WVU Parkersburg pilots summer four-day work week.

CONTACT:  WVU Parkersburg President Marie Foster Gnage, 304-424-8200.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

West Virginia University at Parkersburg is offering employees the opportunity to participate in a four-day work week this summer.

The pilot project is designed to assist employees in saving fuel costs.

College offices remain open their normal 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. business hours. With the approval of supervisors, staff can extend their work day and juggle hours with other office staff to compensate for a four-day work week.

The project began this week on the Parkersburg campus and at its Jackson County Center in Ripley. Approximately 50 employees or nearly half of the college's staff are taking advantage of the opportunity and participating in the project.

“We recognize that our college staff are dealing with increasing fuel expenses,” noted Marie Foster Gnage, president of WVU Parkersburg.

“On a trial basis this summer, we are exploring a compressed work week to allow staff to save some costs by being on campus four days a week,” she said.

“Customer service is being maintained and offices are open as usual,” she added.

Taking advantage of the four-day work week project is voluntary and requires approval of a staff member’s supervisor. Staff must still work their regular 37 ½ hours a week.

“I appreciate the opportunity to save some gasoline costs by doing the four-day work week,” noted Rodney Parker, trades specialist and president of the college’s Staff Council.

“It’s also nice to be able to enjoy a three-day weekend in the summer,” he added.

Likewise, WVU Parkersburg’s students are finding ways to ease transportation costs by going on-line. Nearly half of the college’s summer term students are enrolled in at least one on-line class. WVU Parkersburg is offering more classes via the Internet this summer with about one-third of its summer courses being online or a blend of online and limited classroom sessions.

cd06/5/08