WGU and Hawkeye Community College Announce Strategic Partnership to Enhance Educational Opportunities
posted on Friday, December 6, 2024 in
College News
WATERLOO—Western Governors University (WGU) and Hawkeye Community College (Hawkeye) are excited to announce a new strategic partnership designed to provide a streamlined, affordable pathway for transfer students seeking to complete their bachelor’s degrees. This collaboration will simplify the process for Hawkeye Community College graduates to transfer their credits into WGU’s flexible, online degree programs, offering them the opportunity to pursue higher education in a wide range of fields.
Dr. Terrance Hopson, WGU Regional Vice President, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership: "This new partnership with Hawkeye Community College opens up exciting opportunities for students to continue their education and advance their careers. We share a commitment to providing high-quality, flexible education options, and we are proud to work together to support students on their academic journeys."
The partnership is part of WGU’s ongoing efforts to make higher education more accessible and affordable, particularly for working adults and community college graduates. Through this collaboration, students who have earned an associate degree at Hawkeye Community College can transfer into WGU with ease, with the ability to apply their completed credits toward a WGU bachelor’s program.
The partnership offers several other key benefits for Hawkeye students:
- Flexible Learning Opportunities: WGU’s online, competency-based education model enables students to progress at their own pace, offering greater flexibility for working adults and those with family responsibilities.
- Affordable Education: Graduates and employees of Hawkeye are eligible to apply for the WGU Community College Partner Scholarship, which amounts to $2,500. WGU also provides flat-rate tuition for most programs and allows students to take as many courses as they want each term, potentially reducing the overall cost of earning a degree.
- Supportive Learning Environment: WGU offers personalized support through dedicated program mentors who guide students through their academic journey.
With 27 years of experience in higher education, WGU is a leading provider of over 80 online bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and professional certificates in areas such as business, K-12 education, healthcare (including nursing), and information technology. The average tuition for undergraduate degree programs is approximately $4,000 per term. Each program is supported by program mentors and structured to accommodate hectic schedules.
"Hawkeye’s partnership with WGU provides our students with educational opportunities to thrive in today’s dynamic workforce. This collaboration strengthens our efforts to foster lifelong learning and meet the evolving workforce needs of our community,” said Dr. Todd Holcomb, president of Hawkeye Community College.
The collaboration forms part of a larger effort by both organizations to improve educational achievement and workforce training in Iowa and other regions. Through their combined efforts, Hawkeye and WGU seek to equip students with the expertise and abilities needed to succeed in an ever-evolving job market.
About Hawkeye Community College: Hawkeye Community College is a comprehensive community college with more than 50 credit programs offering liberal arts education and career and technical training. Hawkeye’s main campus is located in Waterloo, Iowa, and serves a 10-county region with business and industry training, professional development, English language, and citizenship courses, continuing education programming, and concurrent enrollment for area high schools. Serving more than 25,000 individuals annually, the college has additional locations in Cedar Falls, Holland, Independence, and downtown Waterloo. Learn more by visiting pocl.365xuexiwang.com.
About Western Governors University (WGU): A nonprofit, online university established in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors with a mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable higher education, WGU now serves nearly 176,000 students nationwide and has awarded over 380,000 degrees to more than 340,000 graduates in all 50 states. Driving innovation as the nation’s leading competency-based university, WGU has been recognized by the White House, state leaders, employers, and students as a model that works in postsecondary education. In less than 30 years, the university has become a leading influence in changing the lives of individuals and families, and preparing the workforce needed in today’s rapidly evolving economy. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, has been named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies, and has been featured on NPR, NBC Nightly News and CNN and in The New York Times. Learn more at wgu.edu and wgu.edu/impact.