West Virginia Executive Fall 2019 | Page 85

A Higher Education Hub for Harrison County 1201 Locust Avenue Fairmont, WV 26554 (304) 367-4000 www.fairmontstate.edu Fairmont State University now has a home in Harrison County. Occupying the second floor of the Greater Bridgeport Convention & Visitors Bureau in Charles Pointe, Fairmont State offers higher education options for nontraditional students in Harrison County. The space includes an open classroom with independent learning pods and group study areas, a computer lab, a large classroom and conference room, a smaller classroom and an independent learning lab. It also features a kitchenette with seating and a lobby so students can interact and network in a relaxing environment. Fairmont State University-Charles Pointe offers degree completion programs that can be tailored to fit the specific needs of those who require a degree for career advancement, those who have an associate degree in a field for which there is no corresponding baccalaureate degree available or those who seek intellectual development and personal fulfillment. The university already offers a Regents Bachelor of Arts (RBA) degree and will soon be offering even more, starting with a degree in strategic leadership. And because Fairmont State University understands adult students have different needs and goals than traditional age students, the RBA is a flexible academic program specially designed for adults, allowing them to learn at their own pace and schedule. In addition to the RBA, Charles Pointe houses Fairmont State’s aviation program, which offers the only FAA Part 141 flight school in West Virginia. Fairmont State University-Charles Pointe is also the hub for Harrison County high school students pursuing dual enrollment in college-level courses. Dr. Mirta Martin, president of Fairmont State, knows this is an investment that will pay dividends for decades to come. “We owe so much to Harrison County,” she says. “The county’s families have long entrusted Fairmont State to educate their children, and they’ve always supported our efforts. Now we can honor that trust and grow our partnership by offering an accessible education to every Harrison County student, regardless of age, who seeks it.” SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION