Helping educators deliver opportunity through connectivity.
THE CUSTOMER
- Western Governors University (WGU) , the nation’s largest online university
THE CHALLENGE
- Higher-education students cannot complete their studies without reliable internet connectivity
- Many urban and rural communities lack affordable internet options
THE OPPORTUNITY
- Help educators better serve undergraduate and graduate students by providing connectivity, devices, and infrastructure
- Make higher education accessible to everyone who wants it—no matter where they live
- Empower student achievement by creating portals to the 21st-century internet economy
Delivered via 5G cellular network; speeds vary due to factors affecting cellular networks.
T-Mobile supports WGU’s Nationwide Online Access Initiative.
We provide the coverage, capacity, and devices for students to participate in higher education online.
- Higher-education students cannot complete their studies without reliable internet connectivity
- Many urban and rural communities lack affordable internet options
- Make higher education accessible to all and help educators better serve students through connectivity, devices, and infrastructure
Delivered via 5G cellular network; speeds vary due to factors affecting cellular networks.
1. Access
Creating equity in higher ed.
Up to 50 million Americans lack the reliable broadband service essential to access economic opportunities, distance learning, jobs, and even civic engagement in the 21st century.
COVID-19 has shined a light on this problem. Approximately 20% of college students in a Communication Research study1 report difficulty maintaining access to technology, including internet connectivity and functioning devices. Students of lower socioeconomic status and students of color disproportionately experienced hardships.
An Ed Trust-West study2 found that in California alone, more than 102,000 California college students from lower income households (14%) and 145,000 college students of color (13%) may lack internet access. Also, more than 109,000 students from lower income households (15%) and nearly 134,000 students of color (12%) may lack access to a device to engage in distance learning.
The disparities3 are more pronounced with rural and urban populations than in suburban areas, where reliable broadband access is more publicly available.
Western Governors University (WGU) wrestles with this challenge every day. Founded nearly 25 years ago by the governors of 19 states, the school has grown into the nation’s largest online university, with 130,000 graduate and undergraduate students attending classes virtually and 200,000 alumni.
An alternative to traditional education.
WGU’s founders created the university to offer an alternative to a traditional education that has failed many learners, including adult returning students. At WGU, 70% of students identify with one or more of four underserved populations: first-generation college students, low-income households, people of color, or residents of rural areas.
WGU students are also untraditional because their average age is 37, and most attended—but did not complete—college. Many work full time and have families. All are attracted to WGU because the school offers the promise of an affordable, high-quality education that can change their lives.
WGU’s philosophy and approach may explain why its enrollment has increased by 7% while that of traditional higher education institutions is down by 15%.
3 https://www.crpe.org/thelens/digital-divide-among-students-during-covid-19-who-has-access-who-doesnt
“The internet changes the nature of education. You don’t have to build the campuses and classrooms. High-speed connectivity is one of the easiest ways to provide access to higher education in a way we couldn’t before. Every institution should invest heavily in expanding connectivity and access.”
-Scott Pulsipher, President, Western Governors University
Delivered via 5G cellular network; speeds vary due to factors affecting cellular networks.
2. Create
What’s at stake for WGU.
WGU's mission goes beyond offering affordable college classes. It is committed to providing students with access to opportunities and a path to a better life.
The university built its entire curriculum and reputation on the results it drives for students. For example, WGU proudly reports that graduates see an average salary increase of more than $11,000 within two years of graduation. And survey data showing that 97% of employers say WGU grads meet or exceed their expectations.
To prepare students for successful careers, the school’s curriculum focuses on four high-demand fields: K–12 teaching and education, nursing and healthcare, information technology, and business. WGU’s more than 60 degree programs are designed to fit a high-growth, highly rewarding career path.
The importance of increasing graduation rates.
But the key to fulfilling the school’s mission is finding ways to help students who are busy juggling jobs, family, and other responsibilities to complete their studies.
Every university is concerned about graduation rates. Under ideal conditions, just 59.8%4 of full-time students attending traditional universities complete their undergraduate studies within six years. WGU’s completion rates are difficult to compare, since the Department of Education only counts first-time, full-time students and excludes the non-traditional, returning students that comprise 95% of WGU’s student body. However, the school projects its six-year graduation rate for undergraduate students will be 52% in 2021, and it has set a goal of 65% by 2025.
To reach this objective, WGU helps students overcome challenges that can interrupt their studies.
In 2020, one challenge was the pandemic, which hit students hard. A significant number of those who had relied on work computers or office internet to attend classes and complete their coursework lost their jobs and broadband access, at the same time. That made it difficult to stay in school.
The Online Access Scholarship.
In response, WGU created a $1 million Online Access Scholarship fund to keep students in school by underwriting the cost of broadband access and devices needed to carry on with classes.
The program, originally designed to help about 1,000 students, has expanded and is available to both existing and prospective students. And Online Access Scholarship awardees may also qualify for a Resiliency Grant, a needs-based tuition scholarship which helps students pay for school.
“We won’t rest until every American who wants access to quality education, available 24/7, gets it.”
–Tonya Drake, Chancellor, WGU Washington
COVID-19 forced Eulanda, from St. Louis, Missouri, to quit her job because she feared getting infected at work or during her daily commute and then infecting her asthmatic son.
The situation threatened to derail her work toward an IT degree that she hoped would change her family’s life. Eulanda was struggling to juggle household bills—including broadband fees.
“No one should have to choose between keeping the lights on or keeping
That was a choice she didn’t have to make. WGU’s Online Access Scholarship covered the cost of broadband internet in her home.
3. Succeed
Solving education equity challenges with connectivity.
WGU sought out
Together, WGU and
Successfully stretching budgets.
The WGU program is extensive and significantly helps stretch the university’s investment in the scholarship program. The involvement of
The
Ashley started college in Austin but was forced to drop out when she moved home to rural Texas to be with her family after the birth of her baby.
The problem: There was little to no internet access where her family lived in Woodville, Texas.
After communicating her situation to WGU, the school awarded Ashley its first Online Access Scholarship. Within minutes of a technician’s arrival at the family’s rural home, Ashley had high-speed internet access and could resume her education.
“The nature of education has forever changed. Yet students still face the challenges of battling for bandwidth at home, sharing limited data plans and even the prospect of intermittent or no internet connectivity. We won’t stop until every student who needs wireless broadband has it.”
–Mike Katz, Executive Vice President,
Envision
The WGU-
The WGU-
Educating the future
As WGU works with
Eventually,
Stronger together
About WGU
The opportunities for collaboration only start there. WGU has become the nation’s largest online university by creating partnerships with private and public sector organizations. As the school’s connectivity partner,
Why? Because both organizations share a vision and recognize that they are stronger together.
To see what
About
“T-Mobile is an innovative employer that sees the nature of the future of work. The greater our partnership, the better our ability to identify skills and develop curriculum that aligns with that skill development. As these initiatives scale, T-Mobile and WGU will be at the forefront of redeveloping roles, skills and knowledge for the future.”
–Scott Pulsipher, President, Western Governors University
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