I am able to use my time efficiently while successfully meeting WGU’s time commitment requirement of at least twenty hours per week. I complete course reading on my lunch breaks at work and spend an hour studying after my family goes to bed. The flexibility of self-directed learning makes earning my degree stress-free and rewarding.
WGU also reduces stress on my wallet. When you enroll at WGU you are paying for the use of the university’s resources every term instead of paying for credit hours. WGU is a nonprofit university that offers curriculum created by other learning organizations making it a bargain compared to other online programs. Once I pay a term’s tuition cost, I must complete twelve competency units (which are the equivalent of credit hours) during each of WGU’s six month terms to stay enrolled full-time. However, I can complete as many competency units as I am able within each six month period. The more competency units I complete within a term, the fewer total terms I will have to pay for. My transferred credits from other colleges I have attended combined with my ability to accelerate my education at WGU will permit me to complete a four year degree in less than two years. That literally cuts the cost of my college education in half.
The programs at WGU are specifically designed to help you earn a degree in less time for less cost. WGU assigns a personal mentor to each enrolled student whose job is to aid students in moving through the program quickly and successfully by providing guidance and support. In my first term at WGU, I was required to speak with my mentor on the telephone every week. My mentor helped me to decide which courses to take during the term, and we worked together to establish deadlines for each course. Knowing when I should have completed a course, and knowing that I had to give my mentor an update on my accomplishments for a given week motivated me to stick to a study schedule. With my mentor’s encouragement I was able to complete seventeen competency units during my first term.
WGU also provides course mentors. Course mentors are experts in their field of study who have in-depth knowledge of the curriculum for the courses with which they assist. Some subjects can be challenging in a self-study environment. For example, if I am struggling with a math problem I cannot simply read a text book to find a solution. I need someone to walk me through the math problem step by step. I can e-mail or call a math course mentor who will happily guide me through the math problem. Course mentors will also provide you with study guides, clarification of assignment rubrics, and general encouragement as you complete the course. Course mentors are available at times when traditional universities and other online programs are closed for the day. I don’t have to wait until the next business day to receive their assistance.
Mentors are just another way that WGU ensures that students graduate on time or faster. Supplying a personal support system for their degree programs sets WGU apart from other online universities. I decided to enroll at WGU because the university focuses on my education, personalizing my degree program to maximize my potential. Other universities and online degree programs seem to demand that their students work within the school’s structure and timelines.
Before enrolling at WGU I was almost certain that I would never graduate from college. Now that I am a full-time WGU student, I have no doubt that I will graduate. WGU gives working adults that final push towards earning a degree. WGU is a school that fits into my life and my budget. WGU is a school that wants me to be successful and fulfill my educational dreams. That is why WGU is my school.