Western Governors University history

In August 1999, WGU launched its first degree programs including an associate in arts in general education, three technology-focused associates in applied arts degrees, and one master of arts degree in learning and technology.

In December 2000, Genevieve Kirch became WGU's first graduate.

In 2001, the United States Department of Education awarded $10 million to found the Teachers College, and the first programs were offered in Information Technology.

In part because of our founding by 19 state governors, who represent a wide geographic region of the United States, in 2002 WGU was simultaneously reviewed by a special committee—the Inter-Regional Accrediting Committee—comprising representatives from four regional accrediting commissions.

In 2003, the university became the first school to be accredited in four different regions by the Interregional Accrediting Committee.

In 2006, the fourth college, the College of Health Professions, was founded, and the school's Teachers College became the first online teacher-preparation program to receive NCATE accreditation.

In 2010, the first state-established offshoot, WGU Indiana, was founded by Mitch Daniels, governor of Indiana, and the school reached 20,000 students for the first time.

In 2011, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation provided $4.5 million for WGU Indiana and the creation of WGU Texas and WGU Washington.

On January 8, 2013, Bill Haslam, governor of Tennessee, announced the creation of WGU Tennessee.

He noted that the Inspector General had previously criticized accreditation assessments for competency-based education programs in 2015, partly due to concerns about the amount of interaction between faculty and students.

Scott D. Pulsipher is the current university president, having joined WGU on April 11, 2016.

WGU students at a 2017 graduation ceremony

WGU received the 2018 CIQG Quality Award from the Council for Higher Education Accreditation/International Quality Group.