WVU Parkersburg’s Accelerating Student Completion: Encouraging New Dreams (Ascend) is a program created to help more students earn certificates and associate degrees within three years. Funded by a grant from Arnold Ventures, Ascend replicates the ASAP program at CUNY colleges whose students doubled their graduation rates by providing a range of financial, academic, and personal supports. These supports include comprehensive and personal advisement, career counseling, tutoring, waivers for tuition and mandatory fees, Kroger gift cards for groceries and/or gas, and additional financial assistance to defray the cost of textbooks.
Ascend also offers special class scheduling options to ensure that Ascend students get the classes they need, are in classes with other Ascend students, and attend classes in convenient blocks of time to accommodate their work schedules. As students approach graduation, they will receive additional assistance to help them transfer to a bachelor’s degree program, another 4-year college, or transition into the workforce, depending on their goals. Join now!
What is Ascend?
Ascend will improve student graduation rates through full student support, which is based on removing barriers to timely certificate and associate degree completion.
Ascend Benefits
As an Ascend student, you will receive textbook assistance, a monthly Kroger card to help with groceries and gas, career support, a devoted advisor, and much more!
WE’VE GOT
YOUR BACK.
AND YOUR
BOOKS.
AND YOUR
GAS/GROCERIES.
Eligibility and Requirements
To be eligible for Ascend, students must have less than 15 college credits (credits obtained by high school students must not exceed 30 credit hours), a minimum 2.0 GPA, and enroll in an Ascend-approved major.
