Western Governors University

Western Governors University (WGU) is a private, nonprofit, online American university based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The university was founded by 19 U.S. governors in 1997 after the idea was formulated at a 1995 meeting of the Western Governors Association. The university uses a competency-based learning model, with students working online. Robert Mendenhall is the current university president. Its accreditation is through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

History

WGU was officially founded in 1997 in the United States by the governors of 19 U.S. states. It was first proposed by then-governor of Utah Mike Leavitt at the annual meeting of the Western Governors Association in June 1995. It was formally proposed the following November and officially founded in June 1996, with each signing state governor committing $100,000 toward the launch of the new competency-based university. While the seed money was provided from government sources, the school was to be established as a self-supporting private, nonprofit institution. In January 1997, 13 governors were on hand to sign the articles of incorporation formally beginning the new university.

WGU-20

WGU-20, also known as "the last radio station," was operated by the United States Defense Civil Preparedness Agency (one of the two agencies later merged to become the Federal Emergency Management Agency) in the mid-to-late 1970s.

Public Emergency Radio

Operating 24 hours a day on a longwave frequency of 179 kHz from Chase, Maryland, WGU-20's programming consisted of pre-recorded announcements and time checks. The transmitter was situated at 39°21'3.4"N 76°20'44.7"W and used as antenna a single-mast antenna with a height of 219.45 metres ( 720 ft), which was demolished in 2011. The broadcast had the mechanical sound of early speech synthesis systems but the message could be clearly understood, with time ticks in the background and a continuous announcement akin to the speaking clock:

(The recording was changed to "good morning" or "good afternoon" at the appropriate times of day.)

Utilizing the world's first all-solid state, 50,000 watt, radio transmitter built by Westinghouse, the signal covered much of the eastern seaboard. WGU-20 was something of a mystery initially, with thousands of ham radio operators and radio hobbyists speculating about the nature of the station, until a small news article in Popular Electronics magazine outlined exactly what WGU-20 was. Afterwards, reception reports (some from as far away as Texas) were sent a special QSL card featuring Paul Revere on a horse, raising the alarm.