Archive for 2014
Higher Education Policy Commission confirms appointment of Gary G. White as interim president of Marshall University
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – In an emergency meeting this morning, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (Commission) unanimously approved the appointment of Gary G. White as interim president of Marshall University. The Marshall University Board of Governors selected White in an emergency meeting yesterday to lead the institution as the search for a permanent president…
Read MoreWest Virginia’s higher education community mourns loss of Marshall University President Stephen J. Kopp
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Dr. Paul Hill, Chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, and Dr. Bruce Berry, the Commission’s Chair, released the following statements regarding the passing of Dr. Stephen J. Kopp, President of Marshall University: “President Kopp was thoroughly devoted to Marshall University, and especially to its students. Under his thoughtful leadership,…
Read MoreNearly $500,000 grant set to expand opportunities for adult learners across West Virginia
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant program is positioned to expand online learning opportunities for adults in West Virginia seeking to complete a Regents Bachelor of Arts (RBA) degree. Through the $499,991 grant, which was awarded to the West Virginia Network (WVNET), students will be…
Read MoreWest Virginia joins collaboration of states working to make distance education easier for students
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission today announced that West Virginia has become one of the first states approved as a member of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), a nationwide collaborative working to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by campuses in other states. West Virginia’s…
Read MoreChancellor Hill applauds Senator Rockefeller’s abiding commitment to higher education
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Following an announcement today by U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller of the creation of the John D. Rockefeller IV School of Policy and Politics at West Virginia University, Dr. Paul Hill, Chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, released the following statement: “Through decades of public service to West Virginia, Senator…
Read MoreWest Virginia’s higher education community arms students with career-ready technology skills
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Representatives of West Virginia’s higher education community today announced a new collaboration with Microsoft Corp. aimed at giving students high-tech skills that are essential for success in today’s economy. Through the Microsoft IT Academy, students at each public four- and two-year higher education institution in the state now will have access to…
Read MoreWilliamstown students take part in college week
WILLIAMSTOWN – To promote the statewide “College Application and Exploration Week,” Williamstown High School encouraged seniors to complete all college applications for any school they wish to attend. Read the full story »
Read MoreWOWK: Students learn about paying for higher education in South Charleston, WV
SOUTH CHARLESTON, WV -Students in West Virginia are getting help making big decisions. West Virginia’s fifth annual College Application and Exploration Week takes place during the week of Oct. 20, and in celebration, the College Foundation of West Virginia (CFWV) is hosting more than 200 events around the state. Read the full story »
Read MoreWTRF: John Marshall High School Educates Students About Post-Graduate Opportunities
MOUNDSVILLE – Students all over the Mountain State will have a great opportunity to see what college life has to offer over the coming week. West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin has declared this week “College Application and Exploration Week.” John Marshall High School is one of hundreds of schools that will take part in…
Read MoreGovernor Earl Ray Tomblin: College Application and Exploration Week: #WhyIChose
A column by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin (October 20, 2014) – Today marks the start of West Virginia’s fifth annual “College Application and Exploration Week,” a statewide celebration of the higher education opportunities available to our state’s students. This week, nearly 240 schools across the state will host college planning activities that provide guidance on…
Read MoreCharleston Gazette: State wants to redefine ‘full-time’ college status
Article: Charleston Gazette September 30, 2014 By Mackenzie Mays Federal financial guidelines require a college student to take 12 credit hours each semester in order to be a labeled full-time student, but more and more education officials say that’s not enough if students want to complete their degrees on time. West Virginia is joining several…
Read MoreWest Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission launches ’15 to Finish’ initiative
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Representatives of West Virginia’s public four-year colleges and universities gathered today in Charleston to launch the Higher Education Policy Commission’s statewide 15 to Finish* campaign, an initiative designed to encourage students to take 15 credit hours each semester and promote timely degree completion. “Enrolling in and completing at least 15 credits per…
Read MoreChancellor Hill: 15 to Finish – a simple message to drive college completion
This commentary appeared in the September 30 edition of the Charleston Gazette. When preparing for college, there are so many questions students must consider — from which school and major are the right fit, to choosing from financial aid options and mapping out schedules. Through all of this detailed planning, I believe it’s clear that…
Read MoreWest Virginia awarded $21 million “GEAR UP” college-readiness grant
For immediate release: Monday, September 22, 2014 Contact: Jessica Kennedy, Assistant Director of Communications Division of Student Affairs West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (304) 558-0655 (office) (304) 532-0911 (cell) jkennedy@hepc.wvnet.edu NEWS RELEASE West Virginia awarded $21 million “GEAR UP” college-readiness grant CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Students in ten West Virginia counties will have extra help…
Read MoreGovernor Tomblin declares statewide “College Application and Exploration Week”
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Governor Earl Ray Tomblin has designated October 20 – 24 as “College Application and Exploration Week” in an effort to help students prepare for college. Schools across the state will participate by hosting a variety of hands-on activities including college application workshops, panel discussions with current college students and college scavenger hunts and…
Read MoreChancellor Hill: College pride runs deep in West Virginia; support for student success should too
Here in West Virginia, we’re proud of a lot of things – especially our sense of community. And all across our state, so many close-knit cities and towns are bolstered by college campuses that deepen our community pride. We identify ourselves as Mountaineers and Mountain Lions. We cheer for the Big Blue, the Fighting Falcons…
Read MoreStatewide “College Day Tour” schedule announced
College planning events to be held September 9 through October 29 CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Representatives from West Virginia’s colleges and universities will hit the road next month as part of West Virginia’s annual “College Day Tour.” During the tour, college admissions and planning counselors, along with military service representatives, will set up displays and host…
Read MoreHEPC to begin ’15 to Finish’ campaign
Article: WV MetroNews CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The state Higher Education Policy Commission will roll out an informational campaign on college and university campuses encouraging students to graduate within four years. Higher Education Chancellor Dr. Paul Hill said the “15 to Finish” campaign will encourage students to take at last 15 credit hours every semester in order…
Read More4th Annual Student Success Summit: Redefining College and More
Article: West Virginia Public Broadcasting The WV Department of Education says high school graduation rate has been increasing and is up to 80 percent. But only 56 percent of students are college bound. How to improve those rates, and defining what “college-bound” really means were among the discussions at the fourth annual Student Success Summit…
Read MoreStudents join forces to help others earn a college diploma
MORGANTOWN, W.VA. – Nearly 40 students completed the College Foundation of West Virginia (CFWV) Youth Summit held this week in Morgantown. The Youth Summit was part of West Virginia’s annual Student Success Summit, an event that brought together education administrators, teachers, students, military leaders and community group members to focus on collaborating to promote lifelong…
Read MoreStudent Success Summit to focus on supporting students at every level
MORGANTOWN, W.VA. – More than 300 education administrators, teachers, students, military leaders and community group members will join forces next week to find ways to help students prepare for lifelong success. Education representatives ranging from pre-school teachers to college presidents to the students they serve will convene during the fourth annual Student Success Summit (Summit)…
Read MoreState higher education system announces Matt Turner to serve as new senior administrator
Charleston, W.Va. – The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (Commission) and the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education (Council) today announced that Matt Turner will be the agencies’ new Executive Vice Chancellor for Administration, beginning August 1, 2014. In this role, Turner will support the Commission and Council, while serving students,…
Read MoreChancellor Hill: College affordability is a necessity – let’s make it a priority
Nearly 50 years ago, President Lyndon Johnson signed into law the first Higher Education Act, an unprecedented step that invested an increased level of federal dollars in colleges and universities and provided financial assistance for students pursuing higher education. The objective was to expand opportunities for students, inspire their minds and imaginations – and give…
Read More‘R U on Track for College?’ Texting a New Strategy
Article: Education Week As educators look for ways to keep high school seniors on track for college and to avoid the “summer melt” that leads some astray in the months after they graduate, a new strategy is gaining ground: texting. This year, West Virginia launched a pilot program that alerts students about deadlines for financial…
Read MoreSummers County High School to celebrate college bound students during ‘College Decision Day’
HINTON, W.Va. – Summers County High School (SCHS) will recognize seniors who plan to enroll in some form of education or training beyond high school during the school’s first “College Decision Day” event to be held May 19. “College Decision Day is inspired by sports events, such as the NCAA national signing day and the…
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