A Radical Model for Post-Secondary Education

Over a Decade of Progress at Western Governors University

Janet Schnitz, Ed.D.Associate Provost

Assessment

Thomas Zane, Ph.D.Director of Assessment

Quality and Validity

A Radical Model For Post-secondary Education

• Vision for a new way of learning – – Online– Address changes in student

population– Non-profit – Affordable

The Mission

The principal mission of Western Governors University is to improve quality and expand access to post-secondary educational opportunities by providing a means for individuals to learn independent of time or place and to earn competency-based degrees and other credentials that are credible to both academic institutions and employers.

The Students

The Structure

• Governance– Board of Trustees– National Advisory Board– Program Councils

• Organization by function– Business, not academic structure

• Competency not “seat time” basis for graduation

• 6 month terms – No courses – No grades

The “Curriculum”

• Domains• Courses of Study• Learning

Resources & Opportunities

• Assessments

Domains

Assessments

Assessments

Exams

Performance Tasks

Pre-clinical Exercises

Observations

Capstone/ Work Sample

Knowledge(Know)

Skills(Know How)

Abilities(Do It!)

Blue =Heavily Tested

White =Not Tested

Light Blue =Somewhat Tested

Legend

The Faculty

• Disaggregated model– Council Members– Program Coordinators– Program Managers– Course Mentors– Student Mentors– Adjunct Contractors

The Process

1. Mentor Assignment

2. Enroll in Course of Study

3. Accelerate past/through learning opportunities

4. Assessments1. Diagnostic Pretests

2. Objective Assessments

3. Performance Assessments

4. Other Culminating Assessments

What’s Next?

• Continue to evolve the model• More experimentation• Move to integrate new technologies

Questions?

• For more information, visit our website at: http://www.wgu.edu

• Feel free to ask other questions via e-mail at:– Dr. Schnitz – jazbell@wgu.edu – Dr. Zane – tzane@wgu.edu

– For enrollment information call: 866.225.5948