The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and state-endorsed online university WGU Tennessee today announced the launch of the Nashville Area Chamber Complete College Scholarship. Through the scholarship, the university will award up to $300,000 in funds to 100 applicants employed by the 2,200 members of the Nashville Area Chamber and submitting applications between now and Sept. 30, 2015.
“This partnership agreement marks an important step in making college completion available and accessible to people across Middle Tennessee,” said Ralph Schulz, president and CEO, Nashville Chamber. “Our research shows a significant percentage of workers in the region have completed some college, but lack a degree or certification. This program addresses that challenge.”
The Nashville Area Chamber Complete College Scholarship is for chamber members and their employees who want to further their education and see WGU Tennessee’s online degree program as a solution. Scholarships of up to $3,000 in value will be applied at the rate of $600 per six-month term, renewable for up to five terms. Awardees may apply the scholarship to any of WGU Tennessee’s degree programs. Applicants may confirm their employer is a Chamber member by searching the Nashville Chamber member directory: http://bit.ly/1FSretF.
“The Chamber has been a strong partner in our efforts to meet the college completion goals of Governor Haslam’s Drive to 55 initiative,” said Dr. Kimberly K. Estep, chancellor, WGU Tennessee. “This scholarship program is an ideal way for us to connect our mission of affordable, high-quality higher education with the Chamber’s mission of increasing economic prosperity across the region.”
“Working adults tell us an online degree completion program is a cost-effective way to complete a course of study,” said Nancy Eisenbrandt, chief operations and workforce development officer, Nashville Chamber. “WGU Tennessee degree programs are competency-based, so students can complete them on their own time, and students are provided a mentor to help coach them through the process. It’s a great way to expand your marketable skills.”
Applicants must have completed at least 12 college hours in order to be eligible for the Complete College Scholarship. They must also submit an essay about their reasons for going back to college, complete the admissions process for WGU Tennessee and participate in an interview with a scholarship counselor. The Complete College Scholarship program is a competitive program, with scholarships awarded based on an applicant’s academic record, demonstrated financial need, readiness for online study and current competency, as well as other considerations.
A video about the scholarship is available here: http://bit.ly/1ItWAx0. For more information and to apply, visit:http://tennessee.wgu.edu/tuition_financial_aid/scholarships/nashville_chamber_overview.
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 five 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; and WGU Nevada, established in June 2015.
For more information, visit the WGU Tennessee website, tennessee.wgu.edu, or call 855-948-8495.
*Western Governors University offers nursing programs that are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 5380, Washington, DC 20036, 202-877-6791).
About the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce is Middle Tennessee’s largest business federation, representing more than 2,000 member companies. Belong, engage, lead, prosper embodies the Chamber’s focus on facilitating community leadership to create economic prosperity for Middle Tennessee. The work of the Nashville Area Chamber is supported by members and sponsors; the Chamber’s Pivotal Partners (a partnership at the highest level for all Chamber programs and events) are Delek US Holdings, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Community Health Systems, First Tennessee and Ryan LLC. Together with its affiliates, the Nashville Chamber works to strengthen the region’s business climate and to enhance Nashville’s position as a desirable place to live, work and visit. For more information, visit www.nashvillechamber.com.