2017 - West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A new study shows the text messaging service offered to high school seniors through the College Foundation of West Virginia has improved retention at some of the state’s colleges and universities. The CFWV and West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission released the results of the study from a pair of University of Virginia researchers…

West Virginia students are earning higher grade point averages, successfully completing first year of college thanks to text messaging service Rural students benefit from college counseling via “Txt 4 Success” initiative CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Like many college juniors, Chelsea Goins is well-versed in juggling responsibilities. Not only is she a student at Concord University, but…

West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission releases enrollment report, announces newly appointed members CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Today, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) held its regularly scheduled Commission meeting. During the meeting, HEPC released the Fall 2017 Enrollment Report, which covers national enrollment trends as well as projections and statistics for West Virginia’s…

West Virginia schools to celebrate statewide College Application and Exploration Week More than 350 schools registered to help students explore postsecondary options, careers CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Schools across the state will participate in the College Foundation of West Virginia’s (CFWV’s) College Application and Exploration Week initiative scheduled for November 6 – 10. During the week,…

College Foundation of West Virginia sets new goal for completion of federal student aid application CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Today, the College Foundation of West Virginia (CFWV) announced the statewide goal to have at least 63 percent of high school seniors file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by April 15, 2018. Filing the…

Higher Education Policy Commission and Kanawha County Schools awarded $50,000 for FAFSA completion efforts CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) announced today that the agency has been awarded $50,000 from the National College Access Network (NCAN), a nonprofit organization focusing on ensuring equal access to higher education. Last year, HEPC secured…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – “On behalf of the state higher education system, I am so pleased to welcome N3 as our newest tenant at the West Virginia Regional Technology Park. The investment they have chosen to make in West Virginia will not only bring well-paying jobs for college graduates to our area but also support a…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Center for Nursing announced today that 224 students will receive funds totaling $422,000 as part of the Nursing Scholarship Program. The program, which is administered by the West Virginia Center for Nursing in conjunction with the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC), helps licensed practical, registered, master’s and…

Higher Education Policy Commission staff member’s work ‘protects veterans’ education benefits’ CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission’s director of veterans’ programs has received the National Association of State Approving Agencies’ (NASAA’s) highest recognition for his efforts to promote veterans’ education opportunities. L.G. Corder, Esq., Director of Veterans Education and Training Programs…

Higher education officials are urging college students to complete at least 15 credit hours per semester to stay on track for graduation.

Young people across West Virginia have begun yet another year on college campuses as they work toward their degrees and pursuing their career goals. In fact, West Virginia University reported a record number of new freshmen enrollments this year — 6,224 of them, to be exact. As part of the effort to make sure all…

It is really one of the first steps toward going to college or community college. But in recent years, only about half of West Virginia high school seniors have made it that far. So, it is encouraging to see that by the end of June this year, almost two-thirds of the state’s seniors had completed…

Higher education officials are urging college students to complete at least 15 credit hours per semester to stay on track for graduation.

Campaign aims to increase college-completion rates, save students money CHARLESTON, W.Va. – As colleges across the state kick off the fall semester, officials at the Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) are reminding students of the importance of earning at least 15 credit hours per semester to stay on track for graduation. Through their “15 to…

RALEIGH COUNTY, WV (WVVA) – For ten years, the Erma Byrd Higher Education Center has been helping make it possible for a segment of the student population to get their degrees. And now, the collaborative learning center is looking toward the next decade of serving students. Students, family and administrators gathered in front of the…

Photo of buttons that say FAFSA and a financial aid booklet

Nearly two-thirds of all high school seniors in West Virginia had completed an important application by the end of June, according to the state’s Higher Education Policy Commission. The application, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is the first step for students to earn the Promise Scholarship and to qualify for other forms of…

‘FAFSA Completion Challenge’ leads to more students applying for college financial aid CHARLESTON, W.Va. – State higher education officials are applauding the efforts of Kanawha County high schools for their part in a year-long “FAFSA Completion Challenge” campaign, a countywide effort to increase the number of 12th graders applying for college financial aid. During a…

Dr. Paul Hill, Chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, congratulates students, faculty and staff on the ten-year success of the Erma Byrd Higher Education Center.

Collaboration among colleges and universities expands access to higher education for students in Southern West Virginia BEAVER, W.Va. – State officials, students, faculty and community members gathered at the Erma Byrd Higher Education Center on Friday to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the facility’s opening. The Erma Byrd Center, which was West Virginia’s first collaborative…

West Virginia Student Success Summit 2017 from Seeds Training on Vimeo. Students from six high schools —Calhoun County, Herbert Hoover, Lewis County, Spring Valley, Tolsia and Wayne County — sent teams of students to the 2017 Youth Summit, hosted July 25-27 as part of the Commission’s College Foundation of West Virginia (CFWV) initiative. Students learned leadership skills…

Seventh annual Summit kicks off tomorrow in Morgantown MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Nearly 500 education administrators, teachers, students, military leaders and community group members will come together this week to tackle education issues in the Mountain State. The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) and the West Virginia Department of Education will host the seventh…

Smart Student Loan Borrowing

Eight tips for financing higher education CHARLESTON, W.Va. – As students and families across the state are planning their budgets for the fall semester of college, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) and Community and Technical College System (CTCS) today issued guidance on making smart choices when it comes to student loan borrowing.…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Dr. Carl Schoonover has a fascination with the human brain, and has been studying how people connect memories with certain odors. The problem: the brain is too difficult to study using lab instruments. “It’s been very difficult look at it,” the Columbia University neuroscientist said. “If you just take a brain out…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – More Mountain State students are succeeding in college thanks, in part, to an overhaul in the way entry-level courses are taught. Earlier today during a meeting of the Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC), state officials announced that recent efforts to reform developmental, or “remedial,” education are helping more students pass first-year math…

ATHENS, W.Va. – On Wednesday, nearly 200 high school sophomores are expected to arrive at Concord University to attend GEAR UP U, a summer academy designed to give students the opportunity to experience life on a college campus. The event, which runs this Wednesday, June 14 through Saturday, June 17, is sponsored by the West Virginia Higher Education…

The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) announced today that 12 health sciences students from across West Virginia have received financial support for their education through the state’s Health Sciences Service Program. The Health Sciences Service Program was created by the West Virginia Legislature in 1995. Since its inception, the program has provided more…

WESTON, W.Va. – College students from across West Virginia are meeting next week at Jackson’s Mill to tackle issues facing the state’s higher education system and learn new ways to strengthen their campus communities. More than 75 student government representatives from West Virginia’s public two-year and four-year colleges and universities are participating in the annual…