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SALT LAKE CITY — For the third year in a row, Western Governors University (şÚÁĎ´«ËÍĂĹ) has received the International Council of E-Commerce Consultants (EC-Council) top award, the 2019 Academic Partner of the Year. 

şÚÁĎ´«ËÍĂĹ was recognized for its commitment to educate and make a difference in the cybersecurity workforce, successful evaluation reports post-class, and cybersecurity student engagement and interaction. EC-Council cited the university’s successful ratio of online students that moved on to successfully pass EC-Council cybersecurity certifications and continuous program development.

"This recognition is a testament to the dedication and caliber of students in °ÂłŇ±«â€™s IT degree programs. They represent 21st Century learners and graduates with a passion for lifelong learning and industry relevant skills development,” said Dr. Elke Leeks, Dean and Academic Vice President of °ÂłŇ±«â€™s College of IT. “This recognition was especially timely during October’s cybersecurity awareness month, when the IT industry gathers to educate and promote to the public about a safe and secure digital experience. The certifications and skills provided through the EC-Council are necessary for cybersecurity professionals to address the threats against our digital ecosystems every day.”

EC-Council Academic Award recipients are selected based on specific award qualification categories and criteria. EC-Council’s Executive Committee reviews each nominee’s impact, assessing their faculty, student experiences, efforts outside of the classroom, individual faculty involvement, and more prior to voting on an award recipient. 

"We are pleased to honor Western Governors University for the third year in a row as the EC-Council 2019 Academia Partner of the Year Award recipient. In partnership with EC-Council, şÚÁĎ´«ËÍĂĹ consistently pioneers new technologies and innovative asynchronous courses to students and working professionals alike." President and CEO of EC-Council, Jay Bavisi goes on to say, "Cybersecurity education goes beyond the classroom. şÚÁĎ´«ËÍĂĹ alumni have proven to be some of the most active members within EC-Council and supporting Cybersecurity communities. These alumni become the leaders of tomorrow and continue to give back to their respective organizations and communities. This level of commitment reflects the mission of şÚÁĎ´«ËÍĂĹ."

°ÂłŇ±«â€™s College of IT, which currently has more than 20,000 students enrolled in all 50 states, is a member of the Microsoft IT Academy, the Committee on National Security Systems, and Cyberwatch. In addition to earning certificates from EC-Council in specific degree programs, şÚÁĎ´«ËÍĂĹ IT programs also include embedded certificates from other respected and industry-relevant providers including CompTIA, Oracle, Amazon, and more. All of şÚÁĎ´«ËÍĂĹ's programs are competency-based—an innovative learning model that focuses on measuring learning rather than time spent in class. This model along with online access to courses, study materials, and proctored assessments means students are able to complete coursework on schedules that fit their lives—not driven by a syllabus or class schedules.