1. What is the WGU School of Business Employer Projects experience?
This program connects employers with WGU School of Business learners for short-term, real-world business projects completed remotely through the Riipen platform. Projects are co-curricular (not for academic credit) and designed to help learners apply business knowledge while delivering meaningful, practical outcomes for organizations.
About the Learners:
Actively enrolled in WGU School of Business bachelor’s or master’s programs
Have completed foundational coursework aligned to business analysis, operations, strategy, and management
Screened by WGU Career & Professional Development through a competitive application process
Motivated, professional, and prepared to contribute to real organizational challenges
Project Details:
40 hours per learner, completed over up to 5 weeks
Projects run from March 9 to April 10, 2026
Group-based projects (5 per project)
Learners work remotely and independently, with light employer guidance
This experience allows employers to scope defined business challenges and receive thoughtful, structured deliverables while supporting emerging business talent.
2. What types of projects can I post?
Projects should focus on clearly scoped business problems with defined deliverables. All projects are reviewed and approved to ensure alignment with learner skill levels and program goals.
Bachelor-Level Project Examples:
Workflow mapping and process improvement recommendations
Gap analyses identifying inefficiencies and root causes
Market research and competitive landscape summaries
Customer personas and basic segmentation analysis
KPI definitions and dashboard blueprints
SWOT analyses and value proposition statements
Simple financial models and feasibility assessments
Final written reports or presentation decks
Master’s-Level Project Examples:
Strategic and operational assessments (current vs. future state)
Cost-benefit, ROI, and financial forecasting models
Market entry or expansion strategies
Automation and digitization opportunity analyses
Risk assessments and mitigation strategies
Change management or transformation roadmaps
Executive-ready strategy decks and briefings
Projects should be achievable within 40 hours and focused on analysis, recommendations, and decision support—not execution-heavy or operational work.
3. What is the time commitment for employers?
We aim to keep employer involvement efficient. Employers should plan for approximately 5 total hours over the project, which may include:
Providing initial project context and expectations
Responding to clarifying questions
Team meetings
Mid-project check-in
Reviewing milestones, final deliverables and providing feedback
4. Are there any costs associated with participating?
No. There is no cost to employers to participate in the WGU School of Business x Riipen program. Learners receive a stipend funded through WGU and program partners.
5. What kinds of deliverables will learners produce?
Deliverables vary by project but are designed to be practical and usable. Examples include:
Business analysis reports and recommendations
Market research summaries and competitive analyses
KPI frameworks and dashboard concepts
Financial models and scenario analyses
Strategy decks or executive briefings
Process maps and improvement roadmaps
Deliverables are intended to inform decision-making and provide actionable insights, not to replace consulting or full-time staff work.
6. What are learners capable of?
WGU School of Business learners bring foundational to advanced business competencies, depending on degree level. By the time they participate, learners typically demonstrate:
Strong written and analytical communication skills
Experience applying business frameworks and models
Data interpretation and structured problem-solving abilities
Professional collaboration and stakeholder communication
Familiarity with real-world business constraints and trade-offs
Master’s-level learners are prepared for higher-level strategic, financial, and operational analysis, while bachelor’s-level learners excel at structured research and applied analysis.
7. How are learners selected and matched to projects?
Learners apply to the program through WGU and, once accepted, administrators assign teams on the Riipen platform.
8. What support do learners receive?
Learners receive:
A clearly defined project scope and deliverables
Platform support from Riipen
Oversight from WGU Career & Professional Development
Mentorship from their employer
Learners are expected to work independently, but employers are encouraged to provide guidance and clarification when needed. Employers are also asked to submit feedback at the end of the project.
9. What if the learner’s work doesn’t meet expectations?
These experiences are developmental. While learners are expected to meet professional standards, deliverables may vary in polish. If concerns arise, the Riipen support team can assist in addressing issues or helping recalibrate expectations.
10. What if my project needs to change after posting?
The Riipen team can help adjust project scope before matching. Once a project is approved and learners are matched, changes should be minimal to ensure a positive experience for all participants.
11. How is this different from a traditional internship?
These are short-term, project-based experiences, not employment relationships. Learners work remotely, focus on specific deliverables, and do not perform ongoing operational tasks.
12. How do I get started?
Visit the WGU portal and request portal access.
Browse open portal programs and hit “request match” for the program you would like to match your project to.
Select a project template, use a previous project, or create a new project from scratch.
You will be directed to our 3rd party identification provider, Persona, to complete a 5 step identity and verification process
To complete these steps you will be required to:
Verify your US Business registration including EIN number
Verify the registered address of your business
Complete a personal identification process with government issued ID
6. Sign program agreements
7. Get matched with motivated business learners
The Riipen team (wgu@riipen.com) is available to support you throughout the process.