Technical College System of Georgia and WGU Expand Transfer Agreement

Technical College System of Georgia and WGU Expand Transfer Agreement

New articulation agreements can lead to faster attainment of bachelor's degrees

Atlanta, Ga.-At a special ceremony at the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead, leaders from The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) and Western Governors University (WGU) signed an expanded partnership agreement between the two institutions that will make it easier for graduates of the 22 TCSG colleges to continue their education at WGU.

This latest agreement follows a prior agreement signed in 2022, and includes generous transfer pathways to bachelor's degrees offered by accredited, online WGU, particularly in the high-demand fields of IT, nursing, business, and K-12 education. These pathways will help TCSG graduates earn their bachelor's degrees and enter or advance in the workforce quicker and more cost effectively.

A sample of the credit transfers from TCSG colleges to WGU includes the following:

• AAS in nursing to BS in nursing: 87 credit hours
• AAS in cybersecurity to BS in cybersecurity: 74 credit hours
• AAS in accounting to BS in accounting: 66 credit hours
• AAS in marketing to BS in marketing: 66 credit hours
• AAS in business management to BS in business management: 63 credit hours
• AS in education to BA in elementary education: 56 credit hours

As part of the agreement, graduates and employees of TCSG colleges will also be able to apply for WGU Community College Partner Scholarships valued up to $3,500. Tuition is around $4,000 per six-month term for most WGU bachelor's degree programs, and students can take as many courses as they wish with the consent of their assigned program mentor.

WGU offers more than 120 bachelor's, master's and professional certificate programs, and its asynchronous, competency-based model allows students to log on and study at convenient times for them, and to accelerate once they have demonstrated mastery of course materials.

More than 3,200 students from TCSG colleges have transferred to WGU, and more than 1,600 have earned their bachelor's degrees. Statewide, more than 15,100 WGU alumni reside in the Peach State.

"This expanded partnership with WGU strengthens our commitment to providing students with clear and affordable pathways to continue their education," said TCSG Commissioner Greg Dozier. "Our colleges are equipping students with the skills needed for high-demand careers, and this agreement allows them to take the next step-transferring more credits, reducing costs, and reaching a bachelor's degree more quickly."

"Governor Kemp has made it a priority to keep Georgia as a top state for workforce talent, and the TCSG colleges have been a driving force for developing homegrown talent," said Kimberly K. Estep, WGU's Southeast regional vice president. "WGU's partnership with TCSG has already provided quantifiable results in terms of preparing workforce-ready graduates across urban and rural areas, and this new agreement will expand those opportunities to even more degree programs."

Visit https://www.TCSG.edu for more information about the Technical College System of Georgia. For more about WGU, visit https://www.wgu.edu.

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About the Technical College System of Georgia

The 22 colleges of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) are Georgia's top resource for skilled workers. TCSG offers world-class training in more than 600 associate degree, diploma and certificate programs to students who are trained on state-of-the-art equipment by instructors who are experts in their fields. The system also houses Georgia's Office of Adult Education, which promotes and provides adult literacy and education programs, including the GED® testing program, throughout the state. In addition, TCSG partners with companies through Quick Start, the nation's top customized workforce training program, and through its individual colleges, who work with local industry to provide workforce and training solutions. For more information, visit www.TCSG.edu

About WGU

Western Governors University, the nation's leading nonprofit, online university, is transforming higher education to be more student-centric, affordable, accessible to all, and relevant to the workforce. Established in 1997 by 19 visionary U.S. governors, WGU creates life-changing pathways to opportunity for those underserved by traditional institutions - working adults, historically underrepresented communities and a diverse, growing number of learners looking for a flexible, online model that better suits their life circumstances. WGU's competency-based education model allows students to demonstrate mastery as they progress through programs at their own pace. Learn more at wgu.edu. Follow WGU on LinkedIn.

Contact:

Mark D'Alessio - Executive Director of Communications Technical College System of Georgia [email protected]

Glenn Gillen, APR
Western Governors University
[email protected]
919-450-8113