Fall enrollment shows largest increase since 1999.

West Virginia University at Parkersburg has experienced its largest increase in enrollment since 1999.

Nearly 3,400 students are enrolled this fall at the Parkersburg campus, according to preliminary data.

Also, the college’s full-time equivalent rate has increased by an estimated 5 percent. The FTE is a formula which determines the full-time instructional activities in terms that can be compared with headcount enrollment. WVU Parkersburg’s unofficial FTE totals are the highest since 1999.

"We attribute our enrollment increases to new programs and a growing reputation of the college’s academic excellence," WVU Parkersburg President Erik Bitterbaum said.

For the fall semester, the college added seven new undergraduate certificates and began offering a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice through West Virginia State College.

"Some students are telling us they opted to save expenses, live at home and spend their first year or two with us before transferring elsewhere," Bitterbaum noted. "We think that explains why we have more full-time students than we have had in the recent past."

The availability of bachelor’s degrees in business administration, education and technology offered by WVU Parkersburg is helping the institution retain students, Bitterbaum added, and "word of mouth" about the baccalaureate programs’ excellence is impacting the decision of many students to earn their four-year degree at WVU Parkersburg.

Also contributing to the enrollment increase is the addition of 51 PROMISE scholars to the Parkersburg campus. In its first year, the statewide program provides students who meet certain academic criteria with full tuition scholarships to attend in-state public colleges or universities.

Last fall 3,340 students attended WVU Parkersburg.

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For additional information, contact:
Connie Dziagwa
Director, Communications and Public Relations
WVU Parkersburg
(304-424-8203)

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