KNOXVILLE – Local resident Kathleen Bian recently earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Management from WGU Tennessee, and traveled to Washington, D.C., to receive her diploma at the university’s summer commencement.

Kathleen Bian

WGU Tennessee is an online, nonprofit university formed through a partnership between the state of Tennessee and nationally recognized Western Governors University as part of Gov. Bill Haslam’s Drive to 55 initiative. Graduates are welcome to attend any of the WGU commencements held around the country.

“Seeing WGU Tennessee grads like Kathleen make the trip to commencement is very meaningful because of all the hard work they’ve put in to get to that point,” said Dr. Kimberly K. Estep, chancellor of WGU Tennessee, who participated in the ceremony. “Most of our students are adult learners who are balancing family life and full-time jobs, making this day one that is well worth the trip and the celebration.”

In July, the state-endorsed university celebrated its fifth anniversary. As of today, more than 4,100 students are enrolled in the university, which has conferred nearly 3,000 degrees since launching.

“If you’re thinking about going back to school, my advice would be to just do it,” Bian said. “It doesn’t matter how old you are; there is no time like the present. I found at WGU the people are there to really help you succeed.”

WGU Tennessee is an online, nonprofit, competency-based university established to expand Tennesseans’ access to higher education throughout the state. Formed through a partnership between the state of Tennessee and nationally recognized Western Governors University, WGU Tennessee is open to all qualified Tennessee residents. The university offers more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the high-demand career fields of business, K–12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing.

Degrees are granted under the accreditation of Western Governors University, which is accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Teachers College programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).*

In addition to WGU Tennessee, there are seven other WGU state-based, state-endorsed universities: WGU Indiana, established in June 2010; WGU Washington, established in April 2011; WGU Texas, established in August 2011; WGU Missouri, established in February 2013; WGU Nevada, established in June 2015; WGU North Carolina, established in October 2017; and WGU Ohio, established in February 2018.

For more information, visit the WGU Tennessee website, tennessee.wgu.edu.