Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
On behalf of our students living in Ohio, the undersigned faculty and staff of Western Governors University, respectfully request that the Ohio Senate remove the harmful amendment language from HB 166 that would prohibit the Chancellor of Higher Education from granting or renewing authorization of WGU Ohio.
If enacted, this language would render Ohioans enrolled at WGU ineligible for the Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG), the Ohio War Orphans Scholarship, the Ohio National Guard and Reserve Scholarship, loans from the Nurse Education Assistance Loan Program (NEALP), and any other state-funded grant-in-aid for which they would otherwise be eligible. About a quarter of WGU Ohio students receive such aid. For those who do, any loss of assistance can mean the difference between continuing their studies and being forced to drop out.
Ohioans deserve the right to choose an accredited institution that best fits their needs. Our students chose Western Governors University (WGU) Ohio because the online, competency-based model is the right fit for people who need to complete or advance our degrees while working full-time, raising children or caring for elderly parents, serving in the Ohio National Guard or Reserves, or meeting other life obligations. When they graduate, they will be prepared to fill in-demand jobs across the state of Ohio, such as teachers, nurses, cybersecurity technicians, and human resources professionals.
For our students, their families, communities, and the future of Ohio, please remove the harmful amendment to HB166 that would threaten their ability to reach their education-to-career goals.
Sincerely,
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Updates
May 15, 2019
I have been spending my evenings reading your notes about why this degree path is the only one that fits your demanding lives. We are currently preparing to present this collection of stories to the committee members because they need to understand the real people who will be blocked from their education.
May 15, 2019
Seeing this level of support for our students is overwhelming because I know how hard they work to balance their education with the rest of their lives. These signatures show that people understand the life-changing impact of keeping these programs accessible for them.
25 Comments
Student obsession is a pillar of the WGU leadership model and mission to provide access to higher education that acknowledges and utilizes the talents and skills students bring to their varied academic paths. With that in mind, please provide full support to WGU students and remove the harmful amendment to HB166 that would threaten the state affiliation of WGU with Ohio and Ohio students' ability to reach their education-to-career goals.
Western Governor's University is a school with rigorous academic standards that allows adults to integrate education into their busy lifestyle. It is not a degree mill. It is not a predatory for profit college. Please support Ohio students in making their own decisions about where they obtain a legitimate degree and ensure that their choices are not limited by well-meaning but unhelpful legislation.
WGU exists to make it easier for people to get an education while balancing other important commitments. A college degree helps our students advance at work or break into a new field, helping to fulfill their dreams. The loss of state financial aid can crush those dreams by making the education we offer out of reach. The vast majority of our students report being satisfied with the education they obtained at WGU, as do their employers. Please remove the roadblock to their goals found in HB166.
Please remove the harmful amendment to HB166 - Ohio needs workforce-prepared students and students need choices and accessibility with their higher education.
As a 1st college graduate and WGU alumnus myself (MBA), I can attest to the value of having access to affordable accredited education outside of a scheduled classroom. WGU improves lives. Why would anyone try to stand in the way of that?
WGU's mission is to provide an affordable education to assist all in achieving their dream and those living in the state of Ohio are also deserving of the ability to access the great opportunities provided by WGU! Please remove the language from HB 166 that unfairly penalizes WGU Ohio students!
Please remove harmful language from HB 166. WGU students seek affordable and accessible higher education pathways that will allow them greater career opportunities in your state!
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Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
On behalf of our students living in Ohio, the undersigned faculty and staff of Western Governors University, respectfully request that the Ohio Senate remove the harmful amendment language from HB 166 that would prohibit the Chancellor of Higher Education from granting or renewing authorization of WGU Ohio.
If enacted, this language would render Ohioans enrolled at WGU ineligible for the Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG), the Ohio War Orphans Scholarship, the Ohio National Guard and Reserve Scholarship, loans from the Nurse Education Assistance Loan Program (NEALP), and any other state-funded grant-in-aid for which they would otherwise be eligible. About a quarter of WGU Ohio students receive such aid. For those who do, any loss of assistance can mean the difference between continuing their studies and being forced to drop out.
Ohioans deserve the right to choose an accredited institution that best fits their needs. Our students chose Western Governors University (WGU) Ohio because the online, competency-based model is the right fit for people who need to complete or advance our degrees while working full-time, raising children or caring for elderly parents, serving in the Ohio National Guard or Reserves, or meeting other life obligations. When they graduate, they will be prepared to fill in-demand jobs across the state of Ohio, such as teachers, nurses, cybersecurity technicians, and human resources professionals.
For our students, their families, communities, and the future of Ohio, please remove the harmful amendment to HB166 that would threaten their ability to reach their education-to-career goals.
Sincerely,
Updates
May 15, 2019
I have been spending my evenings reading your notes about why this degree path is the only one that fits your demanding lives. We are currently preparing to present this collection of stories to the committee members because they need to understand the real people who will be blocked from their education.
May 15, 2019
Seeing this level of support for our students is overwhelming because I know how hard they work to balance their education with the rest of their lives. These signatures show that people understand the life-changing impact of keeping these programs accessible for them.
25 Comments
I am a first-generation college graduate who went on to earn a Ph.D. and serve my country in the U.S. Foreign Service. WGU is a vital option to allow MORE Ohioans to reach for those same goals in their lives.
Student obsession is a pillar of the WGU leadership model and mission to provide access to higher education that acknowledges and utilizes the talents and skills students bring to their varied academic paths. With that in mind, please provide full support to WGU students and remove the harmful amendment to HB166 that would threaten the state affiliation of WGU with Ohio and Ohio students' ability to reach their education-to-career goals.
Western Governor's University is a school with rigorous academic standards that allows adults to integrate education into their busy lifestyle. It is not a degree mill. It is not a predatory for profit college. Please support Ohio students in making their own decisions about where they obtain a legitimate degree and ensure that their choices are not limited by well-meaning but unhelpful legislation.
WGU exists to make it easier for people to get an education while balancing other important commitments. A college degree helps our students advance at work or break into a new field, helping to fulfill their dreams. The loss of state financial aid can crush those dreams by making the education we offer out of reach. The vast majority of our students report being satisfied with the education they obtained at WGU, as do their employers. Please remove the roadblock to their goals found in HB166.
Please remove the harmful amendment to HB166 - Ohio needs workforce-prepared students and students need choices and accessibility with their higher education.
As a 1st college graduate and WGU alumnus myself (MBA), I can attest to the value of having access to affordable accredited education outside of a scheduled classroom. WGU improves lives. Why would anyone try to stand in the way of that?
WGU's mission is to provide an affordable education to assist all in achieving their dream and those living in the state of Ohio are also deserving of the ability to access the great opportunities provided by WGU! Please remove the language from HB 166 that unfairly penalizes WGU Ohio students!
Please remove harmful language from HB 166. WGU students seek affordable and accessible higher education pathways that will allow them greater career opportunities in your state!
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I am a first-generation college graduate who went on to earn a Ph.D. and serve my country in the U.S. Foreign Service. WGU is a vital option to allow MORE Ohioans to reach for those same goals in their lives.