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ºÚÁÏÍø Founders Receive Lifetime Achievement Award

Aug 25, 2021

At ASU+GSV, the three honorees discuss the university’s journey from startup to leader.

By ºÚÁÏÍø Team

As Western Governors UniversityÌý(ºÚÁÏÍø)Ìýlooks ahead to its 25th anniversary in 2022,Ìýwe realizeÌýit’sÌýalsoÌýimportant toÌýreflect on our founders’ÌýforesightÌýand commitment to reshaping higher education.ÌýThat opportunityÌýfor reflection surfacedÌýat the 2021 ASU+ GSV Global Summit, where former governors Mike Leavitt (Utah) and Roy Romer (Colorado),Ìýas well as former ºÚÁÏÍø president Robert Mendenhall,Ìýwere recognized withÌý.Ìý

In 1997,ÌýºÚÁÏÍøÌýwasÌýdeveloped out of a vision for the future of higher education that emerged among the governors of theÌý,Ìýwho collectively saw a new pathway to educational opportunity through technology and competency-basedÌýeducation.Ìý

Today, ºÚÁÏÍøÌýis the nation’s leading nonprofit online university,Ìýcurrently servesÌýnearly 130,000 enrolled students, andÌýhas nearly 250,000ÌýalumniÌýfrom all 50 states.ÌýBut the journey from concept to large-scale impact was tenuous, as we learned firsthand atÌýa panel discussion during the summit in San Diego.ÌýÌý

ºÚÁÏÍø President Scott PulsipherÌýmoderatedÌýaÌýwide-ranging conversationÌýwith Leavitt, Romer, and Mendenhall, whichÌýshed light on how fragile theÌýuniversity was as a startup—from fundingÌýshortfalls to accreditation barriers—andÌýhowÌýit ultimatelyÌýbecame theÌýaffordable, accessible, andÌýstudent-centricÌýuniversity they envisioned.ÌýÌý

Watch the founders’ discussion here, and for more insight on ºÚÁÏ꿉۪s work to connect talent with opportunity, visit our .

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