Hazelwood Resident Receives Master’s Degree from WGU Missouri

Teresa Fitz, a resident of Hazelwood, has graduated from WGU Missouri with a Master of Science in Management and Leadership. Fitz participated in the nonprofit, fully online university’s commencement ceremony in downtown St. Louis in late October, where she and hundreds of other graduates were recognized and celebrated for their achievements.

Approximately 24 years after graduating with her undergraduate degree, Fitz decided to go back to school and earn her master’s degree in order to advance her career. She chose WGU after speaking with her co-workers, who had attended the university, and learning that she could accelerate through her courses and complete coursework, study and take tests on her schedule. This flexibility appealed to Fitz, a self-proclaimed night owl, who was working fulltime while raising a daughter. She was able to complete her master’s degree within 12 months of her initial enrollment.

“Once I signed up, the process began with an amazing enrollment specialist who answered all my questions and helped me find financial aid, and then I was on my way,” Fitz said. “I was able to set a schedule with my amazing WGU mentor and followed it until I finished. I met some amazing WGU instructors along the way who helped me be successful. I even signed up for my program’s Facebook group, where I connected with other night owls who understood balancing life and school.”

There were 301 undergraduate and 356 graduate degree recipients from 40 U.S. states who participated in the commencement ceremony, which was held at the Dome at America’s Center in downtown St. Louis. Approximately 73% of the graduates come from at least one of the following historically underserved populations: first-generation college students, students of color, rural residents and/or low-income earners. Graduates earned degrees in business, K–12 education, information technology and health professions, including nursing.

About WGU Missouri

WGU Missouri is a competency-based, online university created to expand access to higher education for Missouri residents. The university offers more than 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the fields of business, K-12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing. WGU Missouri faculty members serve as mentors, working one-on-one with students, offering guidance, support, and individualized instruction.

Established in 2013 through a partnership with nationally recognized Western Governors University, WGU Missouri is open to all qualified Missouri residents. The university is nonprofit and self-sustaining on flat-rate tuition of about $7,600 per year for most programs.

Degrees are granted under the accreditation of Western Governors University, which is accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Nursing College programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE*), and the Health Informatics program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). More information is available at missouri.wgu.edu or by calling 855.948.8493.

*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).