WVU Parkersburg awarded $30,000 in grants

WVU Parkersburg receives $30,000 in grants to increase student access and success.

CONTACT: Paul Milhoan, chair of Technology Division, 304-424-8272; Dotty Muir, dean of students, 304-424-8250.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

West Virginia University at Parkersburg has received three $10,000 grants, all designed to increase student access and success.

The college has received $10,000 from the Verizon Foundation for a two-semester basic computer literacy program. The project will focus on helping low-income students and adults improve their reading abilities and develop basic computer skills, explained Paul Milhoan, Technology Division chair.

"The web-based resources introduced in the project will enable participants to access online college courses and allow them to continue their education if they choose," Milhoan said.

In the fall 2006 semester, training will be offered at an educational facility in each of the seven counties of the college’s service region. The training will include the identification of computer components and peripherals and an introduction to Windows, the Internet, email, word document preparation, spreadsheet preparation, and education software.

The Community and Technical College System of West Virginia awarded $20,000 to WVU Parkersburg for two separate projects: a student retention mini-grant to be coordinated by the college’s Student Services Division, and a marketing grant proposed by the Institutional Advancement Division.

The student retention project involves expanding the college’s first-year experience program for students to include the participation of a variety of campus departments.

"This concentrated campus involvement will begin helping students at Orientation Day and will continue to assist them as they journey through the early stages of collegiate life in order to provide them with the foundation for academic success," explained Dotty Muir, dean of students.

The marketing project is designed to expand awareness of West Virginia's community college system and its program offerings.

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For additional information, contact:
Connie Dziagwa
WVU Parkersburg
Executive Director
Institutional Advancement
(304-424-8203)