Grant aimed at improving quality of online courses offered by West Virginia higher education institutions
Charleston, W.Va. – The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (Commission) and Community and Technical College System of West Virginia (WVCTCS) today announced that a $28,765 grant from the West Virginia Technical Assistance Broadband Grant Program will provide training opportunities for faculty members at higher education institutions across the state on how to improve online courses.
“Online courses are becoming an increasingly effective way to deliver high-quality educational opportunities to our students, especially nontraditional students who need more flexibility,” said Paul Hill, the Commission’s Chancellor. “This grant and the training that comes with it will help us strengthen online course offerings and ensure that our students are getting the best possible education – even when they’re not sitting in the classroom.”
The grant will allow the Commission and the West Virginia Network (WVNET) to provide training for 20 faculty members currently teaching online from each of the colleges and universities affiliated with Quality Matters, a nationally-recognized process designed to certify the quality of online and blended courses, programs in which students learn in part through online content.
“Investments in instructional technology allow a greater number of adult students to obtain the college credentials necessary to obtain a high-paying career,” said James Skidmore, WVCTSC Chancellor. “Greater accessibility to education is vital if colleges are to supply the technical workforce needed to fuel West Virginia’s economic development.”
Institutions currently affiliated with Quality Matters are:
- Blue Ridge Community and Technical College
- Bluefield State College
- Bridgemont Community and Technical College
- Concord University
- Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College
- Fairmont State University
- Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College
- Marshall University
- Mountwest Community and Technical College
- New River Community and Technical College
- Pierpont Community and Technical College
- Potomac State College of West Virginia University
- Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College
- West Liberty University
- West Virginia Northern Community and Technical College
- West Virginia State University
- West Virginia University
- West Virginia University Institute of Technology
- West Virginia University at Parkersburg
Faculty interested in participating in the training program should contact their institution’s Quality Matters representative or Dr. Roxann Humbert, grant project director, at rhumbert@hepc.wvnet.edu.