WVU Parkersburg observes 20th anniversary

CONTACT: WVU Parkersburg President Marie Foster Gnage, 304-424-8200.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

West Virginia University at Parkersburg will observe its 20th anniversary Wednesday (July 1).

The college became WVU Parkersburg on July 1, 1989, following legislation which reorganized the state's public higher education system. WVU Parkersburg served as a regional campus of WVU until 2008 when the state Legislature established an independent community college system and created a local governing board for WVU Parkersburg.

Recently, the college's Board of Governors voted to continue the institution's affiliation with WVU and retain the WVU Parkersburg name.

The college will celebrate its 20th year as WVU Parkersburg with a cookout and anniversary cake Wednesday on the campus' front lawn.

WVU Parkersburg began as a branch of WVU in 1961, and served as Parkersburg Community College from 1971 to 1989.

cd06/26/09