SWAN QUARTER, N.C. — Officials with Hyde County Schools (HCS) have announced that the school system has signed a partnership agreement with WGU North Carolina, an affiliate of accredited nonprofit Western Governors University. As part of the agreement, WGU North Carolina will provide flexible, personalized learning pathways for HCS staff who wish to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
 

HCS staff will also be able to apply for WGU’s K-12 Partner Scholarships, valued at $2,500. WGU will provide webinar training, print, and digital materials to HCS employees to ensure an understanding of the educational opportunities at WGU.
 

“As a district that values lifelong learning, we are excited to partner with WGU North Carolina to support our teachers and staff as they continue their own learning journey,” says Dr. Melanie Shaver, Superintendent. “Hyde County Schools’ most important work is ensuring that students and staff have access and opportunities to learn and grow, and we are grateful for the partnership with WGU North Carolina that expands our capacity to offer and encourage these opportunities.”
 

“Hyde County Schools is a perfect example of a school system that is committed to continual growth and improvement, and this partnership embodies that mindset,” said Ben Coulter, Ed.D., Chancellor of WGU North Carolina. “Our online, competency-based model is a good fit for teachers and staff who want to continue their education affordably and at a time that works best for them. They can log in anytime – before school, in the evening, or on the weekend – and complete coursework at their own pace.”
 

Founded in 1997, WGU is a fully accredited, nonprofit online university offering more than 80 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in K-12 education, IT, healthcare, and business. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). WGU’s Teachers College is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP).
 

Tuition is around $4,000 per six-month term for most degree programs. As a competency-based university, WGU offers students the option to take as many courses as they want per term with the consent of their assigned program mentor. The university has more than 150,000 students enrolled nationwide, including more than 4,400 in North Carolina. Nearly 7,000 WGU graduates reside across all 100 counties in the state.

To learn more about Hyde County Schools, visit www.hyde.k12.nc.us. For more information about WGU North Carolina, visit nc.wgu.edu.