Episode 12: Q&A with Patrick Partridge, President of WGU Academy
Higher education has had a tough time keeping up with the social, economic, and technological changes of recent decades. As a result, there is a disconnect between traditional higher education outcomes, i.e., degrees, and what both individuals and employers need from higher education opportunities.
Western Governors University seeks to bridge this gap. WGU has been at the forefront of making both online learning and competency-based education highly respected alternatives to traditional higher education. On this episode of Illuminate Higher Education, Patrick Partridge, President of WGU Academy, joins podcast host Kiran Kodithala to discuss the challenges faced by higher education in this modern age.
Explore the highlights of the conversation in this brief Q&A, then listen to the full episode for more details.
Q: Competency-based learning is a hallmark of the WGU mission. How does it work in practice?
“Competency-based learning” simply means, “Prove it.”
It’s not about time spent in a classroom. It’s about demonstrating mastery of course content. Our learning model is also not grade-based. Any assignment will have one of two outcomes: pass or not pass. At WGU, “not pass” is not a failure. It is a progress measure. We assume students will attempt many assignments multiple times.
Q: How does WGU personalize the learning journey?
Flexible, personalized learning is necessary for students who want to earn a higher degree but are unable to participate in a traditional, full-time four-year program. Students often choose to work while attending college in hopes of minimizing debt, but data shows this approach tends to be a dead end. These students are much less likely to graduate than students who can enroll in four-year programs.
So many things work against students who are trying to earn a degree while balancing work, family, and personal commitments. WGU began building its personalized learning model by disrupting the traditional two-semester system. Our classes start every month, so students can start at the right time in their lives. Students can take as many courses at a time as they can handle and progress as quickly as they prefer.
Our competency-based framework also enables learning personalization. Rather than spending time in class, students learn asynchronously. This allows for flexibility when students study and complete assignments. Rather than just consuming content, students are asked to demonstrate mastery of concepts studied as they advance through the course at their own pace.
Q: What are some other keys to WGU’s success?
There are two things to mention here: low tuition and our mentorship program.
From the very beginning, as a non-profit, we were determined to keep tuition low. We learned to control our costs to keep tuition low. We even went eight years without a tuition increase. Essentially, most programs are around $3,000 per six months. Students can take as many courses during that period as they want.
Second, every student is paired with a mentor. A mentor is a faculty member that engages, supports, and encourages the student along the way. They help keep students focused on progress and provide social and psychological support for the learning process. Most students have the same mentor for the duration of their degree program. Despite the size of our school, our mentor-student ratio is about 1:80-100.
Q: Where do you think education might go in twenty years?
As an entrepreneur, it’s hard to look out even three years in terms of products and what will be available. I have a tough time envisioning what is going to happen with K-12 education because for the last 20+ years there has been a societal desire to limit or cut spending for K-12. If you think about what will happen for the elite or most successful students, that is an easier question. For the socioeconomically disadvantaged students, the future is unclear.
Like any industry, innovation in higher education is driven by the customers and the payers. The customers for K-12 and higher education have lived with technology in their hands. The data already suggests that a lot of young people are happy to pass on the traditional college experience. The objective of education is less about the whole comprehensive experience than it is about being able to learn skills that earn a living. There is also increasing evidence that now parents are looking at it from what we call a “learn and earn” approach. Schools have to increasingly emphasize helping students prepare for jobs and careers.
Patrick’s varied career includes entrepreneurship, leadership roles in a variety of industries, and a handful of published works. Western Governors University (WGU) is an all-online university geared towards improving learning quality, expanding educational opportunities, and supporting competency-based outcomes for students. WGU Academy provides an on-ramp program for new students to help prepare for secondary education at WGU or other institutions.
Listen to the full podcast episode for a deeper dive into these topics.
Learn more about Patrick Partridge on LinkedIn and find his book You Might Be a Republican/Democrat If… on Amazon.
Visit WGU.edu for more about Western Governors University.
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