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- Credential WV
Launched in 2023, Credential WV began as a call to action for all of West Virginia’s public two- and four-year institutions to reimagine how higher education can better serve both students and employers. Recognizing the need for a new paradigm, institutions across the state are tackling this initiative head-on—collaborating to reshape learning for today’s economy through flexible, skills-based pathways. This effort is further reinforced by the fact that microcredentials are now formally recognized in West Virginia State Code, demonstrating the state’s commitment to accessible, affordable, and workforce-aligned education for all learners.
- Open Educational Resources
Open Learning WV promotes the use of Open Educational Resources (OER) that are low- or no-cost course materials—such as textbooks, videos, and full courses—that can be freely used, shared, and adapted by instructors. By adopting OER, colleges help WV students save hundreds of dollars each year while ensuring access to the materials they need to succeed.
- LevelUp
In 2023, the West Virginia Legislature established West Virginia’s first state-funded dual enrollment program for high school students. As a result, the Commission has launched the LevelUpWV pilot program that covers 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. The focus of the LevelUpWV pilot program is to place West Virginia’s high school students on an educational track to long-term, successful careers in the state.
- FAFSA completition
West Virginia is earning national praise from the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) for its commitment to increasing college access and affordability. The state now ranks 15th in the nation for FAFSA completion — up from 19th in 2024. West Virginia has achieved this success without a statewide FAFSA mandate.
- Text4Success
In 2014, College for West Virginia (CFWV) began a pilot project to provide students with college-counseling via text message. Now, college-bound students from all over the state can sign up to receive text messages. The text messages sent to students serve as general college reminders and advice, such as key deadlines and regular check-ins to make sure students are transitioning well into college life.
- Rural Talent Lab
West Virginia has been named one of just five states to join the Rural Talent Development and Attraction Lab (Rural Talent Lab), a four-year effort to help rural residents build skills for good-paying jobs without leaving their communities. Led by the Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges (ARRC), in partnership with the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) and HCM Strategists, the initiative is supported by a $7.2 million grant from Ascendium Education Group.
- EPSCoR Track 1
The vision of the West Virginia Network for Functional Neuroscience and Transcriptomics (WV-NFNT) is to transform neuroscience research in West Virginia by establishing connections and enabling access to the technologies and expertise needed for high resolution structure-function studies, and to build capacity through support for faculty, post docs, educators, and students, and to implement specific education and workforce development activities to engage students, especially first-generation college students, in neuroscience research. Marshall University, Shepherd University, West Virginia State University, and West Virginia University are the four partner institutions at which capacity-building will be funded by the project.
- Guaranteed transfer
Effective July 2025, there is a guaranteed transfer of credit for courses completed in career pathways between high schools, career and technical education centers, community and technical colleges and baccalaureate institutions.
Additional Past Initiatives
- 15 to Finish
- Transfer Articulation
- State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)
- West Virginia Higher Education Assessment Council
- WVU Tech Revitalization Committee
