Robert Mendenhall
Encyclopedia
Robert Winton Mendenhall is the president of Western Governors University
(WGU) where he also serves on the board of trustees.
Western Governors University (WGU) is a private, non-profit, online university offering competency-based undergraduate and graduate degrees in Business, Teacher Education, Information Technology, and Health Professions, including Nursing. Founded in 1997 by a group of 19 western governors with the mission to improve the quality and expand access to post-secondary educational opportunities. Dr. Mendenhall became president of Western Governors University in 1999, the same year its first students were enrolled. Dr. Mendenhall also serves on the WGU Board of Trustees which is composed of educators, industry leaders, and governors. As of Dec. 1, 2011, the university has roughly 30,000 students in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., U.S. territories, and stationed on U.S. military bases overseas..
Discussing the university, Mendenhall said, "WGU was specifically created as a new model for higher education, incorporating the use of technology to expand access and reduce costs, while creating competency-based degree programs to improve accountability for learning."
's K-12 education division. He also served as executive vice president for Jostens Learning Corporation.
From 1980 to 1992, he was a founder, president, and CEO (from 1987) of Wicat Systems, Inc., a publicly traded company which was a leader in providing computer-based curriculum, instructional management and testing to schools, and technology-based training to government and industry.
He has also served on the NGA/ASTD Commission on Technology & Adult Learning, on IBM’s Education Advisory Council, on the National Forum on 21st Century Skills Education Advisory Board, and on the Technology Working Group for the California Postsecondary Education Commission
.Mendenhall is a former member of the Board of the Department of Business and Economic Development for the State of Utah.
Mendenhall received his doctorate in Instructional Psychology and Technology from Brigham Young University.
at the request of U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings
. In 2006 the commission issued a report titled "A Test for Leadership: Charting the Future of U.S. Higher Education." The report was critical on many aspects of higher education in the U.S. and offered suggestions on how to improve the system. Commenting in the media Mendenhall stated: "I don't think it's about blame." [Our] report was "more negative than it needs to be about the academy, but not as alarming as it needs to be in shining a light on the challenges in American higher education."
Western Governors University
Western Governors University is a private, nonprofit, American online university with nearly 30,000 students across the United States and in military bases overseas, as of December 2011. It is a competency-based university...
(WGU) where he also serves on the board of trustees.
Western Governors University (WGU) is a private, non-profit, online university offering competency-based undergraduate and graduate degrees in Business, Teacher Education, Information Technology, and Health Professions, including Nursing. Founded in 1997 by a group of 19 western governors with the mission to improve the quality and expand access to post-secondary educational opportunities. Dr. Mendenhall became president of Western Governors University in 1999, the same year its first students were enrolled. Dr. Mendenhall also serves on the WGU Board of Trustees which is composed of educators, industry leaders, and governors. As of Dec. 1, 2011, the university has roughly 30,000 students in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., U.S. territories, and stationed on U.S. military bases overseas..
Discussing the university, Mendenhall said, "WGU was specifically created as a new model for higher education, incorporating the use of technology to expand access and reduce costs, while creating competency-based degree programs to improve accountability for learning."
Experience and Education
Mendenhall has over 30 years of experience delivering technology-based education. Prior to joining WGU, he was general manager of IBMIBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
's K-12 education division. He also served as executive vice president for Jostens Learning Corporation.
From 1980 to 1992, he was a founder, president, and CEO (from 1987) of Wicat Systems, Inc., a publicly traded company which was a leader in providing computer-based curriculum, instructional management and testing to schools, and technology-based training to government and industry.
He has also served on the NGA/ASTD Commission on Technology & Adult Learning, on IBM’s Education Advisory Council, on the National Forum on 21st Century Skills Education Advisory Board, and on the Technology Working Group for the California Postsecondary Education Commission
California postsecondary education commission
The California Postsecondary Education Commission was the higher education planning and coordinating agency of the government of the U.S. state of California...
.Mendenhall is a former member of the Board of the Department of Business and Economic Development for the State of Utah.
Mendenhall received his doctorate in Instructional Psychology and Technology from Brigham Young University.
Commission on the Future of Higher Education
Mendenhall served on the Commission on the Future of Higher EducationCommission on the Future of Higher Education
The formation of a Commission on the Future of Higher Education, also known as the Spellings Commission, was announced on September 19, 2005 by U.S. Secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings...
at the request of U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings
Margaret Spellings
Margaret Spellings was the Secretary of Education from 2005-2009 under the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush and previously served as White House Domestic Policy Adviser to President George W. Bush....
. In 2006 the commission issued a report titled "A Test for Leadership: Charting the Future of U.S. Higher Education." The report was critical on many aspects of higher education in the U.S. and offered suggestions on how to improve the system. Commenting in the media Mendenhall stated: "I don't think it's about blame." [Our] report was "more negative than it needs to be about the academy, but not as alarming as it needs to be in shining a light on the challenges in American higher education."