Wayfinding Academy

Wayfinding Academy is a two-year, non-profit alternative college located in Portland, Oregon. It was founded in 2015 by Michelle D. Jones, Ph.D. Wayfinding Academy offers a non-traditional, partially self-directed educational model to its students, who are encouraged to “live life on purpose”.[1] Jones is the Founder, President, and Chief Academic Officer.

Students graduate from the program with an Associates of Arts degree in Self and Society. As of January 2020, 19 students have completed the two-year program. The college is authorized by the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission.[2]

History

After 16 years working in the higher education system (including at Concordia University, Providence College, and University of Puget Sound), Michelle Jones decided to create a new kind of college that would focus on helping students connect with “their passions and purpose.”[3] Along with friends and supporters, she launched an Indiegogo campaign that broke the record for the most successful Indiegogo campaign in Oregon history.[4][5] Jones announced the idea for the college and the campaign at the World Domination Summit in 2015.[6]

Student demographics

The average age of all alumni and current enrollees is 21.4, with 51 percent between 20-25, 28 percent between 18-19, and 15 percent between 26-28. Nine percent identify as first-generation college attendees. Seventeen percent of currently enrolled students and alumni identify as people of color.[7]

Sixty percent of non-dependent Wayfinding students fall below the federal poverty line and a majority of all Wayfinding students fall into the category of bottom 50 percent of U.S. household income.[7]

Tuition

Part of Wayfinding Academy’s mission is making college education affordable for all students.[1] Currently, the college charges $11,000 a year for tuition.[8]

References
  1. "Our Creed". Wayfinding Academy. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
  2. "State of Oregon: Private Postsecondary - Authorized Oregon Private Colleges and Universities". www.oregon.gov. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
  3. Carlson, Scott (2019-11-20). "This 2-Year Academy Embraces Experimentation. Higher Ed Could Learn Something From It". The Chronicle of Higher Education. ISSN 0009-5982. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
  4. "The Backstory: World Domination Summit and Wayfinding Academy". Wayfinding Academy. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
  5. "This New 2-Year College Is Unlike Any Other. And That Could Be Its Biggest Challenge. - EdSurge News". EdSurge. 2018-03-30. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
  6. "Michelle Jones". Vimeo. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
  7. "This is Wayfinding booklet 1920 Academic Year.pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved 2019-12-12.
  8. "FAQs". Wayfinding Academy. Retrieved 2019-12-12.

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