# Source: Western Governors University Official Website — About

**Type:** source
**Status:** Useful
**Confidence:** Medium
**Source Type:** official-page
**URL:** https://www.wgu.edu/about.html
**Archive:** https://web.archive.org/web/20260723130453/https://www.wgu.edu/about.html
**Archived:** 2026-07-23
**Publisher:** Western Governors University
**Raw:** raw/western-governors-university-official-website/2026-08-11-23dd66e64a2d.txt
**Retrieved:** 2026-08-12
**Updated:** 2026-08-11
**Relates:** cites [Western Governors University](western-governors-university.md) · https://greatutah.work/pages/western-governors-university.md · https://www.wgu.edu/about.html

## Summary

WGU's "About WGU" page — the institution describing its founding story, nonprofit status, online
competency-based model, and institutional accreditation. This is the source for basic identity
claims; it does not publish enrollment or graduate counts.

## Useful Claims

- WGU says it was **founded in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors**.
- It describes itself as a **nonprofit institution** and the **nation's leading nonprofit institution**
  providing accessible education at low cost — a self-reported superlative.
- From **day one** it has operated an **online, competency-based model** aimed at students blocked by
  location or other barriers.
- **Competency-based education (CBE)** measures **demonstrated skills rather than time spent in a
  classroom**, per WGU's own definition on this page.
- WGU is **accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)** and claims to
  be the only university ever accredited simultaneously by four regional commissions.
- Students **study online, on their time**, with mentor support — WGU's description of delivery.

## Verbatim

> Founded in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors, Western Governors University is the nation's leading nonprofit institution providing accessible high-quality education at a low cost.
> — "About WGU", opening

> From day one, WGU's online, competency-based model has opened higher education pathways for students who previously lacked access due to location or other barriers.
> — "About WGU"

> WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) and is the only university to have received regional accreditation from four regional accrediting commissions at the same time.
> — "Accreditation and Affiliations"

> Competency-based education (CBE) measures demonstrated skills rather than time spent in a classroom, with learning outcomes aligned to industry demands.
> — "Competency-Based Education"

> WGU students enjoy the flexibility to study online, on their time with the support they need to succeed.
> — "Personalization, Flexibility, and Support"

> “Universities measure the wrong thing. They measure time. They measure prestige. I wanted to base a degree on performance—and that was a real revolution.”
> — Roy Romer, Former Governor of Colorado

> “WGU is about fundamental change in the way higher education is delivered. It's right, it's real, and it's efficient. It's what higher education will require to succeed in the future.”
> — Michael O. Leavitt, Former U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services, Former Governor of Utah

## Reliability Notes

Self-reported tier. Strong evidence of what WGU claims about its founding, model, and accreditation;
no independent verification of "nation's leading nonprofit" or the four-commission accreditation
superlative. Enrollment, graduate totals, and a street-level headquarters address do not appear on
this page.

Internet Archive snapshot resolved 2026-07-23.

## Related Pages

- [Western Governors University](western-governors-university.md)
- [Source: WGU — Competency-Based Education Page](wgu-competency-based-education.md)
- [Source: WGU — Accreditation Page](wgu-accreditation.md)