Has anyone heard of Western Governor's University?

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I received a flyer from a close friend of mine regarding Western Governor's University. I've never heard of this program before but am interested in their BSN program. But how legitimate is this program? Anyone ever heard of it or attended any of the nursing programs there? I consider myself an excellent self directed learner and since a majority of this program is online (other than the clinicals) I feel this program would be ideal for me. THanks!

1. the school itself is accredited by the same body that does other major institutions such as the University of Washington, University of Oregon, Gonzaga University, University of Utah, University of Idaho, and Brigham Young University, to name just a few.

2. It IS state of california approved, while there are other schools that are not that STILL get to take RN boards.

3. They have applied for CCNE accreditation in August. Just a matter of time.

For those interested, the University of Southern California's Nursing program is NOT accredited by the CCNE, and thats a major school, just ask Trojan fans!!!

USC graduates still manage to sit for the boards, get a license and make money, how is that?

California State University Channel Islands Nursing program also is not CCNE certified, yet guess what, they still get to take the RN boards and become RN's.

There are many schools that are not accredited. Many of them are well known schools, not just Joe's University.

with any new idea there is skeptics, understood, there are people out to get your money.

But this was formed by 19 US Governors to help lower the cost of education.

They do clinical with Cedar Sinai.

They are state approved.

They are regional accredited.

They have applied for CCNE, when many other schools don't have it.

Its new, but they are getting all the required things in place.

Just depends if people are willing to be the early ones in the program.

all schools had initial problems and detractors.

Please don't bash unless you actually have relevent experience with this program.

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Some information regarding Western Governors University's nursing programs: WGU offers two master's degrees in nursing for RNs with BSNs--an MS Nursing--Education and an M.S. Nursing--Leadership and Management. In addition, WGU is working with a consortium of healthcare companies, foundations and the Calif. Labor & Workforce Development Agency to launch a BS in Nursing (Prelicensure). This program, which has been approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, will begin as a pilot in 3 Southern California hospitals: Cedars Sinai, Riverside Community, and Fountain Valley. There are still some openings in this program--interested individuals should visit the WGU website for more information regarding prerequisites. All pilot participants will be eligible for scholarship monies as well. To learn more, go to www.wgu.edu/rn.

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Most nursing schools need to be accredited by the CCNE or NLNAC. This accreditation is required for advanced degrees or the military.

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WGU has applied for CCNE accreditation, and we are hoping to hear that we've been accredited in the next 30 days.

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I"ve seen several articles touting Western Governor's University as an affordable, excellent, accredited college. Here's a link from us news and world reports

http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college/items/33394

and Time magazine ran an article, http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1858876,00.html

plus it looks like the California Board of Nursing is working with them also, http://www.wgu.edu/about_WGU/map_RN_news

It seems like a lower cost option for nurses wanting to further their education through online degrees

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I prefer to stay objective on message boards but when people state a university with NCATE accrediation and state approval for nursing programs is a "diploma mill" it is infuriating. Why slander a university when you do not know your research? This is an academic related board, you would think people would realize to uphold a sense of integrity on these boards. The nursing program at WGU is approved by CCNE. I believe to work at the VA you can use any state license since you are working for the federal government and not the state.

FYI WGU will soon have an online prelicensure BSN where you take your clinicals at a local hospital in your area. In the pilot program Cedar Sinai is a participating hospital. Cedar Sinai is where all the celebs go and give birth and yeah they have an excellent reputation which I doubt they would want tarnished by participating with a "diploma mill" school.

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WGU just became accredited by CCNE and it is listed on the CA BRN list of approved programs. They have recently increased the number of hospital clinical sites to five from three. Their first group starts clinical training in July and the second group starts in Jan 10. I really find it hard to believe that Cedars-Sinai Hospital would affiliate itself with a "diploma mill". And who cares if it were a "diploma mill", as long as graduating from it entitled one to become licensed as an RN in CA?

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Specializes in Stepdown/IMU, full-time Night shift charge.
This "university" is little more than a diploma mill. Your "credits" earned here are not transferrable to a real school

Hmmm, a CCNE accredited diploma mill. Interesting.

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oh i dont know...i find it hilarious that the one poster slammed the school not once, not twice, not even 3 times - but on 4 separate occasions (!!) - when the school's accreditation status is easily verifiable. like others have posted, wgu is regionally accredited and ca brn approved. other than that, it looks like the wgu nursing program is new so there couldnt be too much feedback available.

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Last time I checked, they were not an approved program by the board of nursing. But it looks like as of April (last month) they are an approved program - http://www.wgu.edu/about_WGU/map_RN_news

I still consider the school, overall, to be a diploma mill. The nursing program is a little bit better since they have real clinicals. But aside from that, don't try to tell me that a course that lasts for as long as it takes you to pass it, where you don't have to do a lab practical or take exams on any kind of timeline is the same level of education as a real school. Don't try to compare some "competency based course," where you write papers and do assignments at your leisure, with a state university caliber anatomy and physiology class. They are worlds apart.

Now I've slammed them on 5 separate occasions.

Here's some select quotes http://www.onlinedegreereviews.org/college/western-governors-university/

"Western Governors University's strengths are that it is relatively cheap and requires no real intellectual effort."

"I truly didn't study or buy books. The books don't correlate with the busy work. Anyone off the street could pass a WGU exam. The passing scores or often mid-30s and they're multiple choice!!"

"This school is a SCAM!! I would not recommend it to my worse enemy. They are one step away from being considered a diploma mill. Also keep in mind most employers don't look favorably on any degree earned online."

"My suggestion is to stay away from WGU. It is not worth the money. The mentors do not help. The course work does not match the assessments. I found myself studying for an assessment only to find that what I studied 8 weeks for was not part of the test. And what tests were not proctored were easy "busy" work, most at a high school level."

"WGU is perfect for people who want to punch their tickets and get a degree. The "work" requires churning out endless buckets of junior high level scholarship. I know, I got very good scores by paraphrasing secondary sources that I didn't bother to actually read. [...]

This school is a race. You try to shovel assignments to the graders faster than WGU can assign new tasks. WGU sees how much money it can pump out of students by continually changing requirements."

"There is definately a cult mentality with the WGU supporters here. Everybody knows this type of school is a back-door ticket punch diploma. Who are you trying to fool? Yourselves?? Almost everybody gets completely ripped off. It's all about the money."

oh i dont know...i find it hilarious that the one poster slammed the school not once, not twice, not even 3 times - but on 4 separate occasions (!!) - when the school's accreditation status is easily verifiable. like others have posted, wgu is regionally accredited and ca brn approved. other than that, it looks like the wgu nursing program is new so there couldnt be too much feedback available.
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meh, nursing education in general is a joke so who cares.

also, no one compared wgu to any school.

i find it odd that 1. you continue to speak harshly about facts that you totally make up and 2. that you are upset over this.

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I'll wait to see what the nursing school students have to say about the program. But then again, they don't start until July and I'll look to see what their opinions are around the time they are taking the NCLEX, the true measure of a nursing school.

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