the student each semester until graduation. Course Instructors When a student begins a course, they are assigned a primary course instructor for that course. These subject matter experts have advanced degrees such as a doctorate or other significant post-graduate work in the courses they instruct. Course instructors work with students via one-to-many or one-to-one forums. They provide instruction both proactively and re-actively, with the type and intensity of instruction varying based on a student's needs in a particular area. Additionally, they provide content expertise for students who are struggling with course material. Evaluators Evaluators are subject-matter experts who review assessments to determine if competency has been demonstrated. They are experts in their areas of evaluation, with doctoral degrees or other significant post-graduate work. They review submissions extensively, providing clear and comprehensive feedback to support student development. Their primary focus is on evaluating student performance, free of bias and other barriers to fair and timely evaluation because they do not personally interact with students or develop the curriculum and assessments. Military Advanced Education & Transition and Viqtory Media have repeatedly named WGU as a military-friendly institution in their yearly reports. Accreditation WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. WGU states that it was the first and only university to date to be reviewed and awarded accreditation by four differing regional accreditors. Regional accreditation means that WGU’s competency-based programs meet the same educational standards for performance, integrity, and quality as those found at other more traditional universities, from large state schools to Ivy League universities. Regional accreditation bodies—in WGU’s case, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)—are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the authorities on educational quality and the effectiveness of institutions in their geographic areas. WGU’s accreditation comes from NWCCU because its region includes WGU’s headquarters state of Utah. In 2006, the WGU Teachers College became the first exclusively online school to receive accreditation from the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). In 2018, the university's education programs became accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), NCATE's successor. In May 2009, WGU's nursing education programs were accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The initial accreditation, which had a five-year term, was awarded following a process that included a site visit as well as a review of WGU's nursing curriculum. In May 2014, CCNE