Batt Clears Way For Wgu Credits

Gov. Phil Batt has signed legislation assuring that Idaho universities will be able to accept credits from the fledgling Western Governors University, which is expected to start offering classes this fall.

The so-called virtual university will use the Internet, teleconferencing and other communications technologies to link students in 13 Western states and two Canadian provinces with professors offering a myriad of courses at private and public schools.

A bill that sailed through both chambers of the Legislature sets up procedures for the state to accept credits from non-accredited sources with “comparable quality and content” to classes offered at Idaho schools.

House Education Chairman Fred Tilman, R-Boise, called the legislation the first step toward removing barriers to new methods of education in Idaho.

“This is going to give us a chance at the higher education level to use this technology in ways that hopefully can filter all the way throughout our system so we can get the maximum benefit to our children even in the public schools on how to use that technology effectively in the education process.”