Utah-based online university recognized with prestigious honor

Utah-based online university recognized with prestigious honor

Western Governors University (WGU), a competency-based online degree provider, was recently honored with Utah's Best of State Award for its recent contributions to higher education.

The annual awards are given to organizations and businesses that exemplify "achievement in the field of endeavor, innovation and contribution to improving the quality of life in Utah."

While it is based in the Beehive State, the university currently enrolls more than 19,000 students from across all 50 states.

"This award recognizes WGU's vision of making higher education more accessible to everyone, not just in Utah, but throughout the country," said Patrick Partridge, who accepted the award on behalf of the university. "It is something that our WGU staff as well as the state of Utah can be truly proud of."

The online institution offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the fields of business, information technology, nursing and education.

According to a 2009 report by the Sloan Consortium and Babson Survey Research Group, the online education sector grew by 17 percent in 2008. Currently, approximately one-fourth of students enrolled in higher education programs are taking at least one online course, according to U.S. News and World Report.

By Mark Danson