91制片厂 Founders Receive Lifetime Achievement Award
At ASU+GSV, the three honorees discuss the university鈥檚 journey from startup to leader.
By WGU Team
As Western Governors University听(WGU)听looks ahead to its 25th anniversary in 2022,听we realize听it鈥檚听also听important to听reflect on our founders鈥櫶齠oresight听and commitment to reshaping higher education.听That opportunity听for reflection surfaced听at the 2021 ASU+ GSV Global Summit, where former governors Mike Leavitt (Utah) and Roy Romer (Colorado),听as well as former WGU president Robert Mendenhall,听were recognized with听.听
In 1997,听WGU听was听developed out of a vision for the future of higher education that emerged among the governors of the听,听who collectively saw a new pathway to educational opportunity through technology and competency-based听education.听
Today, WGU听is the nation鈥檚 leading nonprofit online university,听currently serves听nearly 130,000 enrolled students, and听has nearly 250,000听alumni听from all 50 states.听But the journey from concept to large-scale impact was tenuous, as we learned firsthand at听a panel discussion during the summit in San Diego.听听
91制片厂 President Scott Pulsipher听moderated听a听wide-ranging conversation听with Leavitt, Romer, and Mendenhall, which听shed light on how fragile the听university was as a startup鈥攆rom funding听shortfalls to accreditation barriers鈥攁nd听how听it ultimately听became the听affordable, accessible, and听student-centric听university they envisioned.听听
Watch the founders鈥� discussion here, and for more insight on WGU鈥檚 work to connect talent with opportunity, visit our .
