WVUP’s BOG approves $450,000 resolution to renovate the JCC

Parkersburg, W.Va. (October 17, 2023) — WVUP President Dr. Torie Jackson presented a resolution to the WVUP Board of Governors to use $450,000 in reserve funds to renovate the Jackson County Center.

“We have met with an architect, and we believe that this is an adequate amount of money to be able to take the first floor of that facility (JCC) and completely turn it into the Applied Technology Center,” said Jackson. “This will allow us not to continue to have a loss at that facility, and we have had a financial loss at that facility last year, nearly $400,000 and more than that in previous years. So, I’m asking that we instead invest money in it, and I think we’ll be able to get a return on our investment rather shortly.”

Jackson explained that the Applied Technology Center will offer two degrees, one in Advanced Manufacturing Technology and an AAS degree in Multi-craft Technology Electrical Maintenance and Reliability. The Advanced Manufacturing Technology degree will help students find employment at companies like Nucor Steel in Mason County and TIMET in Jackson County. The degree in Multi-Craft Technology Electrical Maintenance and Reliability will be available at the center and is used to help find employment at Constellium in Jackson County.

The board unanimously approved the resolution.

Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. David Lancaster presented a resolution to offer the Bachelor of Applied Technology (BAT) degree online.

Lancaster said WVUP has a previous articulation agreement with Piermont Community & Technical College in Fairmont and Blue Ridge Community and Technical College in Martinsburg to offer their students the opportunity to transfer to WVUP to earn a BAT after earning an associate degree.

“That is the path we want to go with some of our degrees because we’re able to reach out and help other community colleges and help students,” said Lancaster.

The resolution would partner Aiken Technical College in Graniteville, South Carolina, with WVUP by offering students a pathway to take the BAT degree program online.

“So, if we can develop that online, then we can also do that in South Carolina or any other place,” said Lancaster. “If you approve this — it means that we have certain classes students can only take online, wherever they are. I really do think this is a way to the future.”

The board voted to unanimously approve the resolution.

Jackson gave an update on the WVUP Technology Center, an advanced manufacturing grant, the dual credit initiative and a technical program development grant.

Jackson said the West Virginia University at Parkersburg Foundation is on course to close the Ohio Valley University property as the property purchase appeal process ends at the end of the month. Jackson said the bankruptcy appeal time is completed, but the receivership appeal time will end 30 days after the October 22 hearing.

Jackson also announced that the West Virginia Community and Technical College System Board approved an application for a technical program development grant for Radiology Technology.

“We will soon hire a coordinator and begin the steps to create this new program, one that has been requested by both WVU Medicine Camden Clark and Memorial Health Systems to help meet local job needs,” said Jackson.

In other news:

• The board unanimously approved a resolution to update the BOG policies to reflect a review of the Equal Opportunity Policy and a review of the Employee Leave policy.
• The board also unanimously approved the review of the Payment and Refund of Fees Policy. The board will review the current policies and vote to approve any changes during the next BOG meeting.
• The next WVUP Board of Governors meeting will take place January 16, 2024.

WVU at Parkersburg Foundation receives donation from Jay-Bee Oil

 Parkersburg, W.Va. (October, 9, 2023) — The WVU at Parkersburg Foundation will receive a $200,000 donation over a four-year period from Jay-Bee Oil & Gas Inc. to help support The Riverhawk Farm and grow Agriculture throughout the MOV.

“We are deeply grateful for the generous donation to support Riverhawk Farm and our agriculture program at WVU Parkersburg,” said Director of WVU at Parkersburg Foundation Olivia Reeder. “This contribution will play a crucial role in nurturing the growth of Riverhawk Farm, allowing us to continue providing valuable education to our students. We are committed to maximizing the impact of this donation and ensuring that Riverhawk Farm flourishes as a hub of agriculture excellence in our community.”

Jay-Bee Oil & Gas Inc., out of Ritchie County, has been operating in W.Va. since 1982. It is a family-owned business that produces oil and gas resources.

“We are always looking for opportunities to expand our mission to do good work, be a steward to our environment and be a good neighbor in the community we live and work,” said Jay-Bee Oil President Deborah Broda-Morgan. “We believe that agriculture is a great place to help the residents of West Virginia find new opportunities both economic and personal.”

WVUP Agriculture Director John Riggs said the funding will be put toward agricultural infrastructure development and innovation at The Riverhawk Farm.

“For example, a portion of the $200,000 will be used to develop a beekeeping and honey processing facility, the completion of this project is set for Fall 2024,” said Riggs. “We will also be utilizing funding to develop livestock facilities and offer scholarship opportunities to students.”

Riggs said this donation will help provide students with top tier educational opportunities through The Riverhawk Farm.

“As a higher education institution, it is imperative that we offer educational opportunities that are popular in current and future markets,” said Riggs. “This donation will allow us to continue the expansion of agriculture offerings, this in turn creating more producers within the Mid-Ohio Valley. Through education, we can ensure that food security throughout West Virginia is not an issue in years to come by making locally grown healthy foods more accessible to West Virginia residents.”

Riggs said he is grateful for the support Jay-Bee Oil will provide to the farm.

“I cannot thank Debbie Broda-Morgan and Jonathan Morgan for all their help and support through this process, we are extremely blessed to have found a community driven partner like Jay-Bee,” said Riggs. “We hope to continue this partnership for many years!”

WVU Parkersburg signs new students into Education program

The WVU Parkersburg Professional Studies Division hosted a ceremony Monday, Sept. 18 to honor students being admitted into the education program, as well as induct new members into the honor society Kappa Delta Pi.

Students Lydia Bice, Olivia Birkhimer, Megan Brown, Aliyah Fields, Gracie Gill-Franks, Madalyn Gregware, Elizabeth Hoover, Ravyn Lucas, Haley Martin, Mariah Parks, Hannah Parsons, Vanessa Patton, Natalie Slusher, Alyssa Smith, and James Voutour were admitted into the Education Program.

“We’re very excited to celebrate the accomplishment of our new teacher candidates,” said Dean of the Professional Studies Division Dr. Bobbi Marshall. “Teaching is a sacred profession.”

Marshall introduced the students and explained what it takes to be a teacher. She said teachers must be lifelong learners dedicated to their profession, who can commit to being a role model while demonstrating dispositions that support growth in themselves and their students.

In order to be admitted into the Education Program, Marshall said the candidates must have completed at least 30 hours of coursework, 60 hours of field placement, maintain a 3.0 GPA, pass or be exempt from three PRAXIS Core or Case exams and complete 50 hours of service learning.

Lydia Bice, Taylor Leaptrot, Abagail Offenberger, Vanessa Patton, and Traeci Shannon were all inducted into Kappa Delta Pi.

“The WVU-P Sigma Omega chapter Kappa Delta Pi focuses their work on providing professional development opportunities to current students and graduates, service to the community, teacher education recognition, and receptions for the signing ceremony, KDP initiation, and celebration ceremonies for education graduates” said KDP Chapter Advisor Danielle Shockey.

The Education Department had a small reception with food and drinks for family after the ceremony.

For more information on the WVU Parkersburg education program, please visit wvup.edu/education.

WVUP’s BOG approves update to Faculty Compensation Structure

Parkersburg, W.Va. (September 19, 2023) — WVUP President Dr. Torie Jackson and Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration Alice Harris introduced a policy change to the Board of Governors that would update the Faculty Compensation Structure, allowing WVUP to help retain and recruit better faculty candidates.

Jackson said the original Answer Book Policy for Faculty Salaries and Performance-Based Increases, which was outlined in 2015, is no longer adequate for hiring new employees. Jackson and Harris gathered payroll information from four other community colleges, including Bridge Valley Community & Technical College and compared starting salaries for faculty. Harris found that based on a nine-month salary, that WVUP is paying faculty less than comparable schools.

The new hiring policy will include more competitive salaries for faculty and the ability to evaluate employment candidates based on experience and provide them with a salary that matches that experience. This will, in turn, help retain employees and help recruit the best candidates possible.

BOG Faculty Representative Andrew Walker said he has received good feedback about the policy update. He said the faculty views the policy as a hiring policy and are interested in learning how they can be evaluated in order to move up in the pay scale in the future.

Harris said the policy change is affordable due to the conservative budgeting for interest income and the “significant” savings the college made by Jackson continuing her role, in addition to the presidency, as the Vice President of Institutional Advancement instead of opening the position.

“What I will say is, I don’t think we can afford not to,” said Harris about updating the policy. “It is so difficult right now to hire people, and it’s important for our existing faculty to know that we truly appreciate them and that we’re going to be taking steps to make sure that we can be as fair as we can possibly be with everyone with the funds that we have available to spend.”

Jackson said the policy would go into effect starting in October. Harris added that eligible faculty would receive the entire amount of their annual increase over a prorated period through the end of their contract. Harris added that they plan to revise the staff salary policy in the future.

The board voted and unanimously approved the compensation structure policy change for faculty.

During President Jackson’s report, she discussed policy and procedure updates, an update on the WVUP Technology Center and what’s next for the college. Jackson said there would be a bankruptcy hearing, as well as a receivership hearing this week, which will decide whether the Foundation can proceed with taking possession of the property that will become the WVUP Technology Center. The next phase of the project is to renovate the facility.

“I will be directly leading this project from start to finish, along with an amazing team of employees from WVUP and with a group of community leaders who want to see the economic impact this educational facility joined with business incubation will have on the Mid-Ohio Valley,” said Jackson. “We are planning, we are preparing, we are visioning and we are moving forward – and it’s a true team effort.”

Joe Oliverio, board chair, discussed College 101 and student enrollment during his Executive Committee Report. Oliverio said it was exciting to see the number of students, staff and faculty present and active during College 101. He said there were 54 students deregistered, with a total headcount of 2,514 students enrolled in college. Even with the deregistered students, WVUP still met its goal to increase enrollment by 150 students from the fall 2022 semester.

Donna Smith, board member, presented the Academic and Student Services Committee report. That committee met with Program Coordinators Martha Leeson and Abby Campbell to learn about Short-Term Programs, Dean of Early College Olivia Reeder to learn about the Early College Program, Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. David Lancaster to learn more about the Deans and their specific roles in the college and Division of Arts & Sciences Dean Dr. Mary Hetrick to learn how they are redesigning the division to build cohesiveness within it.

Savannah Morgan, board member, gave an update from the Administrative Services Committee. This included an update on the Jackson County Center’s renovation and the recruitment of future students. She said the renovations are going smoothly. The JCC office includes a new front desk area that has been renovated to be more welcoming for students. Morgan shared a message from Admissions and Recruitment Coordinator Nicole Shutts, including excitement about Riverhawk Fridays.

“Nicole said she found that a lot of counselors and teachers have a lot of downtime on Fridays, and of course we have less students here on Friday, so we’re inviting them (high school students) on campus on Fridays with options to have fun games, lunch, meeting with the President, and meeting with admissions teams and teachers,” said Morgan.

She added that multiple local high schools, like Belpre High School, have signed up to bring students to tour the campus.

In other news:

• The board unanimously approved the updated BOG policies to reflect Affirmative Action compliance and the updated BOG policies to reflect the salary policy.
• The board unanimously approved to utilize unrestricted reserve funds for the replacement of flooring and seating in the WVUP Theatre to make it ADA compliant.
• The board unanimously approved to review the Transferability of Credits and Grades Policy. The board will review the current policies and vote to approve any changes during the next BOG meeting.
• The board unanimously approved the Delegation of Powers to President Dr. Torie Jackson.

The next Board of Governors meeting is scheduled to take place October 17, 2023.

WVU Parkersburg Professional Studies division announces Fall 2023 clinical students

Parkersburg, W.Va. (September 12, 2023) — WVU Parkersburg is proud to announce its Fall 2023 Clinical students.

The WVUP Elementary Education program provides field experience in the classroom as early as the freshman year. With the traditional student teaching model, teacher candidates spend a semester in two classrooms and quickly assume teaching responsibilities under the mentorship of an experienced teacher until they are teaching full-time. The new residency model places teacher candidates in one classroom for their entire senior year, and they assume responsibilities more gradually.

“We are very proud of our Clinical students,” said Dr. Bobbi Marshall, dean of Professional Studies. “They have completed a rigorous program of study, successfully passed state exams, completed approximately 230 hours in a K-6 classroom and written countless lesson plans. Our residents are prepared and excited to begin influencing the lives of current and future generations of children.”

The Fall 2023 class of students in Education 401 includes:

JACKSON COUNTY — Maggy Criser

PLEASANTS COUNTY — Lindsey Cross

RITCHIE COUNTY — Valerie Bircher

WOOD COUNTY— Nolan Brace; Alysha King

The Fall 2023 class of students in Education 410 includes:

JACKSON COUNTY — Ella Casto; Johnathan Zuniga

TYLER COUNTY — Amanda Gist

WOOD COUNTY— Kailey Elliott; Jordan Flinn; Mikayla Gessell; Abby Homan; Cody Moore; Abby Anderson

To learn more about the Elementary Education program, please visit wvup.edu/education or contact Bobbi Marshall at Bobbi.Marshall@wvup.edu or (304) 424-8000 ext. 442.

 

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Parkersburg, W.Va. (Sept. 4, 2023) – In observance of Patriots’ Day, WVU Parkersburg will host its annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony on Monday, Sept. 11 at noon in the College Theater. The college will commemorate the events of 9/11 and honor those who have served, or are currently serving, in the armed forces and as first responders.

“This holiday is a remembrance of what happened, how things have changed and how these changes have impacted Americans in general,” said Darren Shearlock, the Veterans Advocate at the college’s Veterans’ Resource Center (VRC). “The deaths are what you usually hear people talk about, but the lives impacted far exceed the individuals that died that day.”

Mark Beecher, a volunteer at the Red Cross and U.S. Navy veteran, will be present as a guest speaker at the event. Beecher will offer a unique look at the tragic event from the perspective of a Red Cross volunteer. The American Red Cross is an organization that delivers vital humanitarian services, including disaster relief, blood donations, training and certifications, international services and services to military members and their families.

“The Red Cross saw how people’s lives were affected instantly from the attacks, but now they can also see how people’s lives have been impacted over the long term,” said Shearlock. “There was an emergency that happened on September 11, 2001, but it continued to cascade into a series of individual emergencies for a lot of people for the last 22 years.”

Previous ceremonies have also had special guest speakers. Capt. David Ozeroff, Naval Junior Reserves Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) Senior Naval Science instructor at Parkersburg High School and Jeff Sandy, secretary of the West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety were speakers at the 2019 and 2018 ceremonies respectively.

Several of WVU Parkersburg’s past remembrance ceremonies are available to view on their YouTube Channel, as well as other memorial and remembrance events held by the VRC.

“As time goes by, more and more people have no memory of the actual events because they weren’t born yet or they were too young,” said Shearlock. “We owe it to the memory of the people who’ve fallen, but we also owe it to ourselves to learn from the past.”

The VRC welcomes all who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces and their family members. As the Veterans Advocate, Shearlock provides veteran students with support and resources, including helping students access their GI Bill and other VA-earned educational benefits.

For more information about the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony or the Veterans’ Resource Center, contact Darren Shearlock at darren.shearlock@wvup.edu.