UNIVERSITY GOVERNANCE
WGU and States
The WGU Model
Originally founded by state governors, Western Governors University is the largest nonprofit university in the U.S. We lead education and workforce innovation across the country. Part of this important work is to build state partnerships that remove financial barriers for students, supplement public higher education offerings, and help meet state workforce goals.
191,190
total current students at WGU from across the United States
-May 31, 2025
434,176
total graduates from WGU across the United States
-May 31, 2025
Support for Students and the Workforce
WGU encourages bipartisan support for education and works with state leaders to meet education needs. Every state has it own specific goals and challenges and, through close partnerships, WGU helps state policymakers find ways to serve states' entire populations. In establishing state-specific partnerships, students can become eligible for state grand funding and gain access to scholarships. State partnerships also give students an easier path to transfer local state or community college credits to WGU, allowing them to complete their programs more quickly.
Skilled Workers, Satisfied Employers
78%
WGU students who say they acquired job- or work- related skills, compared to 54% nationally.
Source: 2023 National Survey of Student Engagement
100%
Employers who said WGU graduates were prepared for their jobs.
Source: 2023 Harris Poll Employers Study
98%
Employers who said WGU graduates meet or exceed expectations (59% said "exceed").
Source: 2023 Harris Poll Employers Study
State Partnerships
- Nevada
Established in 2015. - Missouri
Established in 2013. - Tennessee
Established in 2013.
- Washington
Established in 2011. - Texas*
Established in 2011. - Indiana
Established in 2010.
*Western Governors University (“WGU”) is not regulated under Chapter 132 of the Texas Education Code. WGU’s primary federal regulator is the United States Department of Education. In addition, WGU is a participant of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). Pursuant to SARA, WGU maintains postsecondary education authorization from its home state of Utah through the Utah Division of Consumer Protection. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Students experiencing unresolved issues should refer to WGU’s Student Complaint and Grievance Policy. Individuals may also find information on contacting or submitting complaints at the United States Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, NC-SARA, or the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
State Level Leadership and Advisory Boards
Alison Bell, WGU Regional Vice President, Central
Advisory Board:
- Barb Smoot
- Scott Dutey
- Ken Tietz
- Kashif Smiley
- Lisa Gray
- Gen. Mark Bartman
- Dan Molina
- Darla Cade
Dr. Ben Coulter, Chancellor WGU North Carolina
Kim Estep, WGU Regional Vice President, Southeast
Advisory Board:
- Dr. Lisa Chapman
- LtGen Walter Gaskin
- Gov. Beverly Perdue
- Mr. Gregg Sinders
- Dr. Monique Perry-Graves
- Dr. Angela Hinson Quick
- Mr. Jon Armke
Richard Benbow, Regional Vice President, West Region
Bob Benson, Regional Director, West Region
Kim Estep, WGU Tennessee Chancellor
Ben Coulter, WGU Southeast Regional Director
Advisory Board:
- John R. Ingram
- Shannon A. Brown
- Mark Cate
- David A. Golden
- Bobbie J. Murphy
- Ralph J. Schulz
- John M. Steele
- Dr. Michael Torrence
- Kyle Barron
Tonya Drake, Regional Vice President, Northwest Region
Ismar Vallecillos, M.Ed., Northwest Regional Director, Western Governors University
Advisory Board:
- Dr. Andre Alfred
- Marty Brown
- Al Davis
- Dr. Michael Dunn
- Dr. Justin Guillory
- Dr. Jean Hernandez
- Heather Lewis
- Steven Maheshwary
- Steve Mullin
- Bill Poppy
- Mike Schindler
- Dr. John A. Polm
Linda Garza Battles, WGU Regional Vice President, South
Manuel Gonzalez, WGU Regional Director, South
Advisory Board:
- Andres Alcantar
- Patricia Diaz Dennis
- John Fitzpatrick
- Bernie Francis
- Bonnie Gonzalez
- George V. Grainger
- Stephen C. Head
- William Serrata
- Cristie Remmel
Alison Bell, WGU Regional Vice President, Central
More About WGU's Public Policy Advocacy
Read our Policy Blog
