AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 8, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An estimated 3.7 million Texans have some college but no degree and the state's workforce is feeling the pinch of that talent dilemma, according to Veronica Vargas Stidvent, Chancellor of online, nonprofit university WGU Texas. As of next Saturday, 1,102 Texans will no longer be part of that statistic as they graduate from WGU Texas, which offers affordable, competency-based education geared toward working adults. These professionals, according to Stidvent, represent the "new majority" of higher education students.
The 2015 WGU Texas commencement will honor more than 1,100 graduates from around the state on October 17 at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas at 9:45 a.m.
"Nontraditional college students juggle full-time jobs, family responsibilities, and limited budgets," said Stidvent. "We are proud to see a record number of WGU Texas graduates balancing life responsibilities while earning the degrees they need to improve their lives and advance their careers. WGU Texas recognizes the face of the new majority in higher education and is proud to offer high-quality higher education solutions that are designed specifically with these students in mind."
Nearly 40 percent of this class are first-generation college graduates. The average age is 40 years old, with the oldest graduate being 72 years old. The average time to complete a bachelor's degree was just 2 years and 3 months, while completing a master's degree was just under 2 years.
Graduates at this year's commencement earned bachelor's and master's degrees in the high-demand fields of information technology (IT), business, K-12 teacher education, and health professions, including nursing,
"WGU Texas graduates make a significant contribution to the talent dilemma in our state by earning the degrees that Texas employers need," said State Representative and Chairman of the House Higher Education Committee John Zerwas, M.D., who will deliver the WGU Texas Commencement keynote address. "These professionals are now ready for the jobs and promotions that await them, opportunities made possible by their higher education accomplishments."
In addition to the keynote address by State Representative John Zerwas, M.D., the WGU Texas Commencement ceremony will feature four student speakers who embody the students WGU Texas strives to serve:
LuTonya Ray (Austin), a full-time working mother of two, will share her educational journey and inspiration to earn her B.S. Business—Marketing Management.
Georjean Burnell (Hondo), a director of nursing who will graduate with an M. S. Nursing—Leadership and Management.
Tracy Tanwar (Dallas), an assistant principal who will graduate with an M. S. Curriculum and Instruction.
Ryan Egesdahl (Houston), an IT supervisor who will graduate with a B. S. Information Technology–Security.
For more information about WGU Texas programs, please visit texas.wgu.edu.
About WGU Texas
WGU Texas is an online, nonprofit, competency-based university established to expand Texans' access to higher education throughout the state. Formed through a partnership between the state of Texas and nationally-recognized Western Governors University, WGU Texas is open to all qualified Texas residents. The university offers more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the high-demand career fields of business, K-12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing.
Degrees are granted under the accreditation of Western Governors University, which is accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Teachers College programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).*
Learn more at texas.wgu.edu or call 1-877-214-7011.
*Western Governors University offers nursing programs that are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 5380, Washington, DC 20036, 202-877-6791).
Contact for media inquiries:
Erin Moore, PR Manager
512-225-6644 or 903-557-1008 cell
erin.moore@wgu.edu
Contact for enrollment information:
877.214.7011
texas.wgu.edu
Follow WGU:
http://www.facebook.com/wgutexas
http://www.linkedin.com/companies/western-governors-university
http://twitter.com/wgutexas
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SOURCE WGU Texas
