Mentor Support and Student Connections: For Learning and Beyond
Get All the Support You Need with Mentor Guidance and Student Communities
When you choose to go to school online at WGU, you won't be doing it alone. Mentors and student community groups help you be successful at WGU.
You'll be assigned a dedicated mentor once you enroll at WGU. Their job is to be a personal guide on your path to success in education. They'll be with you every step of the way—from the day you start until you graduate. They help you figure out your classes, answer questions, and connect with you regularly to ensure you're making progress. Most students agree that their mentor makes a huge difference as they progress through their program—giving them guidance and support they rely on.
Student groups encourage conversation among WGU students. Cohorts and chat feeds are used heavily—learn with a group, contribute your ideas, ask questions to course faculty and others in the course. Many students find, as soon as they begin their program, that they can truly connect to anyone! And the conversations get even better once you've completed your degree program. Connected WGU alumni use LinkedIn, apps, and events to build professional connections and networks that add value to their careers.
One-on-One Support with a Mentor
Assigned to you once you enroll and is with you on your whole journey, right until you graduate.
Ensures you understand university policies and procedures, tuition, scholarships, and more.
Works with you to create a course plan each term and assigns new courses as you complete them.
Assesses your strength and development to help you create effective study plans and goals.
Meets with you regularly to ensure you are making progress, to answer questions, and offer support.
Becomes a vital source of support as you move through your program, offering a personalized experience
You have your own faculty member, assigned to help you succeed.
Program Mentors benefit students and help them find success while at WGU. WGU student reviews continually praise mentors as a key component of a great experience. Personalized faculty members make WGU an online university unlike any other.
Student Connections
Course Chatter: Stay in the Loop
Every course is unique. You'll approach learning resources, studying, research, and assessment differently. It's helpful to have a place within the course to discuss those specifics, either with comments or questions.
- How should you approach part of an objective assessment?
- What chapter of a learning resource addresses a certain topic?
- Can this course be broken down into sections to work through individually?
Course chatter allows you to ask those questions and get timely answers from course faculty! Asking questions in a forum allows everyone to benefit. Earlier questions can be searched and help newcomers to the course.
Maybe you want to share insights that have helped you in the course. That's what comments are for! Dialogue with other students—it's not just for course faculty to comment.
Course Chat in student experience
Cohorts: Group-Style Learning
Many courses in your program will offer cohort options. Most students look back and say "I wish I had used cohorts from the beginning!" Cohorts offer you time with course faculty as they present the course material in a live session and offer a fresh perspective. During cohorts you can:
- Ask questions to the course faculty and student group.
- Get additional resources for learning the material in a variety of ways.
- Test your knowledge with live polls and quizzes.
The availability and schedule for cohorts varies by course. We advise that you look at cohort offerings when you are preparing to begin a new course.
Cohorts available in WGU courses.
Alumni Communities
A private group allows students to chat with each other as well as alumni. You can gain professional connections, discuss industry topics, and even post job opportunities. 36,000+ members and constantly growing.
Night Owl Network
A super-cool app that allows alumni to form mentoring relationships, create industry and special interest groups, share job opportunities, professional work examples, and even plan local events!
Careers
WGU offers lifetime benefits, at no cost to the alum, even access to the professionals and tools in Career & Professional Development. So when a career change or job hunt is on your radar, get connected with industry-specialists.
