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Forty-five high schools across West Virginia recognized for their outstanding efforts to help students plan for college

October 13, 2023

Principals and counselors receive ‘Champion of College Access and Success’ Awards CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Principals, counselors, and staff from 45 high schools across West Virginia were recognized for their schools’ efforts to inform students of higher education opportunities after graduation. The “Champion of College Access and Success” recognition awards are annually presented by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and the Council for Community and Technical Education to select schools that go above and beyond to help students and their families plan for college.  Representatives from the Champion schools attended an award ceremony at the Embassy Suites in Charleston,…

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West Virginia Student Success Summit focuses on career-readiness

July 14, 2023

Charleston, W.Va. – More than 550 educators, counselors and administrators from the pre-school, elementary, secondary and postsecondary education systems; workforce professionals; business and community leaders; military personnel; and students gathered at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center in Charleston for the West Virginia Student Success Summit on July 12 and 13, 2023. The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, the West Virginia Community and Technical College System, and the West Virginia Department of Education partner together to host the Summit every summer. The theme of this year’s Summit was Creating a Career-Ready West Virginia. The West Virginia Student Success Summit…

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GEAR UP U! takes place at Marshall University

June 26, 2023

Huntington, W. Va. – West Virginia GEAR UP hosted the 2023 GEAR UP U! Summer Academy (GUU!) on the campus of Marshall University. The event was held June 21 – 24 with more than 150 rising 8th and 9th-grade middle school students. Students from across the state gathered at Marshall’s campus for the college and career preparatory academy. GUU! is free for all participants and is sponsored by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission’s federally funded “Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP)” initiative.  During GUU!, students are exposed to life on a college campus, participate in…

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WVSU First-Generation College Celebration Day

Colleges and universities across West Virginia celebrate successes of first-generation students

November 9, 2022

CHARLESTON, WV –  College for West Virginia (CFWV), along with colleges and universities across the state and nation, celebrated first-generation college students, faculty, staff, and alumni in West Virginia. The Nov. 8 First-Generation College Celebration Day events included notable first-generation alumni, highlights of first-generation students and programs, first-generation faculty discussions in classrooms, and workshops that promoted student success and retention.  “First-generation college students and graduates are trailblazers,” said Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker, West Virginia’s Chancellor of Higher Education. “They are paving the way to a successful future for themselves and their families. Their commitment to achieving their goals inspires new generations of…

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More than 450 educators, school partners and community leaders convene to focus on student achievement during annual West Virginia Student Success Summit

July 15, 2022

Charleston, W.Va. – More than 450 West Virginians dedicated to the achievement of the Mountain State’s students gathered this week at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center for the West Virginia Student Success Summit, an annual event hosted in partnership by West Virginia’s Higher Education Policy Commission, Community & Technical College System, and Department of Education. Focusing on this year’s theme, “Framing West Virginia’s Future Together,” school counselors, educators, administrators from pre-school through higher education discussed how to better create seamless, lifelong learning opportunities for the state’s students and prepare them for West Virginia’s future economy. “It is perhaps more…

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Student leaders from colleges and universities statewide focus on improving campus mental health

May 27, 2022

DAVIS, WV – More than 50 student leaders representing colleges and universities across West Virginia recently came together at Canaan Valley Resort and Conference Center for the annual West Virginia Student Leadership Conference (WVSLC) to discuss a variety of issues college students care about, including student mental health. The WVSLC serves as a training event for student government representatives, many of whom are newly elected to their roles. The event provides workshops on a variety of leadership topics and an opportunity for student leaders to exchange ideas and work together to find solutions to issues that are important to them.…

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Raleigh County’s Liberty High School receives American College Application Campaign’s School of Excellence Award

May 3, 2022

CHARLESTON, WV – College for West Virginia (CFWV) announced today that Liberty High School in Raleigh County has been named a recipient of the American College Application Campaign’s 2021 School of Excellence Award. This makes Liberty one of only 19 schools across the nation selected to receive this honor in recognition of their strong commitment to helping students complete their college applications and continue their education. “Our office is so proud to work with high schools across West Virginia, every single day, to help more young people pursue their college and career goals,” said Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker, West Virginia’s…

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More than 70 high schools across West Virginia to celebrate college-bound seniors through “College Decision Day” events

March 31, 2022

CHARLESTON, WV – More than 70 high schools across West Virginia will recognize seniors who have committed to continuing their education or training after graduation through “College Decision Day” events, which will run from April until June. This campaign, coordinated annually through College for West Virginia (CFWV), provides schools with the opportunity to celebrate students who have committed to entering a certificate program, a career or technical program, a two- or four-year degree program, an apprenticeship program or military service.  “Every year through College Decision Day events, we have the opportunity to celebrate students who have made the life-changing commitment…

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College student leaders across West Virginia launch Green Bandana Initiative to create greater visibility for student mental health

March 22, 2022

CHARLESTON, WV – West Virginia’s Advisory Council of Students (ACS), which comprises student government representatives from each of the state’s public colleges and universities, has launched the West Virginia Green Bandana Initiative, which is shining a brighter light on student mental health on campuses statewide. Through the initiative, students who complete mental health training this spring receive green bandanas that, when displayed on their backpacks or elsewhere, signal to other students that they are open to talking and are a source of support. According to a recent national survey, two-thirds (67 percent) of college students say that they have faced…

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Student leaders from high schools and colleges kick off second year of the West Virginia Student Success Leadership Council

March 7, 2022

CHARLESTON, WV – The West Virginia Student Success Leadership Council (WVSSLC) kicked off its second year in a virtual conference last week attended by 55 student leaders representing 49 high schools and six colleges and universities across the state. The WVSSLC, an initiative of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, Community and Technical College System of West Virginia, and West Virginia Department of Education, is driven by its student members, who work together to help create a college-going culture in their schools and communities. Through a virtual roundtable atmosphere, students talk about how they can help more of their…

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Over 400 West Virginia schools to participate in statewide “College Application and Exploration Week”

October 29, 2021

CHARLESTON, WV – “College Application and Exploration Week” will be celebrated statewide on Nov. 1 – 5. Students, from pre-school to adult learners, will participate in hands-on and virtual college planning activities, such as college application workshops, panel discussions with current college students, college scavenger hunts, and trivia contests. Through all of the activities, they will learn about the many college options available to them, including certificate programs, career and technical programs, two-year degree programs, four-year degree programs, and military experience. Events will occur throughout the week at more than 400 elementary, middle and high schools, along with adult education…

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Colleges and universities across West Virginia to celebrate successes of first-generation students on November 8

October 29, 2021

CHARLESTON, WV – College for West Virginia (CFWV) is joining a national effort to celebrate the successes and contributions of first-generation college students, faculty, staff, and alumni in West Virginia. On November 8, colleges, universities, campus student support programs, and other partners will celebrate the success of first-generation college students, faculty, staff, and alumni across the state. Celebrations will include campus events featuring notable first-generation alumni, highlights of first-generation students and programs, first-generation faculty discussions in classrooms, workshops that help promote student success and retention, and much more. “First-generation college students and graduates are trailblazers in West Virginia,” said Dr.…

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Sixteen high schools across West Virginia recognized for strong efforts to help students plan for college

October 4, 2021

Click here to download photos from the award presentation CHARLESTON, WV – Principals, counselors, and staff from 16 high schools across the state are being recognized for their schools’ efforts to inform students of higher education opportunities after graduation. The “Champion of College Access and Success” recognition awards are annually presented by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission to select schools that go above and beyond to help students and their families plan for college.   Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker, West Virginia’s Chancellor of Higher Education, said staff at all high schools across the state are working diligently to help…

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State unveils new and expanded ‘College for West Virginia’ online tools to help students and families plan, apply, and pay for college

July 14, 2021

CHARLESTON, WV – West Virginia’s central higher education office is expanding and revamping its online presence to make it easier for students and families to explore the state’s wide range of financial aid and college planning programs. West Virginia’s Higher Education Policy Commission (Commission) and Community and Technical College System (CTCS) today unveiled “College for West Virginia” as a new and expanded resource for West Virginians planning for postsecondary education. This expansion represents a rebrand of CFWV.com, the state’s college- and career-planning web portal previously known as the College Foundation of West Virginia, and the launch of its sister site,…

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This Saturday: College Bound Saturday events offering free financial aid support for West Virginia students at sites statewide

June 8, 2021

CHARLESTON, WV – This Saturday, West Virginia students in the high school graduating classes of 2020 and 2021 can receive help navigating the college-planning process during the state’s first-ever “College Bound Saturday” at sites statewide. At these free workshops, students can learn more about state and federal financial aid programs, as well as get direct help filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is the first step to unlocking funds for college. College Bound Saturday events will be held at the following locations on June 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the following locations across…

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West Virginia extends grant deadline, ramps up FAFSA outreach in effort to increase college-going rate among high school graduates

April 30, 2021

CHARLESTON, WV – In its regular meeting today, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission voted to extend the deadline for students applying for the West Virginia Higher Education Grant – the state’s primary need-based financial aid program – to July 1, 2021. This extension comes as West Virginia reports a 2.3 percentage point drop in the state’s college-going rate from 2019 to 2020, with 48.2 percent of last year’s public high school seniors enrolling in college in the summer or fall after graduation. “In close collaboration with the Department of Education, we’ve been working to get West Virginia’s high…

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College and high school student leaders from across West Virginia join to encourage more students to pursue higher education

January 26, 2021

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,…

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Second prize drawing this Tuesday for students completing Promise Scholarship application and FAFSA

January 8, 2021

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…

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High school seniors who apply for Promise Scholarship and complete the FAFSA eligible for prizes through new statewide contest

December 8, 2020

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…

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Higher education systems award $85,000 in grants to strengthen diversity initiatives on college campuses in West Virginia

September 2, 2020

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…

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West Virginia awarded $750,000 from Ascendium to increase degree completion, leverage philanthropic collaborations for student success

June 25, 2020

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…

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West Virginia high schoolers learn how to go to college one text message at a time

May 20, 2020

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…

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College student leaders from across West Virginia share excitement, ideas, concerns about returning to campus this fall

May 14, 2020

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…

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Student leaders from campuses statewide to address higher education issues during annual Student Leadership Conference

May 11, 2018

Student leaders from campuses statewide to address higher education issues during annual Student Leadership Conference WESTON, W.Va. – Student leaders from the campuses of West Virginia’s public two- and four-year colleges and universities will convene next week at Jackson’s Mill to discuss issues facing higher education in West Virginia – and at their respective college campuses. More than 60 student government leaders from West Virginia’s colleges and universities will participate in the annual West Virginia Student Leadership Conference, which will begin Monday and conclude Wednesday. During the conference, student leaders will participate in professional development sessions that will cover leadership development,…

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West Virginia high schools exceed halfway mark to statewide FAFSA completion goal

January 24, 2018

West Virginia High Schools exceed halfway mark to statewide FAFSA completion goal As of January 12, more than 32 percent of West Virginia high school seniors have filed a FAFSA CHARLESTON, W. Va. – The College Foundation of West Virginia (CFWV) announced today that 32.5 percent of West Virginia high school students have filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2018-19 academic year, exceeding the halfway mark to the statewide goal for this year. In October 2017, CFWV announced the statewide FAFSA completion goal to have at least 63 percent of high school seniors file a…

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