JEFFERSON – Teacher assistants (TAs) in Ashe County Schools who are interested in earning bachelor’s degrees that lead to teacher licensure can now take advantage of a new scholarship opportunity. WGU North Carolina, an affiliate of online nonprofit Western Governors University (WGU), has signed a partnership agreement with Ashe County Schools that will provide TAs with scholarships of up to $4,800 after any Pell Grants have been exhausted.
Scholarship winners will receive tuition credit of $800 per six-month term, renewable for up to six terms. Additionally, all Ashe County Schools employees are eligible to apply for WGU Institutional Partner Scholarships valued at $2,000 ($500 per six-month term, renewable for up to four terms). Tuition is around $3,250 per six-month term for most WGU undergraduate degree programs.
WGU is accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). WGU’s Teachers College is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP).
“We are excited to expand our partnerships with higher education and look forward to sharing this opportunity with our teacher assistants and aspiring educators in Ashe County,” said Dr. Eisa Cox, Superintendent of Ashe County Schools.
“We applaud Dr. Cox for exploring creative solutions to filling the pipeline of future teachers in Ashe County,” said WGU North Carolina Chancellor Catherine Truitt. “There are excellent TAs throughout the school system, and this grow-your-own scholarship initiative will hopefully empower those who would like to take the necessary steps to earn their teaching license.”
Designed to meet the needs of adult learners, WGU’s competency-based learning model allows students to take advantage of their knowledge and experience to move quickly through material they already know, so they can focus on what they still need to learn. Students complete their programs by studying with schedules that fit their lives, advancing as soon as they demonstrate mastery of the subject matter.
For more information about WGU North Carolina, visit nc.wgu.edu. For information about Ashe County Schools, visit www.asheschools.org.
