Indiana is a branch of Western Governors University a competency based online university located in Utah. As a student of WGU Indiana, I was able to take all of my classes from home and avoid some of the issues that students at traditional schools have to face. Since I earned both my bachelor’s and my master’s here, I had plenty of time to learn about the things you must do if you are going to succeed at WGU.
1.) Set a Schedule and Stick with It
WGU Indiana is unlike any other university in that attendance isn’t really part of the model. While other universities hold weekly discussion boards and assignment due dates, WGU lets you manage your own time. If you don’t set a schedule and stick with it, your session can come to a close before you know it. On the flip side, I was able to complete 80 credits in one session because I kept ahead of my schedule and was able to set my own pace.
2.) Join Facebook Groups
WGU Indiana has multiple communities, webinars, and class mentors who can help with just about any issue you have. However, many students have moved to the Facebook groups because of the informal atmosphere. There are general groups, program specific groups, and degree specific groups. Mentors and students alike are as active in these groups as any other Facebook groups. I found them to be invaluable when I wanted an answer right away or needed some kind of motivation or accountability (because yes, there is an accountability group as well). For those who want the convenience of online classes, but also enjoy the social atmosphere of traditional schools, it doesn’t get much better than this. These groups were particularly helpful when the 2 a.m. insomnia kicked in and I decided I might as well work with a study buddy since I obviously wasn’t going to sleep.
3.) Keep Your Mentor Updated
WGU student mentors are assigned as sort of personal guides through the entire process. While they can’t take care of every element or answer every question, they are very well informed and will either point you in the right direction or do the legwork on their own. They even know about things like scholarships that aren’t posted on the site. My mentors were invaluable to me and because I kept them updated on things like relocating and the barn fire of ’13, I got the encouragement and the financial assistance I needed to complete my program.
4.) Turn in Final Tasks at Least Two Weeks Before the End of the Term
TaskStream tends to get very busy at the end of every month because there are students completing their sessions every month. The school runs in 6-month sessions, but they take students every month. That means there may be a backlog for the TaskStream graders to deal with. If your paper is perfect, it may not be an issue, but if you have to do revisions on it, you need to give the graders time to review it. It only took me one session of turning in last minute assignments to learn that my circulatory system was much better off if I just turned the assignment in early on in the month.
5.) Complete Minimal Requirements
Sadly, there are plenty of people who sign up for classes just so they can get the financial aid. WGU, like many schools, has had to take steps to prevent this from happening. Why do they care? Because students who enroll but never complete the coursework are reflected in the percentage of graduates and make the school look bad. Therefore, if you enroll, but don’t complete the coursework, they have the option of not letting you re-enroll for the next semester. If you do have issues that cause you to miss out on some of your work, refer to #3 on this list. My mentor prevented me from having any problems when I was faced with multiple issues that delayed my ability to fully succeed during one of my sessions.
WGU Indiana’s competency based program allows working adults to complete classes at their own pace. As much as they will go out of their way to help you succeed, there are a few things that every student must do if they want the full benefit of what WGU has to offer.
Kathy Foust holds a Master’s of Education in instructional design as well as a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education and special education. She currently works from home as a freelance writer with a focus on instructional materials