This past summer, West Virginia Executive (WVE) magazine’s
staff embarked on a statewide college campus tour in preparation
for the education issue. Over the course of six weeks, WVE met
with the presidents of community and technical colleges and
public and private four-year colleges and universities in every
corner of the state, learning about new programs, growth
opportunities and the unique needs of both traditional and non-
traditional students today. What we found is that West Virginia
is rich with higher education institutions whose faculty and
staff are thinking outside the box to prepare tomorrow’s work-
force while ensuring degree success. While each institution has
many things to be proud of, here we want to share one fact we
learned from each school we visited that we felt was worthy of
extra attention.
Editor’s Note: WVE’s staff reached
out to all community and technical
colleges and public and private four-
year institutions. Any not included
in this piece opted not to participate.
JENNIFER JETT PREZKOP
— MAY 23 —
— JUNE 20 —
— JUNE 18 —
Fairmont State’s aviation
technology program was the
first of its kind in the state and
is the only one in the state.
— JUNE 14 —
UC offers a variety of pro-
fessional development and
training programs to service
members in the West Virginia
National Guard through which
they can earn certifications
needed for security clearances.
— JUNE 17 —
Southern West Virginia
CTC has partnered to create
an entrepreneurial training and
business coaching program to
support business development
and expansion around the
Hatfield-McCoy Trails.
34
WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE
— JUNE 18 —
WVU Parkersburg is the
only public community college
in the state accredited to offer
bachelor’s degree programs,
allowing the school to scaffold
credit from short-term work-
force credentials to associate
and bachelor’s degrees.
— JUNE 18 —
In response to the natural gas
boom, West Virginia Northern
has added programs in petro-
leum technology, advanced
manufacturing and chemical
operations and expanded its
welding program facilities to
prepare the local workforce
for opportunities with cracker
plants and midstream and
downstream manufacturing.
This fall, West Liberty
added a new minor in addic-
tion studies as part of the social
work program that looks at
the impact addiction has
on individuals, families and
communities.
Pierpont CTC hosts a summer
manufacturing camp called Nuts,
Bolts & Thingamajigs at its
Advanced Technology Center
to introduce students ages 12-16
to STEM careers.
— JUNE 26 —
— JUNE 20 —
The Highlands Scholar Pro-
gram was created at D&E to
provide tuition assistance to
students graduating from high
school in Barbour, Pendleton,
Pocahontas, Randolph, Tucker,
Upshur and Webster counties
and today reaches students in
all 55 counties.
BridgeValley CTC’s Mont-
gomery campus is home to The
GRID: 82,000 square feet ded-
icated to makerspace, academic
space and artisan retail space.
— JUNE 26 —
West Virginia State has the
largest dual enrollment program
in the state with more than
2,500 students participating
in the spring 2019 semester.