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Report: More Mountain State students pursuing higher education
Braxton, Doddridge and Clay counties lead the way in improving college-going rates Charleston, W.Va. – More West Virginia high school graduates went on to pursue higher education last year, according to a report released today by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) and West Virginia Community and Technical College System (CTCS). The college-going rate increased for the second consecutive year, inching up by 0.3 percent — or 266 students — from 2015 to 2016. “These gains, while subtle, represent a solid step in the right direction,” Dr. Paul Hill, HEPC Chancellor, said. “For several years, the impact of…
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High schools across West Virginia to participate in ‘College Decision Day’ events
Schools to celebrate students’ commitment to pursuing higher education CHARLESTON, W.Va. – High schools across West Virginia are hosting celebrations to honor seniors who plan to enroll in college or training programs after graduation. More than 40 schools will participate in the College Foundation of West Virginia’s (CFWV)’s fourth annual College Decision Day campaign. CFWV is a statewide college readiness initiative coordinated by the Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) and Community and Technical College System (CTCS). “Growing our economy will depend on growing the skills and capacity of our workforce,” Dr. Sarah Tucker, Chancellor of the CTCS, said. “Students who commit to pursuing higher…
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West Virginia ‘GEAR UP’ to host Career Academy
More than 1,000 students expected to attend event featuring U.S. Senators, industry leaders, STEM celebrities CHARLESTON, W.VA. — More than 1,000 ninth graders are visiting Charleston this week to explore career fields and gain insight from business and industry leaders. The West Virginia GEAR UP Career Academy, happening Thursday, April 13, at the Charleston Civic Center, will feature hands-on activities and interactive presentations to help students learn about career paths and plan for their futures. The West Virginia GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) initiative is a federally funded grant program administered by the state’s Higher Education Policy…
Continue ReadingHigher Education Policy Commission approves new president at Glenville State College
Approves extended presidential search procedure for Fairmont State University CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) voted unanimously today to grant final approval of the Glenville State College’s Board of Governors’ recent selection of Dr. Tracy L. Pellett as the institution’s 24th president. “We are eager to work closely with Dr. Pellett as he leads Glenville State College during such an important time for higher education in West Virginia,” said Paul Hill, HEPC Chancellor. “We also thank President Peter Barr for his years of leadership and service to the students and community of Glenville State.” Dr.…
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State extends application deadline for Higher Education Grant Program until May 1
CHARLESTON, W.VA. — West Virginia’s Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) and Community and Technical College System (CTCS) today announced that this year’s application deadline for the need-based Higher Education Grant Program has been extended until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 1, 2017. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is the only application required for the grant, can be completed at https://fafsa.ed.gov. The state extended the deadline because of a technology issue at the federal level. Last month, the U.S. Department of Education and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced an outage of the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, which allows…
Continue ReadingChancellor, presidents emphasize need for student-driven decisions amid budget discussions
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – As the West Virginia Legislature continues working toward a balanced budget, the state’s regional higher education institutions have joined the Higher Education Policy Commission in emphasizing the importance of keeping the needs of West Virginia students at the forefront of budget and policy decisions. Together, West Virginia’s regional institutions serve more than 15,000 in-state students each year. Statements from Chancellor Hill and Regional Presidents “West Virginia’s economic future hinges on our ability to educate more of our citizens and produce a highly-educated workforce. Public higher education is an investment in our state’s future and the return on…
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Higher ed ‘Report Card’: State colleges retaining, graduating more students
Statewide initiatives generating results despite budget challenges CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia’s state colleges and universities are retaining more students and have generated record numbers of graduates in recent years, thanks to statewide efforts to improve student success. However, continued positive results could be hindered by budget challenges and increased tuition costs, state higher education officials told members of Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability (LOCEA) today. During the meeting, representatives from the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (Commission) and West Virginia Community and Technical College System (CTCS) provided an overview of findings from the annual West Virginia Higher…
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MetroNews: New FAFSA goal set for West Virginia high school seniors
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — By April 15, those with the College Foundation of West Virginia want to see the number of 12th graders in the Mountain State completing the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, climb to 60 percent. “We know that the jobs of the state of West Virginia are changing,” said Dr. Paul Hill, chancellor for the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, noting that 50 percent of the jobs being created within the state require some for of post-secondary education. “Because our state economy is being driven increasingly more by those who have attained post-secondary education,…
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College Foundation of West Virginia sets goal to increase FAFSA completion rates to 60 percent
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The College Foundation of West Virginia (CFWV) today announced a goal to increase the number of 12th graders who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or “FAFSA,” to 60 percent by April 15. Students planning to attend college during the 2017-18 academic year can complete the FAFSA online now at www.fafsa.gov using their 2015 tax returns. April 15 is the deadline for students to submit the form and be considered for the West Virginia Higher Education Grant Program, which provides grants to students based on their financial need. This past year (as of November 18), 58.5%…
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W.Va. sees gains in college freshmen enrollment
SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The number of students entering a four-year college is on the rise in West Virginia, according to information reported during a meeting of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission held earlier today. State officials said the number of freshmen on West Virginia’s public four-year college campuses increased by 3.7 percent from last year. “These increases are reflective of the strong emphasis the Commission and its partners have placed on college access and success,” Paul Hill, Chancellor of the Commission said. “West Virginia needs more college graduates to meet workforce demands and grow our economy. I…
Continue ReadingRegister-Herald: WVU study shows increase in college graduates, and graduates who stay and work in W.Va.
A new study conducted by West Virginia University for the Higher Education Policy Commission shows that more students are graduating from public higher education institutions and more college graduates are employed in West Virginia. The study, “From Higher Education to Work in West Virginia, 2014” shows that 2,500 more graduates were working in the state in 2014 than in 2013. Researchers attribute the increase in employment to an increase in available graduates for the workforce. “The Commission has led a concerted effort to graduate more students from West Virginia’s colleges and universities since 2013,” said study co-author John Deskins, director of…
Continue ReadingGovernor Tomblin proclaims “College Application and Exploration Week”
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (October 31, 2016) – Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has proclaimed this week as “College Application and Exploration Week” in recognition of the statewide campaign organized by the College Foundation of West Virginia (CFWV). Staff from nearly 450 schools will host college-planning activities throughout the week to help students consider their postsecondary education opportunities. Students who attend participating schools – from pre-schools to centers for adult learners – will learn the importance of pursuing some form of education or training beyond high school and the types of opportunities that are available in West Virginia, including certificate and technical programs,…
Continue ReadingWVU study: State’s efforts to graduate more college students pays off
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – A new study shows that a focus on graduating more students from West Virginia’s public higher education institutions is paying off for the state in terms of employment for those graduates. According to the study completed for the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission by West Virginia University, 2,500 more graduates were working in West Virginia in 2014 than in 2013. Researchers attribute the increase in employment to an increase in available graduates for the workforce. “The Commission has led a concerted effort to graduate more students from West Virginia’s colleges and universities since 2013,” said study…
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Gazette-Mail: Mascots dance off during college-going event
More than 1,500 ninth grade students participating in the West Virginia GEAR UP program packed into the Clay Center for the Arts for the student leadership academy. The program is a college readiness project coordinated by the state Higher Education Policy Commission and funded by the federal government. It serves students in 10 counties including Fayette, Boone, Mason, Mercer, Mingo, Nicholas, Summers, Webster, Wyoming and Wirt. Wednesday’s event featured speakers including Josh Shipp, a nationally renowned youth leadership coach, Paul Hill, chancellor of the state Higher Education Policy Commission, and Sarah Tucker, chancellor of the state Community and Technical College…
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Governor Earl Ray Tomblin: Sending our kids off to college helps keep them here at home
Over the past few weeks, families across the state hugged their children goodbye and sent them off to college. For many, it was a bittersweet and emotional moment filled with both pride and sorrow, worry and relief. But we can all take heart. Because earning a college degree puts students on a path to fulfilling their dreams – and for many, that path leads back home. A recent study commissioned by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and conducted by researchers at the West Virginia University Bureau of Business and Economic Research found that the majority of the Mountain State’s in-state…
Continue ReadingJan Taylor: STEM education not just for kids (Daily Mail)
I believe that all kids are little scientists. This is especially evident when they ask all those “why” and “how” questions. By ensuring they continue to experience the fun and excitement of science as they grow older, we can create a new generation of scientists, researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs who will, in turn, grow our state’s economy. But, is it possible to reignite a love of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects in people who are a little older? We at the Higher Education Policy Commission’s Division of Science and Research believe it’s more than possible. The idea…
Continue ReadingState Journal: Report: WV public higher ed makes $2.7 billion annual impact on the state
According to research by West Virginia University, the state’s 21 public institutions of higher education contributed approximately $2.7 billion to the Mountain State’s economy in 2014. The research also showed that the public institutions supported 22,000 jobs. The study, commissioned by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and completed by the WVU Bureau of Business and Economic Research, centered on West Virginia’s 12 four-year institutions and nine two–year institutions. The two institutions that were the largest contributors to the overall impact were West Virginia University (main campus) at $1.4 billion and Marshall University at $397.7 million. The impact numbers for…
Continue ReadingWest Virginia’s public higher education institutions have $2.7 billion impact on state
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia’s 21 public institutions of higher education contributed approximately $2.7 billion to the state’s economy in 2014, according to a report released today by the West Virginia University Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER). The research also showed that the public institutions supported 22,000 jobs. The study, commissioned by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, centered around West Virginia’s 12 four-year institutions and nine two–year institutions. Additionally, when combined with tuition, student spending and other sources of revenue, the economic impact of these institutions was nearly seven times the amount of the state’s appropriation for the…
Continue ReadingPK-12, higher education leaders to discuss future of education in W.Va. during sixth annual Student Success Summit
Summit to focus on collaboration, action to improve state’s education systems MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Nearly 500 education administrators, teachers, students, military leaders and community group members will join forces this week to find better ways to support students and increase educational achievement in the Mountain State. The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and the West Virginia Department of Education will host the sixth annual statewide Student Success Summit on Wednesday, July 27 and Thursday, July 28 at the Marriott Waterfront Hotel and Conference Center in Morgantown. The Summit focuses on encouraging collaboration across the full length of the education…
Continue ReadingCollege Foundation of West Virginia sees promising early results in providing college counseling through text messaging
Charleston, W.Va. – During a meeting of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission held today, state officials announced that a pilot project to provide college counseling through text messaging is yielding encouraging results. The project, which is part of the Commission’s statewide College Foundation of West Virginia (CFWV) outreach initiative, provides students with a series of text message reminders to help them succeed in college. Students can text back anytime to receive free assistance from a counselor. Dr. Ben Castleman and Katharine Meyer, researchers from the University of Virginia, recently released a working paper outlining early results from the effort. Their…
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West Virginia student named to national ‘GEAR UP’ leadership academy
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – James “Ikie” Brooks, a native of Boone County, has been selected to participate in the highly competitive “GEAR UP Alumni Leadership Academy,” (GUALA) a 12-month national leadership program providing students across the country with intensive training in civic engagement and community development. The GUALA program identifies students with exceptional leadership potential and provides training to help them engage their peers, schools and communities in creating a college-going culture. Brooks, a junior at Marshall University, was one of 24 students selected from a nationwide pool of applicants made up of students who have graduated from high schools served by the federal…
Continue ReadingHigher Education Policy Commission approves new president at West Virginia State University
Charleston, W.Va. – The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission voted unanimously today to grant final approval of the West Virginia State University Board of Governors’ recent selection of Dr. Anthony L. Jenkins as the institution’s 11th president. “We look forward to working with Dr. Jenkins as he takes the helm at West Virginia State University during this critically important time for higher education in West Virginia – a time when it is imperative that we produce more college graduates prepared to move our state forward,” said Dr. Paul Hill, the Commission’s Chancellor. “We also thank President Brian Hemphill for…
Continue ReadingWilliamson Daily News: MCHS holds College Day
Published April 13, 2016 by the Williamson Daily News By Kyle Lovern – klovern@civitasmedia.com WVU, MU and Southern presidents attend RED JACKET – Mingo Central High School welcomed some important guests on Tuesday afternoon, the presidents of West Virginia University, Marshall University and Southern W.Va. Community and Technical College for their College Day assembly. Presidents Gordon Gee of WVU, Jerome Gilbert of MU and Robert Gunter of SWVCTC (Southern) all addressed thestudents, faculty and parents in attendance for the special day. Gary White of Logan, the former interim president of Marshall, was also at the event with Gilbert. Dr. Paul…
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Bruce Vandal: WV leads nation in college completion strategies
Published in the Charleston Gazette-Mail, Gazette editorial page Last week, faculty and staff from West Virginia’s public colleges and universities set forth on a bold path to dramatically improve college completion rates in the state. The work occurred as part of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission’s Corequisite Academy, a two-day conference held in partnership with Complete College America to help campuses implement a new model for college students deemed to be “underprepared.” Developmental, or remedial, education has long been recognized as a major barrier to student success. For too many students, placement in these classes represents a dead…
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