WVU Parkersburg Board of Governors reviews policy changes, celebrates enrollment growth and student success
Parkersburg, W.Va. (June 16, 2025) — WVU Parkersburg President Dr. Torie Jackson encouraged the WVU Parkersburg Board of Governors to think critically, to imagine solutions, and to embrace the entrepreneurial mindset during their meeting on Wednesday, June 11.
Showcasing entrepreneurship, student Evan Bain, a marketing department intern and recent winner of the Innovation Invitational competition, presented his story to the board. Bain received a $10,000 award to help start his business, Evan Bain Productions, which specializes in video production, graphic design, photography, and social media content for small businesses across the Mid-Ohio Valley. What began as a childhood hobby—editing videos on iMovie at age 8—has grown into a professional service with a growing portfolio of local clients, including the West Virginia Racing Heritage Festival and Middletown Homes.
“This competition gave me the push I needed to turn a passion into something real,” Bain said. “I’m using the winnings to invest in better equipment, advertising, and continuing education so I can deliver even more value to my community.”
The meeting covered a range of items including institutional policy updates, student achievements, and campus growth. Blaine Hess, board Vice Chair, announced a 17% increase in enrollment for the summer 2025 semester, reflecting the college’s continued growth.
The board also approved a slate of officers for a two-year term. Blaine Hess was elected Chair, Savannah Morgan as Vice Chair, and Vasanth Ananth as Secretary.
Several institutional policies were finalized following a 30-day public comment period. Among them, updates to Policy A-44 on harassment and discrimination were made to reflect federal compliance standards and to streamline procedural content. The board also received updates on revisions to policies on work scheduling, employee discipline, organizational structure, and mandatory reporting. These policies had completed the 30-day public comment period, with some feedback received primarily seeking clarification; however, no further changes or votes were required.
The most extensive discussion centered around Policy A-34, the college’s Equal Opportunity policy. The revised version removes specific references to gender identity and sexual orientation, in line with guidance from the West Virginia Community and Technical College System and recent updates to state-level policy. Legal counsel advised that protections related to gender identity and sexual orientation remain intact under federal Title VII through the broader term “sex.”
The board received a significant number of public comments on this policy, including thoughtful input from students, faculty, and staff. Many expressed concern that the removal of inclusive language could send the wrong message, even if institutional practices remain unchanged.
Andrew Walker, faculty representative to the board, noted that his concerns echoed those of the broader community.
“It’s a very tough line to balance between the fiduciary responsibility of the board to not put a target on the institution — versus trying to make sure that there’s a community of individuals who are marginalized and have had some pretty negative experiences even in the broader Parkersburg community, not necessarily at the institution,” he said.
Walker emphasized that the concern is not about current leadership, but about the potential for future changes in leadership to erode protections. He added that the removal of specific language could be perceived as removing protections for equal opportunity in educational programs, particularly for students.
President Dr. Torie Jackson, and several board members emphasized that the college remains firmly committed to equity, safety, and respect for all individuals.
“Our mission is accessible, life-changing educational opportunities in a safe and supportive environment — it is our goal to treat everyone equally, collegiately and respectfully,” said Jackson.
The policy A-34 was approved unanimously by the board. Three additional policies were approved to be released for public comment over the next 30 days. These include an updated Allowance of Naming Opportunities policy, a revised Allowance of Alcoholic Beverages on Campus policy, and the policy for Disposition of Obsolete and Unusable Materials.
For more information about WVU Parkersburg policies or to submit public comments, visit: www.wvup.edu/about/policies-and-procedures/