Parkersburg, W.Va. (December 16, 2020) – WVU Parkersburg will take part in Wreaths Across America Day, a national mission to solemnly lay wreaths of evergreens on the graveside of those who gave it all, symbolizing the beauty and brevity of life.

“A fellow veteran, Wayne Starcher, approached me and asked if the WVU Parkersburg Veteran Corps would like to partner with his Marine Corps League Detachment and participate in Wreaths Across America Day,” said Darren Shearlock, Retired Master Sergeant of the U.S. Army and WVU Parkersburg Veterans advocate.

Each year, on December 19, Wreaths Across America coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery and other locations across the U.S., at sea and abroad to remember and honor veterans as well as teach future generations about service members’ sacrifices. Throughout the year, Wreaths Across America works to ensure that no veteran or their families are forgotten and strive to teach the next generation to honor our veterans the same way.

On Wreaths Across America Day, a volunteer places a wreath on top of a veteran’s grave and is encouraged to speak that veteran’s name, tell their story and thank them for their service. “Both the WVU Parkersburg Veteran Corps and the Marine Corps League Detachment want everyone to know we understand the true cost of freedom and thank God every day for the men and women who paid the price for us,” said Shearlock.

“It is a way to remember our fallen U.S. veterans, honor those who serve and teach the value of freedom,” said Wayne Starcher of the Marine Corps League Wood County Detachment 1087.

The ceremony will be led by the Marine Corps League and held at the WVU Parkersburg poorhouse cemetery on Saturday, December 19, at 1 p.m. Students and community members are welcome to attend and participate in the ceremony to complete the Wreaths Across America mission.

Visit wreathsacrossamerica.org or contact Veterans Advocate Darren Shearlock at darren.shearlock@wvup.edu for more information.

Parkersburg, W.Va. (December 14, 2020) – West Virginia University at Parkersburg recognized Fall 2020 graduates with a virtual commencement ceremony available for streaming on the university’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. The college plans to award 247 certificates, and associate and bachelor’s degrees to 225 students this semester, pending final grades.

Greetings were presented by Donna Smith, WVU Parkersburg Board of Governors chairperson, and Elaina Segsworth, Student Government Association president.

WVU Parkersburg President Dr. Chris Gilmer gave introductions and opening remarks. In his message to graduates, he expressed his admiration for students as they overcame new academic and personal challenges this year.

“I would remind the students what I remind every graduating class – no one comes to a moment like this alone,” said Gilmer. “For generations, before you were even born, people you never even knew were already dreaming this dream and this moment for you.”

Dr. Jeff Sapp, professor of Education at California State University Dominguez Hills, served as commencement speaker. A Parkersburg native, Sapp has been an educator, writer and activist the last 40 years. Among his many awards for writing and publishing, his children’s book – “Rhinos & Raspberries: Tolerance Tales for the Early Grades” – won the Golden Lamp Award and the Association of Education’s top honor. His co-authored book, “Rethinking Sexism, Gender, and Sexuality,” won The American Library Association’s Stonewall Honor Award. Not to mention, Jeff contributes to The Southern Poverty Law Center, Teaching Tolerance Magazine, The Simon Wiesenthal Center, The Civil Rights Memorial Center, The Museum of Tolerance and the Go For Broke Foundation.

Sapp shared his personal stories of adversity and success and encouraged graduates to look within themselves and those who supported them for the strength to achieve.

Sapp shared, “It’s been a long journey to get to graduation, to this day. And, I bet there were some people who said you couldn’t, but you showed them, didn’t you?” He continued, “You may have to dig deep for things, but today tells you, you are more than capable of brilliance, of success and of claiming any goal you set for yourselves. You did it today, and you’re going to do it again.”

The college also conferred emeritus statuses to past faculty and staff.  Emeritus status is an honor bestowed by the university for a person’s service and distinguished career. WVU Parkersburg presented the following titles:

Posthumous Emeritus: Debbie Baker, professor of Business
Emeritus: Janice McCue, Tutoring and Testing Center program coordinator
Posthumous Emeritus: Sy Sarkarat, professor of Business

To learn more about WVU Parkersburg and its community of graduates, visit www.wvup.edu. Classes are now enrolling for the Spring semester. Call 304-424-8310 or visit campus for more information.

Parkersburg, W.Va. (December 10, 2020) – Attending classes, meeting new people, registering for next semester’s courses, preparing for a career – college is an exciting and sometimes daunting time for first-year and returning students. Throw in a global pandemic, and those feelings heighten. However, WVU Parkersburg launched its Ascend program just in time to serve its students and offer more resources than ever before.

“Who wouldn’t apply to Ascend? The program benefits are unbelievable,” said student Noah Richardson. “As an Ascend student, you get a lot of things paid for, a Kroger gift card every month and academic assistance, which is especially helpful in my first year out of high school and starting college.”

Richardson is a WVU Parkersburg freshman pursuing an Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Technology, which will lead him into the Bachelor’s of Applied Technology program with a concentration in Cybersecurity and Network Administration.

The Ascend program is for students just like Noah who want to earn their certificates and associate degrees within three years, receive personal advising, career counseling, tutoring, waivers for tuition and more. Launched in May 2020 with Arnold Ventures and CUNY colleges’ help, Ascend’s goal is to double gradation rates and help place graduates into the workplace.

“Ascend has introduced me to college resources, which all play a big role. Getting tutoring and help from your program faculty make your transition from high school to college very smooth and make you comfortable with the atmosphere,” said Richardson. “As a college student, you may also need financial resources, so being able to buy groceries every month is super helpful and gives an incentive to stop eating out to save the money you do get. Not to mention, having priority registration as an Ascend student secures you the classes you want and need for your degree.”

WVU Parkersburg Ascend staff also help students manage their time, as well as their schedules, so they may take classes with other Ascend students to build friendships and a peer support system.

“If I have any advice for new students, it’s to not talk yourself into thinking the work you get is too overbearing. That’s how you start to fall behind and think you don’t have the energy to do ‘all that work,’” said Richardson. “In reality, it’s not a lot of work, and if you take advantage of the resources and time management tools you have, you can do it.”

Learn more about WVU Parkersburg’s Ascend program and how it ensures student success by visiting wvup.edu/ascend. Contact ascend@wvup.edu or 304-424-8353 for an application and eligibility requirements.

Parkersburg, W.Va. (December 2, 2020) – West Virginia University at Parkersburg will make going virtual fun for Mid Ohio Valley’s youth. From December 28 to 31, the WVU Parkersburg Workforce and Economic Division will host a Virtual Teen 3D Printing Academy, an educational STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) experience.

“What we do is build students’ knowledge of technology and processes used from the foundation up; we do this through a guided build of a 3D printer, with explanations about each component along the way,” said Logan Mace, WVU Parkersburg program coordinator.

Usually, the event would be in-person, but with the COVID-19 pandemic numbers rising, WVU Parkersburg will deliver the classes via Zoom, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Students will be provided with a 3D printer to keep. The academy will also provide students with a spool of filament, enrollment in the Maker Club with the first’s month dues paid and a swag bag.

Instructional content will include: introduction to 3D printing, building a 3D printer, learning the components and functions of a 3D printer, the 3D printing process, exploring the 3D printing slicer Cura and settings for common materials, 3D printing troubleshooting and using 3D printing in various professional fields.

“My hope is each student will be engaged because it’s a subject they are choosing to learn,” Mace said. “I love having students who are genuinely interested and apply the knowledge learned to their lives, and I predict it will be as engaging and fun as in-person, just a little different.”

The class is $150 per person, and registration must be received by December 14. The 3D printer must be picked up on December 17 or 18 before 4 p.m. Please email wed@wvup.edu or call 304-420-8606 for more information and to make arrangements to pick up supplies. Visit wvup.edu/3d-printing to download an application. Limited seats are available, so call ahead to make sure open spots remain.

Parkersburg, W.Va. (November 30, 2020) – The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) recognized the WVU Parkersburg Elementary Education program as one of nine providers recognized for their leadership and commitment to continuous improvement.

The Frank Murray Leadership Recognition for Continuous Improvement is named after the founding President of Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) Frank Murray. He served as chairman of the TEAC Board and one of the initial CAEP Board of Directors members. The recipients of the Frank Murray Leadership Recognition for Continuous Improvement award showed accreditation where there was no area for improvement.

Dr. David Lancaster, WVU Parkersburg Education division chairperson and professor, has worked to revise the Elementary Education program to address the new CAEP Elementary standards and meet the West Virginia Department of Education requirements for yearlong residency.

“The award validates what we have been working on for the past seven years as we restructured our program to meet the rigor of the CAEP standards,” Dr. Lancaster said. “It is evidence supporting what we already knew about our program; it is excellent.”

Recipients are selected by the Educator Preparation Providers (EPP). The EPP evaluates providers’ performance regarding their readiness for the challenges that arise in America’s classrooms, showing equity and excellence in their preparation of teacher candidates.

“This award is directly connected to the hard work of the Elementary Education team at WVU Parkersburg,” Dr. Lancaster said. “The collaboration between my WVU Parkersburg team and our partnerships have taken us beyond my expectations.”

This is the first accreditation from the CAEP given to the WVU Parkersburg Education Department; however, the department previously received accreditation by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. Receiving accreditation ensures teacher candidates meet rigorous standards prior to graduation. Teacher candidates with an Elementary Education degree from WVU Parkersburg have the option of securing a teaching certificate for any state in the United States.

For more information on the WVU Parkersburg Education Department, visit wvup.edu/education or contact Dr. David Lancaster at dlancas1@wvup.edu.

Parkersburg, W.Va. – (November 16, 2020) – West Virginia University at Parkersburg – like other schools in the state and nation – transitioned Spring and Fall 2020 coursework to online and limited-contact classes. To continue to help students on their academic paths, WVU Parkersburg has invested in the latest version of Blackboard Learn, the college’s online learning management system.

WVU Parkersburg selected Blackboard as its learning management system based on its ability to meet instructional needs and provide reliable service to students and faculty. The system serves as an online environment where synchronous or asynchronous learning can take place with faculty holding class lectures and discussions, and students accessing class resources and submitting coursework.

“This significant upgrade to our learning management system could not come at a more important time as we continue with mostly remote and technology-enabled instruction,” said Dr. Chad Crumbaker, WVU Parkersburg provost. “We are always focused on the success of our students and that requires providing our faculty with the best teaching and learning resources possible.”

The new version of Blackboard Learn includes a new, streamlined landing page that allows students and instructors more easy access to important course information, including learning materials, grades, messages, calendars and relevant links arranged in an “Activity” feed. The new layout makes Blackboard Learn more accessible for students using mobile devices and provides a simple, consistent experience regardless of how it is accessed.

“Our goal is to provide the best tools possible to support the WVU Parkersburg community,” said Chris Fahey, WVU Parkersburg director of Instructional Innovation. “Significantly more students are using mobile devices to access their learning materials due to the COVID pandemic, and our current Blackboard Learn navigation does not adjust well to various devices. So, we made the decision to push ahead to the latest version of Blackboard so we could more effectively engage students.”

Blackboard’s new version also integrates seamlessly with WVU Parkersburg’s existing Zoom and Respondus test proctoring solutions. Zoom has enhanced the college’s web conferencing capabilities, allowing WVU Parkersburg to respond proactively to the pandemic by moving to remote learning and business operations in many cases.

For Blackboard and Zoom support resources, visit wvup.edu/distance-learning, or contact the Center for Instructional Innovation at cii@wvup.edu.

Parkersburg, W.Va. – (November 12, 2020) – WVU Parkersburg honored veterans, past and present, on November 11 with a virtual Veterans Day celebration and placing 13 flags in the college’s poorhouse cemetery.

Members of the WVU Parkersburg Veterans Corps and Art Club placed American flags on soldiers’ graves who fought from the Second World War to the Korean War. They also placed two flags at the cemetery entrance for unknown veterans.

The Wood County Poorhouse, which once stood on WVU Parkersburg’s property, served as a working farm and residence for the area’s needy. A fire in the poorhouse’s infirmary is believed to have destroyed many residents’ records from 1910 to 1920.

“I come from a military family,” said Traci Mills, WVU Parkersburg student, and Art Club member. “By placing flags on these graves, it is my way of saying ‘thank you.’ The ones buried here were once people too, and it is our job to make sure they are not forgotten.”

Veterans honored at the poorhouse cemetery include: Robert Edward Baker, PFC, US Army, WWII; Samuel Butcher, Patriot; Carl M. Caveney, PVT, US Army, WWII; Roy G. Dingler, PVT US Army, WWII; John A. Goudy Jr., PFC, US Army, Korea; Pearl Richard Harkin, US Army, WWII; Daniel Willard Leisure, SR, US Navy; Olin Rexroad, US Army, WWII; Olin T. Sayre, PVT, US Army, WWII; Renley Smith, PVT, US Army, WWII; Donald W. Watson, US Navy; Edward W. Waybright, PVT, US Army, WWII and Wesley Henry Waybright, PFC, US Army, WWII.

Veterans Advocate Darren Shearlock also shared the college’s thanks to veterans for their service and dedication during a virtual Veterans Day celebration. Shearlock gave a history of Veterans Day, the difference between the national holiday and Memorial Day and how the college serves its veteran students.

WVU Parkersburg is ranked eighth in the nation by Military Times as one of the best career and technical colleges for veterans. This is due to the support and resources offered to enable veterans to reach their educational, professional and career goals, including providing students assistance when applying for Veterans Assistance benefits, giving college credit for military experience, helping transition from military to civilian life and offering additional veteran-based scholarships.

“I chose WVU Parkersburg because it is best for vets,” said student veteran Sedonie Beckford. “I am proud to honor those who served and made it possible for those to follow behind them.”

To watch WVU Parkersburg’s Veterans Day Celebration, visit wvup.edu/live or youtube.com/wvuparkersburg. For more information on the college’s Veterans Resource Center, contact Veterans Advocate Darren Shearlock at darren.shearlock@wvup.edu or 304-424-8000 ext. 337.

Parkersburg, W.Va. – (November 10, 2020) – Students at WVU Parkersburg will soon have access to a new community-based health clinic scheduled to open on campus in the year 2021-2022.

Coplin Health Systems and WVU Parkersburg have formed a partnership to establish a clinic to serve the needs of the college and Mid-Ohio Valley for greater access to health care.

“I believe the greatest service we can give our students, faculty, staff, their families and the community at large is high quality, free or reduced-cost healthcare available to them right on our Parkersburg campus,” said Dr. Chris Gilmer, WVU Parkersburg president. “Coplin will be a wonderful partner because of our shared commitment to serve those who are currently underserved.”

Coplin Health Systems, established in 1978 as the Wirt County Health Services Association, currently services Wirt, Jackson and Wood counties in W.Va. and Meigs county in Ohio with nine different facilities, including three school clinics.

Services offered will include primary and acute (walk-in) care for all ages. The clinic will also have behavorial health and on-site laboratory services.

“WVU Parkersburg and Coplin Health have large goals for the campus and community,” said Rob Dudley, Coplin Health Systems chief executive officer. “It is our priority to offer quality, yet affordable, healthcare and advocate for children and families. We have wonderfully skilled providers and would like to grow our services with the needs of our community.”

Coplin Health Systems is a Federally Qualified Health Center. As such, providers will care for individuals and families with full, partial or no insurance coverage. The organization also offers a sliding scale payment model to make care affordable regardless of a person’s income.

“Our employees have health insurance they can use, and WVU Parkersburg plans to work through its Foundation to develop a fund to cover the cost for students who might not be able to afford healthcare so the WVU Parkersburg community is fully served,” Gilmer said. “Students and employees from our Jackson County Center will also be welcome at Coplin’s Jackson county clinics.”

Jackson County Center students, faculty and staff will be able to receive the same services at the Ripley Family Care, Jackson County School Wellness Center or River Valley Family Care in Ravenswood.

Beyond medical services, the clinic hopes to serve as a learning environment for WVU Parkersburg nursing and health sciences students. Coplin Health Systems offers practicums to aspiring medical students and will discuss arrangements with the college to provide clinical experiences for those pursuing their certificate or associate degree in a qualifying program.

“Our two Boards have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding which will hopefully culminate in the opening of this new facility,” said Gilmer. “We still have to work out the details, but we are very excited and optimistic about this partnership for our college family.”

Dudley is also hopeful about the opening of the clinic. “We are excited to fulfill the vision for a university-based clinic,” Dudley said. “There is still much work to do, but we are excited to know Coplin Health and WVU Parkersburg will offer quality health and wellness services to the campus and surrounding community.”

Parkersburg, W.Va. (November 6, 2020) – Good morning, Riverhawks,

This message is to inform you that the two-week break from all face-to-face instruction will end on Sunday, November 8, and that students and faculty are allowed to resume limited face-to-face instruction and clinical and field experiences on Monday, November 9. Only those classes and field and clinical experiences which were face-to-face before the two-week break may resume in a face-to-face manner. Those classes and field and clinical experiences which have been online only all semester will remain online only. If students or faculty have questions about implementing these instructions, please consult the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Chad Crumbaker. If students or faculty wish to petition for an exception of any kind, please contact the Vice President of Facilities and Chief of Staff to the President, Brady Whipkey.

To the best of our knowledge, all known cases of COVID-19 which were part of the very small outbreak on our campuses have been released by local health authorities, and no new cases have been reported to the Office of the President. Good job!

It is my hope if we diligently follow all of our public health protocols including required mask wearing, social distancing, and prompt self-reporting of any positive cases that we will be able to hold limited face-to-face classes until the Thanksgiving break, after which all remaining instruction will be online for the rest of the fall semester. If we are able to continue face-to-face instruction until the Thanksgiving break, it is our belief that no students will be impacted by not completing and receiving credit for any courses.

Offices which are student-facing and necessary to process spring enrollment will remain open. Employees with questions about remote versus face-to-face work assignments should consult the Vice President of their area.

Our weekly state-mandated random COVID-19 surveillance testing will continue until further notice. This process has been going very well. Thank you for your cooperation.

As always, these instructions are subject to change and update based on the trajectory of the pandemic.

Best regards,

President Chris Gilmer

Parkersburg, W.Va. – (November 4, 2020) – “A family legacy typically takes generations to build,” said Dr. Chris Gilmer, WVU Parkersburg president and founder of the National Institutes for Historically-Underserved Students.

The Donato-Sapp family will be honored with this year’s Generations Award during the National Institutes for Historically-Underserved Students Think Tank 2020 closing ceremony. The closing ceremony will take place Saturday, November 7, at 11 a.m., and be streamed live on WVU Parkersburg’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

The Generations Award is given annually to multiple generations of the same family working to promote equity and inclusion. Educators, artists, activists and writers, Erwin, Jeff and Helena Donato-Sapp, use their talents to bring individuals of diverse backgrounds together to do as such.

“This year, the advisory council of the National Institutes is delighted to add the Donato-Sapp Family of California to the distinguished list of recipients of our Generations Award,” Gilmer said. “Two gay men of different races came together to build a family with an African-American daughter and have faced incredible odds in gaining respect for their family structure, and yet they have bravely blazed a trail for other people to define the term ‘family’ in many different ways.”

Gilmer continues, “Families represent love, and I have witnessed no greater love than these three have for each other. Their willingness to live their lives proudly in the light of day and their commitment to lift Helena up to reach her fullest potential is truly inspiring.”

Erwin arrived in the United States from the Philippines at the age of 12 in 1984. His identity and experiences as an immigrant shape much of his worldview. He has degrees in negotiation, conflict resolution and peacebuilding.

Jeff is a professor of Education at California State University – Dominquez Hills. He writes curriculum for major organizations, including the Southern Poverty Law Center, Civil Rights Memorial Museum, Simon Wiesenthal Center and Go for Broke National Education Center.

Helena, age 11, is an accomplished writer and artist with works in several national collections, including part of a mural project at the Brown v. Board of Education historical site in Topeka, Ka. She also has two published chapters in “Queer Families: An LGBTQ+ True Stories Anthology.” A second book, “Black Girls: Patchwork Stories of Remembrance, Resistance, and Reliance,” is in the works.

“Jeff is a son of West Virginia and still has strong family ties to our community,” Gilmer said. “I know that the many family members and friends the Donato-Sapps have in West Virginia are proud to share this moment with them, and the family and friends they have nationally and around the world are cheering with them as well.”

Former Generations Award recipients include the family of the Honorable Constance Slaughter-Harvey, Esquire, the first African-American judge in the State of Mississippi, noted attorney and Civil Rights icon; the family of Dr. Lionel Bordeaux, Sinte Gleska University president and the longest-serving American university president inducted into the inaugural class of the National Native American Hall of Fame; and the family of Anna Maria Pacheco, the matriarch of a prominent Colorado family who has spent her life as an advocate for human dignity and educational attainment.

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