Mercy employees offered online college discount

Mercy's 9,000-plus employees in Springfield are eligible for discounted higher education through the state-sponsored Western Governors University.

The St. Louis-based health system, which employs some 40,000 overall, reached an agreement with WGU to give Mercy employees a 5 percent discount for up to two years in pursuit of a bachelor's or master's degree at the online college. Mercy employees also are eligible for scholarships valued at up to $2,500, according to a news release.

“The agreement with WGU provides our co-workers additional access to quality degree programs that accommodate their busy lives,” said Cynthia Mercer, Mercy chief administrative officer and senior vice president, in the release. “A talented and highly qualified workforce enables Mercy to provide excellent care to all of those entrusted to our care.”

The Missouri chapter of WGU was established early last year through an executive order by Gov. Jay Nixon. Accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, WGU tuition runs at a flat rate of about $6,000 per year for most programs, including business fields, health and nursing, information technology and K-12 teacher education.

WGU's College of Health Professionals has about 11,000 students out of 49,000 total students in all 50 states, according to the release.[[In-content Ad]]