SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Innovation Across the Mid-Ohio Valley
WVUP Technology Center
On June 30 , West Virginia University Parkersburg ( WVUP ) announced a $ 10 million donation from The Ross Foundation in Parkersburg to the WVU at Parkersburg Foundation to fund the future WVUP Technology Center .
“ This is the largest donation WVU Parkersburg has ever received — we will be starting a WVUP Technology Center ,” says WVUP President Torie Jackson . “ It ’ s a place where we will focus on growth of degrees in computer science , computer information technology , the Bachelor of Applied Technology in cybersecurity and networking , as well as opportunities for growth in degrees like mechanical engineering . This program needs space to grow .”
In addition , the college plans to add a space for 25 technology-based incubators to operate in the same facility as students . WVUP will work with the Wood County Development Authority in Parkersburg and the West Virginia Office of Economic Development to attract companies to the Mid-Ohio Valley to begin incubating in the new facility and bring technology jobs with them . Student businesses will also have opportunities to use the incubators through a pitch competition starting in the spring .
The WVU at Parkersburg Foundation is in the process of acquiring the campus of the former Ohio Valley University to revamp it into the tech center . Of the $ 10 million donation ,
$ 4.6 million will be used to purchase the property and the remaining $ 5.4 million will be used to renovate the facility .
Partnerships with Local Businesses
WVUP partners with a multitude of other colleges and businesses to retain new students and provide opportunities after college .
In August , WVUP partnered with Mountwest Community and Technical College for a 2 + 2 agreement to allow students who earned an Associate of Applied Science through Mountwest to earn a Bachelor of Applied Science in supervisory management through WVUP in an additional two years . This gives a larger group of community college students an opportunity to get a bachelor ’ s degree .
“ Our goal is to have a more educated workforce in West Virginia , and we have to partner together sometimes to make that happen ,” says Jackson . “ What we see is , this is the first of the pathways that we can create for students .”
Over the summer , WVUP partnered with both WVU Medicine Camden Clark and Memorial Health System to provide better opportunities for nurses .
“ WVUP believes the most significant thing a community college can do is be a good community partner . When we collaborate with local businesses to meet their needs , and at