“We are proud to host one of only a
handful of zoo science bachelor’s degrees
in the United States and collaborate with
the top zoological institutions in the coun-
try,” says Dr. Zac Loughman, associate
professor of biology and the coordinator
of the new major. “Our partnership with
the Good Zoo makes our major unique.
Students in the program benefit from
applied learning opportunities and receive
training as they work with zoo and con-
servation professionals and participate in
wildlife conservation research.”
West Liberty University also has the
only master’s degree program in the nation
for zoo science, a two-year program that
began last fall.
“Our partnership with Oglebay Resort
has gone very well and offers students
internships supported by challenging
classroom work to prepare them fully
for an exciting career in a growing field,”
says West Liberty University President
Stephen Greiner. “Adding the master’s
degree makes it even better for students
who want to continue their education
in this field.”
On-campus facilities continue to grow
along with the major and now include four
main animal care labs that house more
than 30 species, including the program’s
mascot, Sweet Pea the sloth.
“I believe it is the uniqueness of this
program that is attracting students,” says
Dr. Karen Kettler, dean of the college of
sciences. “We have created a curriculum
that allows for the in-depth learning of
the biology, ecology and physiology of
many types of animals in addition to the
husbandry, training and conservation
efforts needed for these types of organisms.”
Removing Roadblocks
to Math Success
BY JACK BAILEY. For years, students
coming into college who did not score
high enough in mathematics in high school
or on standardized college entrance tests
were placed into remedial classes. National
studies have found that more than half of
students who are placed in such remedial
classes fail to earn a degree. Officials at
West Virginia State University (WVSU)
noticed this trend and developed a two-
prong approach to improve student success
in mathematics courses.
First, WVSU eliminated remedial
mathematics courses and began offering
Pathway courses like this one allow students to
take the math course most suitable for their major.
Photo by West Virginia State University.
co-requisite math courses: credit-bearing
entry-level mathematics courses that pro-
vide academic support and are designed
for students who previously would have
been placed in a remedial math course.
The course contents of these enhanced
versions of the classes are the same as
the traditional credit-bearing courses.
Second, the WVSU mathematics depart
ment introduced multiple pathway cours-
es for WVSU students so they can take
the math course that is most suitable
for their major. Courses such as math
for liberal arts, college algebra with
Congratulations,
Sarah Smith ,
on being selected for the
Young Guns Class of 2020!
We appreciate your service to
IOGA and the state of West Virginia.
300 Summers Street, Suite 820
Charleston, WV 25301
(304) 344-9867 | www.iogawv.com
WWW.WVEXECUTIVE.COM
FALL 2019
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