WGU Founders Receive Lifetime Achievement Award
At ASU+GSV, the three honorees discuss the university’s journey from startup to leader.
By WGU Team
As Western Governors UniversityĚý(WGU)Ěýlooks ahead to its 25th anniversary in 2022,Ěýwe realizeĚýit’sĚýalsoĚýimportant toĚýreflect on our founders’ĚýforesightĚýand commitment to reshaping higher education.ĚýThat opportunityĚýfor reflection surfacedĚýat the 2021 ASU+ GSV Global Summit, where former governors Mike Leavitt (Utah) and Roy Romer (Colorado),Ěýas well as former WGU president Robert Mendenhall,Ěýwere recognized withĚý.Ěý
In 1997,ĚýWGUĚýwasĚýdeveloped out of a vision for the future of higher education that emerged among the governors of theĚý,Ěýwho collectively saw a new pathway to educational opportunity through technology and competency-basedĚýeducation.Ěý
Today, WGUĚýis the nation’s leading nonprofit online university,Ěýcurrently servesĚýnearly 130,000 enrolled students, andĚýhas nearly 250,000ĚýalumniĚýfrom all 50 states.ĚýBut the journey from concept to large-scale impact was tenuous, as we learned firsthand atĚýa panel discussion during the summit in San Diego.ĚýĚý
WGU President Scott PulsipherĚýmoderatedĚýaĚýwide-ranging conversationĚýwith Leavitt, Romer, and Mendenhall, whichĚýshed light on how fragile theĚýuniversity was as a startup—from fundingĚýshortfalls to accreditation barriers—andĚýhowĚýit ultimatelyĚýbecame theĚýaffordable, accessible, andĚýstudent-centricĚýuniversity they envisioned.ĚýĚý
Watch the founders’ discussion here, and for more insight on WGU’s work to connect talent with opportunity, visit our .
