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Jessica Tice
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West Virginia Higher Education Chancellor Sarah Tucker named chair of national higher education policy organization
Charleston, West Virginia – Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker, West Virginia’s Chancellor of Higher Education, has been named State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) Executive Committee Chair. SHEEO, the national association of the chief executives of statewide governing boards and coordinating boards for postsecondary education, works to assist its members and states in developing and sustaining excellent systems of higher education. “It’s with great pleasure we announce Dr. Sarah Tucker as the Executive Committee Chair,” said Dr. Robert Anderson, president of SHEEO. “Dr. Tucker has been a great thought-partner and colleague to SHEEO throughout her tenure in West Virginia. Her depth and…
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West Virginia Celebrates Successful College Application and Exploration Week
CHARLESTON, WV – More than 400 schools and organizations, from elementary schools to adult learner sites, across West Virginia participated in College Application and Exploration Week (CAEW) from October 30 – November 3rd. This is an annual initiative aimed at providing opportunities for students, educators and community members to explore postsecondary and career pathways, helping to fuel a culture of college readiness across the state. During the week, West Virginia students took field trips to college campuses and participated in workshops on college applications and financial aid, gaining valuable insights into the process of pursuing higher education. School hallways and…
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Forty-five high schools across West Virginia recognized for their outstanding efforts to help students plan for college
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’s college scholarship and grant applications now open, FAFSA delayed this year
CHARLESTON, WV – All of West Virginia’s state financial aid programs are now accepting applications for the 2024-25 academic year, the state higher education office announced today. West Virginia offers more than $100 million annually in financial aid for college. This includes the merit-based Promise Scholarship, needs-based Higher Education Grant, and West Virginia Invests – the state’s tuition-free community college program. “As this year’s high school seniors look to the future, now is the time to start exploring the many financial support programs West Virginia offers them,” said Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker, West Virginia’s Chancellor of Higher Education. “Through our wide selection of…
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Price named Vice Chancellor for Finance and Facilities for the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and Community and Technical College System
CHARLESTON, WV – Misty Price has been named Vice Chancellor of Finance and Facilities for the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and the Community and Technical College System. Price, a Certified Public Accountant, brings over 25 years of experience in public and governmental accounting to the agencies, most recently serving as the Deputy Treasurer of Cash Management for the West Virginia State Treasurer’s Office. She also previously served as the Coordinator of School Finance for the West Virginia Department of Education. “I’m excited for the opportunity to be involved with an agency that serves such an important objective,” says…
Continue ReadingHigher Education Policy Commission revokes Alderson Broaddus University’s authorization to award degrees in West Virginia, outlines next steps to support students
CHARLESTON, WV – During an emergency meeting today, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (Commission) voted unanimously to revoke Alderson Broaddus University’s authorization to confer degrees in the state effective December 31, 2023. The institution is not permitted to enroll new students beginning with the Fall 2023 semester. However, seniors scheduled to graduate at the end of the fall term may return to complete their degrees on schedule. The Commission took this action after receiving and confirming information that Alderson Broaddus University’s financial condition renders the institution unable to create a stable, effective, and safe learning environment for its…
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State selects 27 students for West Virginia’s prestigious teaching scholarship
Incoming college freshmen will receive $40,000 Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars award CHARLESTON, WV – Twenty-seven high school seniors who graduated this year have been selected as West Virginia’s fourth cohort of 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 Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker, West Virginia’s Chancellor of…
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New podcast shares stories of healthcare providers across West Virginia
Appalachian Care Chronicles launches with four episodes, available now CHARLESTON, WV – The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, with support from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, today launched Appalachian Care Chronicles, a new podcast featuring first-person accounts from healthcare professionals across West Virginia. Hosted by Aryana Misaghi, a 2023 graduate of Marshall University’s Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, the podcast follows those working both behind the scenes and on the frontlines, shining a light on the work they do and how they got there. “Our goal is to share these stories with anyone who has ever considered a…
Continue ReadingWest Virginia Student Success Summit focuses on career-readiness
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…
Continue ReadingStatement about Alderson Broaddus University provisional reauthorization
Charleston, WV – The Higher Education Policy Commission in a special meeting today voted to provisionally reauthorize Alderson Broaddus University through June 30, 2024, with the right to reconsider that provisional reauthorization, at any point, if the institution does not meet the State’s criteria for financial stability. In the interest of student consumer protection, the Commission is requiring that Alderson Broaddus by October 1 have in place plans for teach-out or transfer of currently enrolled students, in addition to ensuring student transcripts and financial aid records are secured with a third-party. Alderson Broaddus also will be required to provide financial…
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GEAR UP U! takes place at Marshall University
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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Student leaders from colleges and universities statewide come together for the Student Leadership Conference
DAVIS, WV – Fifty student government representatives from thirteen two- and four-year colleges across West Virginia gathered at Canaan Valley Resort and Conference Center for the 18th annual West Virginia Student Leadership Conference (WVSLC). The WVSLC serves as a training event for student government representatives, many of whom are newly elected to their roles. During the conference, students learned leadership skills, networked with other student body leaders, and shared ideas for engaging their campus communities. 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 and the students on their…
Continue ReadingWest Virginia celebrates nursing scholars, highlights nursing workforce growth during National Nurses Week
CHARLESTON, WV – West Virginia’s higher education office is celebrating nursing scholarship recipients, education opportunities and recent workforce growth during National Nurses Week, which runs through Friday, May 12, 2023. The West Virginia Nursing Scholarship Program, which provides awards to Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN), Registered Nursing (RN), graduate and LPN teaching certificate students in exchange for service in West Virginia, is accepting applications until June 1 for the 2023-24 academic year. The program is administered by the West Virginia Center for Nursing in conjunction with the Higher Education Policy Commission. “I am grateful for the West Virginia Nursing Scholarship Program and…
Continue ReadingWest Virginia awarded $20 million in scientific research funding from National Science Foundation
West Virginia has received more than $105 million in EPSCoR funding and co-funding since 2001 CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia has been awarded a highly competitive, five-year $20 million grant from the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) that will boost academic scientific research and upgrade infrastructure at West Virginia University (WVU), Marshall University (MU), West Virginia State University (WVSU) and Shepherd University. EPSCoR is facilitated by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission’s Division of Science, Technology & Research (STaR). This funding establishes the WV Network for Functional Neuroscience and Transcriptomics (WV-NFNT), a statewide…
Continue ReadingNationally recognized LEGO learning and educational technology experts headline West Virginia Statewide Technology Conference
Annual event returns to Morgantown in July MORGANTOWN, W.VA. – A leader at incorporating LEGO blocks into “STEAM” education and a nationally recognized higher education technology expert are slated as keynote speakers for the West Virginia Statewide Technology Conference set for July 19-21, 2023, in Morgantown. Dr. Leanna Prater, Senior Professional Learning Manager at LEGO Education, and Derek Bruff, Ph.D., educator, author, and higher ed consultant, will be keynote speakers at the July 19-21, 2023, conference in Morgantown, W.Va. Dr. Prater brings a wealth of experience to the field of education, having worked as an elementary school teacher, district technology…
Continue ReadingRavenswood High School wins American College Application Campaign School of Excellence Award
CHARLESTON, WV – Ravenswood High School is a recipient of ACT’s American College Application Campaign (ACAC) School of Excellence Award for their commitment to postsecondary student success. ACAC is a national effort to increase the number of first-generation college students and students from low-income families pursuing a college degree or other higher education credential. Twenty-three schools from across the nation were selected for this award based on their demonstrated commitment to student success and for serving as exemplary models for their state’s college application campaign. Collaborators from all fifty states and the District of Columbia submit recommendations for School of…
Continue ReadingApril 15 deadline for Higher Education Grant Program approaching; award amount increased for next year
Charleston, W.Va. – The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and Community and Technical College System remind students that April 15 is the deadline to apply for the Higher Education Grant Program (HEGP), the state’s need-based financial aid program. The Commission recently voted to increase the award, which helps cover the cost of tuition and fees at two- and four-year colleges and universities, to $3,300 for the 2023-24 school year. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the only application required to be considered for the grant, can be completed online at fafsa.gov. “The Higher Education Grant is a lifeline…
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Morgantown High School Team 1 Named 2023 Academic Showdown Grand Champion
Charleston, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) is pleased to announce Morgantown High School Team 1, Monongalia County, as the 2023 West Virginia Academic Showdown grand champion following the finale at the West Virginia Culture Center today. Morgantown High School Team 1 was among 10 teams representing five regional competition winners in the second year of the high school scholastic competition. George Washington High School, Kanawha County, earned runner-up. Over the past three months, 71 teams from 40 high schools representing 26 counties competed in this academic head-to-head competition which tested students’ knowledge in subjects including math,…
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West Virginia’s first dual enrollment program to help thousands more high school students take college courses that lead to in-demand careers
CHARLESTON, WV – The West Virginia Legislature has adopted and Gov. Jim Justice has signed legislation establishing West Virginia’s first statewide dual enrollment program to allow more students to take college courses in high school. Through House Bill 2005, West Virginia’s higher education system will launch a pilot program this fall that will cover the costs of dual enrollment courses offered by the state’s colleges and universities that are tied to some of West Virginia’s most in-demand careers. “Prior to this legislation, what we have had is a system that favors our highest achieving, highest performing students – those who…
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WV Mental Health Leadership Scholarship
WV Mental Health Leadership ScholarshipThe West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and West Virginia Community and Technical College System are excited to offer a limited number of scholarships for students attending public colleges and universities in West Virginia to attend the upcoming Active Minds Conference – the nation’s leading mental health conference for young adults – July 7-8 in Washington, D.C. This year’s conference theme is “Be the Mental Health Change” and the sessions will showcase the most innovative and effective approaches to supporting young adult well-being and changing the conversation about mental health on campuses, in schools, in the…
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Second Annual Academic Showdown
Brackets Set For Competition
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – In the spirit of March Madness, the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) is pleased to announce the 2023 Academic Showdown finale bracket selection. The live online drawing gave teams their first look at the first round match-ups. The Academic Showdown finale is scheduled for March 31, 2023, at the West Virginia Culture Center in Charleston with matches beginning at 9 a.m. Below are the results of the bracket selection: Match 1: James Monroe High School vs. Winfield High School Match 2: Morgantown High School Team 1 vs. George Washington High School Match 3: Spring Mills High…
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West Virginia’s Promise scholars will earn more money for college next year; deadline to apply is May 1
CHARLESTON, WV – In a special meeting today, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission voted to extend the deadline for current high school seniors to apply for the Promise Scholarship until May 1, 2023. The Commission also approved increasing the award amount for the 2023-24 academic year to $5,200, up from the previous amount of $5,000 annually. “Our high school seniors have been working so hard to stay on track for their futures, and we want to give them every opportunity to access the support they need to continue their education after they graduate,” said Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker,…
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Academic Showdown West Virginia State University Regional Winners Announced
Institute, W.Va. – Two teams have advanced out of the final regional of the 2023 Academic Showdown. George Washington High School Team 1, Kanawha County, earned first place; and Wheeling Park High School Team 1, Ohio County, earned second place today during the competition at West Virginia State University in Institute, West Virginia. Both have earned a spot in the finale on March 31, 2023, at the West Virginia Culture Center in Charleston. The Showdown is an academic head-to-head competition testing students’ knowledge in subject areas including math, history, sports, fine arts and more. Students in grades 9 -12 may participate,…
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Academic Showdown Concord University Regional Winners Announced
Athens, W.Va. – Two teams have advanced out of the fourth regional of the 2023 Academic Showdown. James Monroe High School Team 1, Monroe County, earned first place; and Ripley High School Team 1, Jackson County, earned second place today during the competition at Concord University in Athens, West Virginia. Both have earned a spot in the finale on March 31, 2023, at the West Virginia Culture Center in Charleston. The Showdown is an academic head-to-head competition testing students’ knowledge in subject areas including math, history, sports, fine arts and more. Students in grades 9 -12 may participate, and schools may…
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Academic Showdown West Virginia University Regional Winners Announced
Morgantown, W.Va. – Two teams have advanced out of the third regional of the 2023 Academic Showdown. Morgantown High School Team 2 (Monongalia County) won first place and Morgantown High School Team 1 won second place during the competition at West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia. Both teams have earned a spot in the finale on March 31, 2023, at the West Virginia Culture Center in Charleston. The Showdown is an academic head-to-head competition testing students’ knowledge in subject areas including math, history, sports, fine arts and more. Students in grades 9 -12 may participate, and schools may enter up…
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