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West Virginia Center for Nursing announces public comment period for strategic plan addressing state’s nursing shortage
CHARLESTON, W.VA. – The West Virginia Center for Nursing today announced a public comment period for its “Statewide Strategic Plan to Address the Nursing Shortage in West Virginia.” To inform the plan’s development, the Center worked with nursing and healthcare stakeholders throughout the past several months to gather input from across the state. The draft plan addresses a variety of nursing challenges related to recruitment, retention, and nursing data. “We are eager to hear from additional members of our state’s nursing community to gather further feedback on this important strategic plan,” said Gerald Bragg, chair of the Center’s Board of…
Continue ReadingCollege and high school student leaders from across West Virginia join to encourage more students to pursue higher education
CHARLESTON, W.VA. – College students representing a dozen higher education institutions met virtually today with more than 30 high school seniors from across West Virginia to discuss ways they can work together to encourage high school students to pursue and plan for postsecondary education. In this inaugural convening of the newly established West Virginia Student Success Leadership Council, student leaders talked about the barriers young people and their families face when planning for college, especially in light of the COVID-19 crisis, and how they can be a positive influence among their peers. “We need young like you to keep advocating,…
Continue ReadingSecond prize drawing this Tuesday for students completing Promise Scholarship application and FAFSA
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The second of four prize drawings in the “Cool Cash for College” contest is scheduled for this Tuesday, January 12. High school seniors who complete the Promise Scholarship application and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are automatically entered into the drawing for prizes that include Apple AirPods, wireless printers, mini refrigerators, and gift cards. “We are so grateful to The Education Alliance for working with us and the West Virginia Department of Education to make this contest possible,”said Sarah Armstrong Tucker, West Virginia’s Higher Education Chancellor. “Making sure our high school seniors stay on…
Continue ReadingHigh school seniors who apply for Promise Scholarship and complete the FAFSA eligible for prizes through new statewide contest
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Thanks to an initiative by The Education Alliance, in collaboration with the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, current high school seniors who fill out a Promise Scholarship application and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be enrolled in a contest, “Cool Cash for College,” launching today. Seniors who complete both of these steps by March 1, 2021 will be entered into drawings for prizes that include Apple AirPods, wireless printers, mini refrigerators, and gift cards. “We know our seniors are grappling every day with uncertainties around attending school in person, keeping up…
Continue ReadingState’s new Mental Health Loan Repayment Program now accepting applications from practicing providers
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission is now accepting applications for the state’s new Mental Health Loan Repayment Program, which was created by the Legislature and approved by Governor Jim Justice last year in an effort to retain licensed mental health professionals practicing in underserved communities in West Virginia. “We are tremendously grateful to be able to provide this vital financial aid, which will help retain critically needed mental health providers in historically underserved areas of the state,” said Sarah Armstrong Tucker, West Virginia’s Chancellor for Higher Education. “Mental health needs are acute in West Virginia,…
Continue ReadingNoting gradual enrollment declines, WV’s higher education chancellor encourages high school students to stay on track for college
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia’s Higher Education Policy Commission today released fall 2020 enrollment data for the state’s public four-year colleges and universities. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, enrollment declines were moderate at most campuses – with an overall drop of 2.8 percent from fall 2019 to fall 2020, excluding dual credit high school students. The majority of enrollment declines were among dual-enrollment, non-resident and international students. “We had a lot of uncertainties going into this fall semester. Working closely together, our college and university presidents made the decision to bring students back to campus, but in the safest…
Continue ReadingWest Virginia’s higher education community joins nationwide observance of National Rural Health Day
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia’s higher education community is celebrating the state’s health providers and educators today as part of National Rural Health Day. Held annually on the third Thursday of November, this day is designed to recognize the efforts of those serving the health needs of an estimated 57 million people across the country. “West Virginia depends on our rural health providers and educators to ensure our citizens have the quality healthcare they need. This is true during normal times, and it is especially true today as our state continues fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Sarah Armstrong Tucker,…
Continue ReadingState provides additional flexibilities to help students qualify for financial aid for college
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (Commission) today voted to provide students with additional flexibilities in accessing two critical state financial aid programs. These changes come as standardized testing opportunities continue to be uncertain during the COVID-19 crisis. Following today’s vote, high school seniors who graduated in 2020 can now qualify for the Promise Scholarship by taking an ACT or SAT exam by December 31, 2020. High school seniors in the graduating class of 2021 can qualify by taking an exam by August 31, 2021. The test score requirements for Promise remain the same: ACT: 22…
Continue ReadingHigher education systems award $85,000 in grants to strengthen diversity initiatives on college campuses in West Virginia
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia’s Higher Education Policy Commission and Community and Technical College System have awarded $85,000 in grants to support strengthened diversity efforts at higher education institutions across the state. The Diversity for Equity Grants are designed to support campus-led initiatives that make higher education more accessible to people of all ages, races, genders, and backgrounds. “This grant program has been in place for nearly a decade, and it remains so important today as we work to embrace diversity in higher education and level the playing field for educational success in West Virginia,” said Sarah Armstrong Tucker, West…
Continue ReadingState launches series of 20 financial aid webinars for students, families preparing for college
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Kicking off tomorrow, September 1, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and Community and Technical College System are launching a series of 20 financial aid webinars for students and families as they prepare for the college-going process. The series, which runs through the end of April, will cover general financial aid information, details on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and updates regarding specific programs including the PROMISE Scholarship, West Virginia Invests, the Higher Education Grant, the Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars Program, and the Engineering, Science and Technology Scholarship. Financial aid staff will also be…
Continue ReadingHigher education systems award $45,000 in grants to strengthen college student mental health services in WV
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia’s Higher Education Policy Commission and Community and Technical College System have awarded $45,000 in grants to support student mental health at colleges and universities across the state. Through these Campus Mental Health Grants, institutions will implement a variety of projects that include identifying existing mental health services for improvement, increasing accessibility of clinical services, integrating mental health promotion and prevention throughout the campus system, and establishing a campus-wide culture that strives to identify, prevent, and treat mental illness. “We’ve been working hard at the statewide level to ramp up our efforts to improve mental health…
Continue ReadingNearly 100 nursing students from across the state selected for WV Nursing Scholarship Program
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Nursing Scholarship Program, which provides awards to Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN), Registered Nursing (RN), graduate and LPN teaching certificate students, has awarded nearly 100 students with scholarships for the Fall 2020 semester. Awardees will receive scholarships ranging from $800 to $4,000, depending on what kind of nursing program they are enrolled in. “Receiving the West Virginia Nursing Scholarship means the world to me,” said Shelby Jarrell, a bachelor’s degree student at West Virginia University Institute of Technology who aspires to work in women’s health. “It shows me that I have support in the state…
Continue ReadingWV Health Sciences Service Program accepting applications for students committed to practicing in underserved communities
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission is now accepting applications for the Health Sciences Service Program, which provides loan repayment for students in health professions who want to practice in underserved communities in West Virginia. This year’s award is available to students who are enrolled in their final year of a health professions graduate program at a West Virginia higher education institution. “Through this vital program, students who are gearing up to graduate and are interested in serving the health needs of some of West Virginia’s most needy communities are eligible for much-needed funding to help…
Continue ReadingHigher Education Chancellor thanks Governor Justice for support of COVID-19 testing on campuses
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Sarah Armstrong Tucker, Chancellor of West Virginia’s Higher Education Policy Commission and Community and Technical College System, today released the following statement thanking Governor Jim Justice for providing $2.5 million to support COVID-19 testing at West Virginia’s colleges and universities: “On behalf of our colleges, universities, students, and campus communities, I would like to thank Governor Justice for this incredible support as we all continue working to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus in West Virginia. Our public institutions are working shoulder-to-shoulder with one another, the Governor’s office, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human…
Continue ReadingNew state program aims to help educators, administrators improve online learning and professional development
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Network (WVNET), under the direction of the state’s Higher Education Policy Commission, has launched a program aimed at improving online education, training and employee engagement across West Virginia. Offered to teachers, instructors, administrators and managers in K-12, higher education and government entities, the new Teaching and Learning Commons offers a more structured approach to professional development for today’s increasingly digital environment. “Especially as educators and managers continue moving to virtual platforms in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical that we – as a state – offer those on the frontlines of…
Continue ReadingTwenty-five high school seniors selected as West Virginia’s first Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Twenty-five high school seniors who graduated this year have been selected as West Virginia’s first Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars. These students will receive the state’s newest and most prestigious scholarship of up to $10,000 per year – or $40,000 total – for their college education as they prepare to pursue rewarding careers as West Virginia teachers. “I’m incredibly proud of these young scholars, and I can’t wait to see what they accomplish over the next four years and beyond,” said Sarah Armstrong Tucker, Chancellor of West Virginia’s Higher Education Policy Commission and Community and Technical College System. “When…
Continue ReadingSarah Armstrong Tucker named Chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – At today’s meeting of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, members voted unanimously to appoint Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker as the Commission’s new Chancellor. Tucker was a finalist for the position, along with Dr. Joe Delap, Provost of Athens State University in Alabama, who withdrew his application earlier this week. Tucker has served as Interim Chancellor of the Commission since April 2019 and Chancellor of the West Virginia Community and Technical College System (CTCS) since October 2015. She is the first person to simultaneously serve in these two roles, leading both state agencies that guide policies…
Continue ReadingWest Virginia awarded $750,000 from Ascendium to increase degree completion, leverage philanthropic collaborations for student success
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia’s Higher Education Policy Commission (Commission) and Community and Technical College System (CTCS), together with Philanthropy West Virginia, today announced that Ascendium Education Group – one of the most active postsecondary education philanthropies in the country – has awarded the state $750,000 to support student success and accelerate degree completion. The West Virginia collaboration is part of Ascendium’s inaugural rural philanthropy grantees. In line with West Virginia’s Climb initiative, which seeks to arm 60 percent of the state’s workforce with a postsecondary credential by 2030, the programming resulting from the Ascendium grant will provide tools and…
Continue ReadingACT on-campus testing available for 2020 PROMISE Scholarship applicants at institutions statewide
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – With national testing dates affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission has worked with colleges and universities across the state to make ACT on-campus testing available for this year’s graduating high school seniors who have applied for the PROMISE Scholarship. Applicants can qualify for PROMISE for the fall semester by earning qualifying scores through on-campus testing by the end of September. Students are encouraged to take the test at the college they plan to attend in the 2020-21 academic year. After testing is complete, the administering college will send scores to the…
Continue ReadingTop two finalists announced for next Chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The search committee for the next Chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission met today and selected two finalists following a national search and first round of interviews by the committee. The finalists were announced as Dr. Joe Delap, Provost of Athens State University in Alabama; and, the Commission’s current Interim Chancellor and Chancellor of the Community and Technical College System of West Virginia, Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker. These candidates will now be invited for interviews with the full Commission, which is scheduled to vote on a new Chancellor at its next regular meeting on…
Continue ReadingSearch committee for next Chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission selects preliminary finalists
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The search committee for the next Chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission met today and selected four preliminary finalists from a national search. The candidates, whose names will remain confidential at this time, will be interviewed by the committee via Zoom over the next two weeks. Following these four interviews, two finalists will be invited for interviews with the full Commission and will be announced publicly at that time. Once any additional interviews and background checks are complete, the Commission will vote on a final candidate at its next regular meeting on June 26,…
Continue ReadingWest Virginia high schoolers learn how to go to college one text message at a time
State higher education office’s college counseling texting program helping 27,000+ students stay on track amid COVID-19 crisis CHARLESTON, W.Va. – As graduating high school seniors wrap up the academic year amid significant changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic, they are looking for ways to stay on track with their education. The “Txt 4 Success” program, an initiative of the College Foundation of West Virginia (CFWV), Higher Education Policy Commission (Commission) and Community and Technical College System (CTCS), is currently helping more than 27,000 high school seniors and college freshmen do just that with reminders via text message. “There is so…
Continue ReadingCollege student leaders from across West Virginia share excitement, ideas, concerns about returning to campus this fall
CHARLESTON, W.VA. – Approximately 50 student government leaders from colleges and universities across West Virginia gathered virtually today for the West Virginia Student Leadership Conference, which is hosted each year by the state’s Higher Education Policy Commission (Commission) and Community and Technical College System (CTCS). Discussions focused on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their education and how they, through their leadership roles, can help as institutions plan for the fall semester and beyond. Sarah Armstrong Tucker, Interim Chancellor of the Commission and Chancellor of the CTCS, kicked off today’s conference by asking the students to share their experiences…
Continue ReadingHigher Education Policy Commission extends testing deadline to qualify for PROMISE Scholarship due to COVID-19
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (Commission) today voted to provide students with greater flexibilities in qualifying for the PROMISE Scholarship for the 2020-21 academic year. With national ACT and SAT testing currently postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students will now be able to qualify for PROMISE for the fall semester by taking an ACT or SAT test by the end of October 2020. In addition, students will be able to use scores from residual tests, which are the same as the national ACT or SAT but administered, scored, and accepted by state colleges. “West…
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In the midst of a pandemic, innovation still drives higher education
by Sarah Armstrong Tucker, Chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and Community and Technical College System West Virginia’s higher education institutions are powerful engines of innovation. Faculty and students are constantly exploring, discovering, and solving some of the most pressing problems facing society today. They challenge each other to advance in their studies and careers. They push for change and new ideas. In normal times, this work across our colleges and universities is formidable. But since March, our ability to continue that work became even more challenging as the COVID-19 pandemic began to change the way we…
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