About WVU Parkersburg: Your Community's College
About WVU Parkersburg. West Virginia University at Parkersburg is a community college and higher education center offering a blend of certificate and associate programs as well as select bachelor's degrees. Approximately 3,900 students attend the Parkersburg campus which is affiliated with West Virginia University.
WVU Parkersburg is one of 34 public institutions in the United States classified as a Baccalaureate/Associate's College by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. It is the fifth largest public institution of higher education in West Virginia. The Parkersburg campus is the only public community college in West Virginia accredited to offer baccalaureate degrees.
Location. The college is located on the outskirts of Parkersburg and is easily accessible from I-77. It is a commuter campus and has no residential housing. Bus service is provided by the Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority and the Easy Rider Bus System.
Accreditation. WVU Parkersburg is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.
College History. The College was founded in 1961 as the Parkersburg Branch of West Virginia University. On July 1, 1971, it became Parkersburg Community College, one of the state’s first comprehensive community colleges. In a reorganization of West Virginia’s public higher
education system in 1989, the institution became West Virginia University at Parkersburg, a regional campus of WVU. In 2008 the WV Legislature changed WVU Parkersburg's governance structure and relationship to WVU in creating a state network of community and technical colleges.
Governance. Legislation enacted by the WV Legislature in the spring of 2008 changes WVU Parkersburg's governance structure. The legislation creates a statewide network of independently accredited community and technical colleges, including WVU Parkersburg, under the jurisdiction of the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education.
Effective July 1, 2008, WVU Parkersburg is governed by a local Board of Governors which replaces its Board of Advisors. The legislation allows for WVU Parkersburg to continue to be affiliated with West Virginia University. It recognizes WVU Parkersburg as a higher education center offering community college programs and bachelor's degrees.
The WV Higher Education Policy Commission is responsible for developing, establishing, and overseeing the implementation of a public policy agenda for the state's higher education institutions. The Commission is charged with oversight of the public higher education institutions to ensure they are accomplishing their missions and implementing the provisions set by West Virginia statute.
WVU Parkersburg Typical Class Size. Student-Faculty Ratio: 19:1.Program Offerings. WVU Parkersburg's programs include certificates, associate and selected baccalaureate degree programs.
WVU Programs On Campus. WVU offers its Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at WVU Parkersburg. WVU's Division of Extended Learning offers graduate programs on the WVU Parkersburg campus.
Service Area. The institution's primary service area consists of seven counties in west-central West Virginia: Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt, and Wood. The main campus on Route 47 east of Parkersburg was first occupied in 1969 and has undergone several building expansions since that time. In addition, the Jackson County Center in Ripley was established in 1974. More than 700 students attend JCC each semester.
