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Charleston Gazette-Mail: WV college attendance program continues with new funding
BY RYAN QUINN About 1,300 West Virginia eighth graders danced, laughed and cheered Wednesday in Charleston at the kickoff event for a program to get kids from disadvantaged areas and backgrounds into college or other post-high school training — and take others with them. Last year, the U.S. Department of Education granted the Mountain State $21 million in its third Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) grant, according to Jessica Kennedy. Kennedy — director of communications and outreach for the Division of Student Affairs, part of West Virginia’s public higher education agencies — said the GEAR…
Continue ReadingMetroNews: More than 1,000 W.Va. eighth graders ‘GEAR UP’ for college
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Nearly 1,300 eighth grade students from 32 West Virginia schools were in Charleston Wednesday morning to participate in the state’s GEAR UP program at the Clay Center. The program teaches students, from pre-school to high school, how to take control of their futures by informing them about the steps needed to pursue higher education. “What that really is is to help other students be peer mentors, to spread the word about going to college, getting a career in mind early in their life and being prepared for college when they do go,” explained Dr. Paul Hill, chancellor…
Continue ReadingHechinger Report: Can u fix education w/ txts?
Facing some of America’s biggest education challenges, Benjamin Castleman thinks small. In his new book, The 160-Character Solution: How Text Messaging and Other Behavioral Strategies can Improve Education, the University of Virginia education professor argues that the humble text message can boost student achievement, improve study habits and help students stay on track in the transition from high school to college. Start with the obvious. Texting is cheap, and it’s everywhere. None of the newer social-media apps have anywhere near its reach. You don’t need a powerful computer or broadband Internet to text. You just need a phone and fast…
Continue ReadingWTRF: Local students pass along importance of higher education
WTRF 7 News Sports Weather – Wheeling Steubenville MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. – A group of local students are ready to tackle the new school year and pass along the importance of higher education. Higher Education Readiness Officers (HEROs) is a relatively new program happening at some high schools in West Virginia. The goal is to educate high school students about the importance of higher education, whether it’s a four year degree or a technical school. Starting early is essential, according to incoming Sophmore Alec Kuskey. “I learned that it really is a good idea to start considering college even if…
Continue ReadingWOAY: OOHS Honors College Bound Seniors
OAK HILL– An area school is honoring college and service bound seniors. Oak Hill High School honored members of its senior class today during its college decision day ceremony– recognizing those who will either be continuing their education or will be entering the armed services. Oak Hill is one of 12 high schools across the state participating in the sports inspired campaign which is designed to praise those who are continuing their educations as well as encourage underclassmen to do the same. Read the full story »
Continue ReadingWBOY: Student Leadership Conference Comes to Jackson’s Mill
College students from around the state gathered at Jackson’s Mill this week for the West Virginia Student Leadership Conference. The annual event brings together leaders from public campuses to discuss their experiences in leadership and find ways to improve those skills for their campus and themselves. “After seeing a lot of the changes that could be made on our campus and seeing all the potential that could come from West Virginia State University’s campus, I thought it would be a great opportunity to come here and see what I could do as a leader and as an emerging leader to…
Continue ReadingPoint Pleasant Register: Wahama to host “College Decision Day”
MASON — A new event to celebrate graduating seniors pursuing post-secondary education will take center stage Thursday evening at Wahama High School. The school will conduct its first “College Decision Day” at 5 p.m., prior to the senior awards ceremony, according to Teresa Murphy, counselor. School staff, students and families will recognize each senior who plans to pursue some form of post-secondary education, whether it be certificate programs, workforce training and apprenticeship programs, two- or four-year degrees, or military service. Murphy said the event will encompass most of Wahama’s 69 graduating seniors, although a few have chosen directemployment. Each senior…
Continue ReadingWilliamstown 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 »
Continue ReadingWOWK: 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 »
Continue ReadingWTRF: 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 the program. Read the full story »
Continue ReadingCharleston 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 states across the country in launching a “15 to Finish” campaign, which urges colleges to promote 15-credit semesters in an attempt to get more students to complete courses in the right time frame and subsequently avoid higher tuition costs and a delayed entry to the…
Continue ReadingHEPC 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 to graduate on time. Read more »
Continue Reading4th 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 in Morgantown last week. Read more or listen to the story.
Continue Reading‘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 aid, registration, and student orientation, among other matters, with personalized messages on their mobile phones. The texting initiative targets students from low-income families—especially those set to become the first in their families to attend college. It begins in January of students’ senior year and continues…
Continue ReadingText messaging program involving high school seniors has caught on quickly
Article: Metro News CHARLESTON, W.Va. — To say a text-messaging program between high school students and four colleges and universities in West Virginia is working would be an understatement. The College Foundation of West Virginia (CFWV) began a three-year pilot project in January that utilizes text-messaging to promote college access and support student success for a high school senior through his or her freshmen year. West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission Communications Manager Jessica Kennedy said the response has been outstanding with 57 percent of the seniors in the 14 pilot high schools signing up for the program and many…
Continue ReadingFAFSA ‘definitely the gateway’ to financial aid
Article: Fairmont Times West Virginian Students encouraged to file as soon as possible FAIRMONT, W.Va. — It’s time to file the FAFSA. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is an online form students seeking higher education can fill out to apply for any kind of federal financial aid. “It’s definitely the gateway to all federal and most state financial aid,” said Jessica Kennedy, communications manager for the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. Students file the FAFSA to get aid like federal PELL grants, which do not have to be paid back, and federal student loans that have lower…
Continue ReadingStudy says nearly half of college grads stay in Mountain State
Article: MetroNews MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A study from West Virginia University says college graduates in the Mountain State who received a Promise Scholarship are more likely to stay and work in West Virginia. The WVU College of Business and Economics did the study for the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. Researchers took at look at the college graduates from the past 10 years. (Read the WVU study here) The study estimates 48 percent of the graduates work here and those who received a Promise Scholarship are more likely to work in their home state… Read the full story »
Continue ReadingPersonal text messages offer support as students face higher education
Article: Times West Virginian FAIRMONT, W.VA. — The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission recently launched a three-year pilot project that will help high school seniors prepare for college and begin their freshman year of higher education. The text message support project, which has not yet been officially named, has two main goals: to remind students of deadlines and important steps in the college application process, and to provide them with support and answers to any questions they have along the way. The project is a twist on traditional methods used to help students plan and prepare to move on…
Continue ReadingMan Middle School participates in CFWV College Days
Article: Logan Banner MAN — Man Middle School (Logan County) participated in College Foundation West Virginia (CFWV) College Week October 16th and 17th. Governor Earl Ray Tomblin designated this week as “College Application and Exploration Week” in effort to help students prepare for college. Read the full story »
Continue ReadingJRES students explore careers
Article: Elkins InterMountain Most elementary students are concerned with sports, play and what it will be like when they move up to middle school. But Jennings Randolph Elementary School fifth-graders got a jump on their career exploration this week. On Wednesday, they traveled to the Randolph Technical Center to learn about the programs offered there and work with high school-aged students to experience a typical day at the center. JRES counselor Aaron Talbott said the students participated in West Virginia’s statewide College Application and Exploration this week. Read the full story »
Continue ReadingGov. Tomblin declares “GEAR UP for College Week”
Article: MetroNews CHARLESTON, W.Va. — It’s “GEAR UP for College Week” in West Virginia. The governor’s proclamation was aimed at recognizing the achievements of Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs across West Virginia. GEAR UP is a grant program through the United States Department of Education that aims to help students pursue education and training beyond high school. Since its launch in 2008, thousands of students in 10 West Virginia counties have received assistance in going to college. Taylor Raby and Allison Epling, seniors at Scott High School in Madison, have been in the program since seventh grade…
Continue ReadingWest Virginia Students and Educators Attend 2013 Student Success Summit
Article: WBOY The State Department of Education, community college system, and the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission collaborate for the Student Success Summit. The Summit looks at the education system from elementary school through college. Its goal is to better serve students so they’re more likely to finish high school and go into post-secondary training. Students and educators from around the state attended the event, started August 5 and will continue August 6. Scott High School Higher Education Readiness Officers, or HEROs, went to learn how to better their outreach program lead by students. “We want to get a…
Continue ReadingStatewide College Application and Exploration Week assists students with college prep
Article: West Virginia Executive Magazine View the original article Jessica Kennedy West Virginia needs 20,000 more college graduates by 2018 to meet work force demands, but state officials say many students are skipping a critical first step in the college-planning process—submitting a college application. To help more students complete that task, the College Foundation of West Virginia (CFWV) will host its third annual College Application and Exploration Week from October 1st-5th. College Application and Exploration Week is a statewide outreach event during which the state’s secondary schools, higher education institutions and other community organizations focus on helping students explore their…
Continue ReadingPursuit of knowledge led to worlds he’d never dreamed of as a boy
Article: Charleston Daily Mail CHARLESTON, W.Va. – In the fall of 1963, the management of the Kopperston No. 1 coal mine decided they no longer needed Paul Hill Sr. He had lost jobs before. But the veteran miner had worked at the Wyoming County site long enough to allow for the hope of a little job security. Now that security was gone, and he was left with a pregnant wife, five children and few options. With nowhere else to go, Hill returned his family to their farm in Lincoln County. There was no plumbing, little money and just enough food…
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