News
Second prize drawing this Tuesday for students completing Promise Scholarship application and FAFSA
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,…
Read MoreHigh school seniors who apply for Promise Scholarship and complete the FAFSA eligible for prizes through new statewide contest
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…
Read MoreState’s new Mental Health Loan Repayment Program now accepting applications from practicing providers
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission is now accepting applications for the state’s new Mental Health Loan Repayment Program, which was created by the Legislature and approved by Governor Jim Justice last year in an effort to retain licensed mental health professionals practicing in underserved communities in West Virginia. “We are…
Read MoreNoting gradual enrollment declines, WV’s higher education chancellor encourages high school students to stay on track for college
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia’s Higher Education Policy Commission today released fall 2020 enrollment data for the state’s public four-year colleges and universities. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, enrollment declines were moderate at most campuses – with an overall drop of 2.8 percent from fall 2019 to fall 2020, excluding dual credit high school…
Read MoreWest Virginia’s higher education community joins nationwide observance of National Rural Health Day
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia’s higher education community is celebrating the state’s health providers and educators today as part of National Rural Health Day. Held annually on the third Thursday of November, this day is designed to recognize the efforts of those serving the health needs of an estimated 57 million people across the country.…
Read MoreState provides additional flexibilities to help students qualify for financial aid for college
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (Commission) today voted to provide students with additional flexibilities in accessing two critical state financial aid programs. These changes come as standardized testing opportunities continue to be uncertain during the COVID-19 crisis. Following today’s vote, high school seniors who graduated in 2020 can now qualify…
Read MoreHigher education systems award $85,000 in grants to strengthen diversity initiatives on college campuses in West Virginia
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,…
Read MoreIn the midst of a pandemic, innovation still drives higher education
by Sarah Armstrong Tucker, Chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and Community and Technical College System West Virginia’s higher education institutions are powerful engines of innovation. Faculty and students are constantly exploring, discovering, and solving some of the most pressing problems facing society today. They challenge each other to advance in their…
Read MoreState launches series of 20 financial aid webinars for students, families preparing for college
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Kicking off tomorrow, September 1, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and Community and Technical College System are launching a series of 20 financial aid webinars for students and families as they prepare for the college-going process. The series, which runs through the end of April, will cover general financial aid…
Read MoreHigher education systems award $45,000 in grants to strengthen college student mental health services in WV
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia’s Higher Education Policy Commission and Community and Technical College System have awarded $45,000 in grants to support student mental health at colleges and universities across the state. Through these Campus Mental Health Grants, institutions will implement a variety of projects that include identifying existing mental health services for improvement, increasing…
Read MoreNearly 100 nursing students from across the state selected for WV Nursing Scholarship Program
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Nursing Scholarship Program, which provides awards to Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN), Registered Nursing (RN), graduate and LPN teaching certificate students, has awarded nearly 100 students with scholarships for the Fall 2020 semester. Awardees will receive scholarships ranging from $800 to $4,000, depending on what kind of nursing program they…
Read MoreWV Health Sciences Service Program accepting applications for students committed to practicing in underserved communities
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission is now accepting applications for the Health Sciences Service Program, which provides loan repayment for students in health professions who want to practice in underserved communities in West Virginia. This year’s award is available to students who are enrolled in their final year of a…
Read MoreHigher Education Chancellor thanks Governor Justice for support of COVID-19 testing on campuses
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Sarah Armstrong Tucker, Chancellor of West Virginia’s Higher Education Policy Commission and Community and Technical College System, today released the following statement thanking Governor Jim Justice for providing $2.5 million to support COVID-19 testing at West Virginia’s colleges and universities: “On behalf of our colleges, universities, students, and campus communities, I would…
Read MoreNew state program aims to help educators, administrators improve online learning and professional development
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Network (WVNET), under the direction of the state’s Higher Education Policy Commission, has launched a program aimed at improving online education, training and employee engagement across West Virginia. Offered to teachers, instructors, administrators and managers in K-12, higher education and government entities, the new Teaching and Learning Commons offers…
Read MoreTwenty-five high school seniors selected as West Virginia’s first Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Twenty-five high school seniors who graduated this year have been selected as West Virginia’s first 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…
Read MoreSarah Armstrong Tucker named Chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – At today’s meeting of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, members voted unanimously to appoint Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker as the Commission’s new Chancellor. Tucker was a finalist for the position, along with Dr. Joe Delap, Provost of Athens State University in Alabama, who withdrew his application earlier this week. Tucker…
Read MoreWest Virginia awarded $750,000 from Ascendium to increase degree completion, leverage philanthropic collaborations for student success
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…
Read MoreACT on-campus testing available for 2020 PROMISE Scholarship applicants at institutions statewide
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – With national testing dates affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission has worked with colleges and universities across the state to make ACT on-campus testing available for this year’s graduating high school seniors who have applied for the PROMISE Scholarship. Applicants can qualify for PROMISE for the…
Read MoreTop two finalists announced for next Chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The search committee for the next Chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission met today and selected two finalists following a national search and first round of interviews by the committee. The finalists were announced as Dr. Joe Delap, Provost of Athens State University in Alabama; and, the Commission’s current…
Read MoreSearch committee for next Chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission selects preliminary finalists
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The search committee for the next Chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission met today and selected four preliminary finalists from a national search. The candidates, whose names will remain confidential at this time, will be interviewed by the committee via Zoom over the next two weeks. Following these four…
Read MoreWest Virginia high schoolers learn how to go to college one text message at a time
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,…
Read MoreCollege student leaders from across West Virginia share excitement, ideas, concerns about returning to campus this fall
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…
Read MoreHigher Education Policy Commission extends testing deadline to qualify for PROMISE Scholarship due to COVID-19
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (Commission) today voted to provide students with greater flexibilities in qualifying for the PROMISE Scholarship for the 2020-21 academic year. With national ACT and SAT testing currently postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students will now be able to qualify for PROMISE for the fall…
Read MoreWest Virginia Nursing Scholarship application opens today for 2020-21 academic year
CHARLESTON, W.VA. – 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 now accepting applications for the 2020-21 academic year. The program is administered by the West Virginia Center for Nursing in conjunction…
Read MoreState higher education systems provide financial aid flexibilities for students amid ongoing campus changes related to COVID-19
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (Commission) and Council for Community and Technical College Education (Council) today voted to provide students with greater flexibilities in accessing and renewing state financial aid programs. This move comes as higher education institutions across the state continue adjusting methods for course delivery this semester in…
Read More