Good afternoon, Riverhawks,

This message is intended to provide a COVID-19 update to the WVU Parkersburg family.

Any confirmed cases at WVUP have so far been contained to students learning remotely, and we can confirm no cases of exposed students or employees testing positive and spreading to the community at this time. While we have had several instances reported to us of students and employees either testing positive or being exposed to confirmed and possible COVID-19 carriers, our commitment to technology-enhanced online instruction, continuing to have many employees working remotely, mask-wearing, social distancing, and taking other precautions has so far prevented any known outbreak of COVID-19 on our campuses.

While we are deeply concerned about anyone who might be or become sick and want to offer support in every way possible, the current absence of a campus-based outbreak is good news at a time when many colleges in West Virginia and nationwide are experiencing significant outbreaks. We must continue to be vigilant in our protective measures and remain hopeful that they will protect us from a campus community outbreak. Should confirmed cases of COVID-19 occur among our campus-based, face-to-face students or employees, we will be transparent with that information to the community. To the best of our ability and while protecting confidentiality to the degree possible, those who might have been exposed would be notified. I repeat that this has not yet occurred, but would be our protocol should such a scenario occur.

Our protocol has been and will continue to be that we report to local health authorities any confirmed case or confirmed exposure to a carrier that occurs within the WVUP community. The responsibility of any WVUP community member, employee, or student is to report any confirmed case at WVUP or any confirmed or possible exposure to a carrier by any employee or student, particularly those working and learning face-fo-face in our facilities, to Brady Whipkey, Chief of Staff to the President. We will then enact the protocol described herein, and any affected parties will receive any needed instructions from the Office of the President.

Local health authorities then take over contact tracing, and we follow whatever guidelines we are given in each case which might include, but would not be limited to, required isolation from facilities for a prescribed period. So far, local health officials have been following up closely on first-degree exposures (someone who was directly exposed to a known carrier), but have not been following up closely on second-degree exposures (someone who was exposed to a person who was exposed to a known carrier). The latter scenario has been the most common for WVUP, and we have received no guidance concerning any additional follow-up or precautionary measures related to these reports. Please keep in mind, even as we do our best to protect our campus community, those who might become ill or who might be exposed to a sick person still have a right to expect privacy and confidentiality to the highest degree possible.

I learned yesterday that all colleges in West VIrginia will be required by state authorities, beginning as early as next week, to participate in randomized surveillance testing. Keep in mind that this is not a WVUP-generated requirement, but it is a state requirement with which our college and all others will be required to comply. I will update you as soon as more information is available.

The details of this initiative are still unfolding, and I will share the details with the community as I learn more. For now, I know that every college will be required to collect saliva-based COVID-19 test kits from a random sample of 10 percent of the aggregate of students, faculty, and staff who are engaged in campus-based activities, either face-to-face work or face-to-face learning. Any employee or student whose entire current plan of study or work assignment is remote from campus will not be required to participate. It is unclear at this time how quickly this state requirement will take effect, and we are still receiving updated information and formulating our plan of implementation. WVU and Marshall are already engaged in this process, and now the remaining colleges will be required to participate. While I understand that some members of the community will have concern about our participation and while I validate those concerns, we will endeavor to follow state mandates and will hope that the random surveillance testing will help to promote the safety of our community.

As always, I am eager to receive any feedback or suggestions from any member of our community, and I will answer any questions that you might have to the degree that I have answers for them. This is still uncharted territory for us all, and I appreciate your willingness to navigate it together. As always, the health and safety of those who learn and work here is my primary concern.

Best regards,

Chris

Parkersburg, W.Va. – (September 14, 2020) – West Virginia University at Parkersburg has been recognized as the most affordable college in the state by University HQ. The published rankings help students discover the best school that matches their budget and career path by comparing college tuition rates, the number of degrees offered, and graduating salaries across the U.S.

“Providing the highest quality education possible at the very best financial value will always be a top priority at WVU Parkersburg,” President Dr. Chris Gilmer said. “We are honored and pleased to be recognized as the most affordable in West Virginia, and we remind the community that we are also highly rated for the quality of our programs.”

WVU Parkersburg offers in-state and out-of-state tuition below the national average, and over 86% of students have graduated debt-free with the help of financial aid, grants, and scholarships. Additionally, the university’s tuition charges are capped, so any credits taken in excess of 12 credit hours per semester are offered at no additional charge.

The Bachelor of Applied Science in Nursing; Certificate, Associate, and Bachelor of Applied Science in Child Development; and Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervisory Management are entirely online programs. All students, no matter where they live, receive in-state tuition when pursuing these degree programs.

Also, WVU Parkersburg’s Early College program allows high school students to take college credits at a reduced rate of $150 per course. Students have the potential to graduate high school with a certificate or associate degree. Therefore, students and parents can save up to $23,760 in tuition by enrolling in Early College.

Visit wvup.edu/future-students or call 304.424.8310 to view WVU Parkersburg’s majors, cost and aid, and other services. For information and registration regarding Early College, visit wvup.edu/earlycollege or call 304.424.8209.

Parkersburg, W.Va. (Sept. 3, 2020) – West Virginia University at Parkersburg is pleased to announce its President’s and Dean’s scholars for the summer 2020 semester.

President’s Scholars
Students on the President’s List maintained a 4.0 grade point average while earning 12 or more hours of college credit. The scholars include:

JACKSON COUNTY – Cottageville: Tyler Hill;

Millwood: Devin Haid;

Ripley: Casey Edwards;

PLEASANTS COUNTY – St. Marys: Colton Barnhart; Richard Burkhammer; Dylan Fitzsimmons; Mallory Webb;

WIRT COUNTY – Elizabeth: Kaitlyn Frazier;

Leroy: Aarin Cale;

Palestine: Stacey Wyer;

WOOD COUNTY – Parkersburg: Steven Marshall; Glen McGee; Cody Watkins;

Washington: LaDawn Joy;

OHIO – Marietta: Majeda Al Waked; Kelsie Ross.

Dean’s Scholars
Students named to the Dean’s List maintained a 3.5 grade point average while earning six or more hours of college credit. The scholars include:

BERKELEY COUNTY – Martinsburg: Judy Courtney;

CABELL COUNTY – Culloden: Breanna Akers;

CLAY COUNTY – Maysel: Heather Dawson;

DODDRIDGE COUNTY – Troy: Curtis Sleeth;

JACKSON COUNTY – Given: Brandon Cochran; Catherine Shouldis;

Kenna: Kenzie Crowder; Joseph Wortham

Leroy: Elizabeth Crihfield;

Mount Alto: Meredith McHugh;

Ravenswood: Leanna Amos; Allie Barton; Caylee Carmichael; Jacob Graham; Aubrey Nichols; Russell Nichols; Patricia O’Neil;

Ripley: James Dobbs; Joely Good; Nisha Holley; Jonathan Jones; Kevin Renforth;

Sandyville: Adriana Miller; Alexandra Miller; David Smith;

KANAWHA COUNTY – Charleston: Tabitha Guinn; Kevin Lynch; Courtney Mongold; Raul Olivares; Jacqueline Pring; Rebecca Sheppard; Anetria Stewart;

South Charleston: Candace Morgan;

LINCOLN COUNTY – Branchland: Ashley Spence;

MASON COUNTY – Leon: Emily Keefer;

Mason: Joshua Petry;

New Haven: Lauryn Fields;

Point Pleasant: Kinneson Leslie;

MINGO COUNTY – Delbarton: Carl Dempsey;

PLEASANTS COUNTY – Belmont: Alexis Carder; Michelle Neff;

St. Marys: Isabella Davis; Jacob Elder; Lara Fetty; Cari Weekley;

Waverly: Melissa Parsons; William Riddle;

PRESTON COUNTY – Bruceton Mills: Ashlynn Phillips;

PUTNAM COUNTY – Eleanor: Lindsey Pullin;

RALEIGH COUNTY – Crab Orchard: Shawna Hopkins;

RITCHIE COUNTY – Cairo: Fallyn Buffington;

Ellenboro: Morgan Reilly;

Smithville: Brianna Luther;

ROANE COUNTY – Gandeeville: Stacey Miller;

Reedy: Holly Terrell;

Spencer: Bethany Obrien; Madison Sutphin; Zachary Whitehouse;

Walton: Jamie Huffman;

WETZEL COUNTY – Paden City: Tanya Duncan;

WIRT COUNTY – Elizabeth: Victor Casenelli; Deborah Darling; Thomas Mullenix II; Mika Parsons; Shannon Stanley; Kaysi Trickett;

Palestine: Emily Shearlock; Brooklyn Smith;

WOOD COUNTY – Davisville: Ashleigh Carter; Autumn Corne; Melinda Digman;

Mineral Wells: Brooke Buchanan; Danielle Lockhart; Chelsy Martin; Marcus Sprague; Jennifer Ward;

Parkersburg: Lorrie Allman; Brian Belcher; Justin Blevins; Adam Colunga; Ali Cooper; Ashley Digman; Seneca Donahue; Brandy Edgar; Chelsea Ferguson; Michael Gaines; Evan Goudy; Toni Grogg; John Hickman; Shana Hogue; Kara Leisure; Ashley Lewis; Abbi Marshall; Travis Mcdonald; Mikala Miller; Allison Monroe; Rebecca Mullans; John O’Brien III; Christina Prunty; Candy Pyles; Bahrom Rahmatov; Jonathan Reynolds; Katherine Roberts; Chloe Salvatore; Jolene Sink; Kaci Sink; Braden Starcher; Taylor Stoneking; Madison Suszek; Robert Taylor; Alexandra Tennant; Gary Thompson; Danielle Toothman; Sherree Townsend; Adam Wilson;

Vienna: Dawson Cyran; Eryn Gray; Remington Hitchcock; Junaid Jamshaid; Elizabeth Malm; Sloane Miller; Uzoaru Nkpa; Teresa Ohrn; Nathan Settle; Julia Somerville; Audrey Ungar; Jia Bao Zhao;

Walker: Derek Ballengee; Tina Knopp; Mariah Stansberry;

Washington: Asia Brady; Melissa Dailey; Madison Dye; Trace Elder; Heather Lawson; Javier Santelices; Alex Saunders; Robert Shank; Amanda Stout;

Waverly: Meredith Davis; Amber Ward;

Williamstown: Kendra Allen; Tressa Burton; Allison Hurst; Ivy Linger; Curtis Mayo; Elijah McIntyre; Allyson Pickering; Kevin Townsend; Bailee Westbrook;

CALIFORNIA – Victorville: Jaylene Barrueta;

FLORIDA – Palm City: Cortney Gramenz;

Port St. Lucie: Jessica Catter-Gomez;

OHIO – Belpre: Dillon Blair; Rebecca Garrett; Kalei Knick; Austin Spencer; Kimberly Weiner;

Fleming: Matthew Stuckert;

Little Hocking: Christine Berg; Chance Weihl;

Marietta: Jessica Arnold; Derek Duckworth; Brian Flinn; Bryce Gilbert; Emily Hinton; Megan Ludwig; Jared Smith; Lacey Wilson;

Syracuse: Christine Morgan;

Woodsfield: Jordan Smith;

VIRGINIA – Maurertown: Mary Moats.

Parkersburg, W.Va. (Sept. 3, 2020) – West Virginia University at Parkersburg awarded certificates, associate and bachelor’s degrees to August 2020 graduates.

Graduates who attained a 3.50 to 4.00 grade point average (GPA) earned academic honors, as follows: 3.50-3.749, Cum Laude; 3.75-3.99, Magna Cum Laude; and 4.0, Summa Cum Laude. The August WVU Parkersburg graduates include:

CALHOUN COUNTY – Arnoldsburg: Mackenzie Holbert, AAS, Business Administration;

JACKSON COUNTY – Given: Catherine Shouldis, BS, Business Administration, Cum Laude;

Millwood: Sandy Simmons, AAS, BOG;

Mount Alto: Meredith McHugh, CAS, Patient Care Technician, Cum Laude;

Ravenswood: Samantha Casto, CAS, Child Development; Aubrey Nichols, AA, General Education, Cum Laude; Russell Nichols, AAS, BOG; Kaitlin Thompson, AAS, Child Development; Anthony Vespucci, AA, General Education, Cum Laude;

Ripley: Tyler Harmon, AAS, Multi-Craft Technology; Katherine Simmons, BS, Nursing, Cum Laude;

KANAWHA COUNTY – Charleston: Kevin Lynch, RBA, Cum Laude;

MARION COUNTY – Fairmont: Amanda Ludwick, AAS, BOG;

NICHOLAS COUNTY – Dixie: Donna Nelson, BS, Nursing;

PLEASANTS COUNTY – St. Marys: Robert Bills II, RBA;

Waverly: William Riddle, AAS, Welding Technology;

RITCHIE COUNTY – Harrisville: Miguelina Mcmichael, AAS, BOG;

Pennsboro: Robert Hoffman, AAS, Criminal Justice;

Smithville: Jamie Frymier, BAS, Criminal Justice;

ROANE COUNTY – Reedy: Holly Terrell, AAS, Business Administration;

Spencer: Barbara Smith, RBA; Madison Sutphin, RBA, Magna Cum Laude;

WETZEL COUNTY – Pine Grove: Kimberly Campbell, BS, Nursing, Cum Laude;

WIRT COUNTY – Elizabeth: Jason Hopkins, AS, Business Administration; Thomas Mullenix II, BAS, Business Administration, Cum Laude;

Palestine: Vanessa Duffield, BS, Nursing; Kaitlyn Lockney, RBA;

WOOD COUNTY – Davisville: Stephanie DeBerry, BS, Nursing;

Mineral Wells: Brooke Buchanan, AAS, Strategic Communication, Magna Cum Laude; Dylan Morgan, AA, General Education;

Parkersburg: Makenzie Allman, CAS, Criminal Justice; Bre Blackwell, RBA; Miranda Buffington, BAS, Business Administration; Rachel Cunningham, BS, Nursing; Casey Daggett, BS, Business Administration; Emily Hess, CAS, Patient Care Technician; Julia Moore, RBA; Nicole Raber, RBA; Marlee Sexton, RBA; Taylor Stoneking, AAS, BOG; Kelly Straley, CAS, Business Administration; Kailynn Taylor, AAS, Business Administration; Jordan Watson, BS, Nursing, Cum Laude; Adam Wilson, BS, Business Administration; Alisen Wilson, BS, Nursing;

Vienna: Hunter Ackerman, AAS, Business Administration, Cum Laude; Julia Blair, BAS, Criminal Justice, Magna Cum Laude; Angela Diehl, BS, Nursing; Daniel Miller, AS, General Education; Tiffani Walters, BS, Nursing;

Washington: Amy Dean, BS, Nursing; Alex Saunders, AS, Business Administration; Jacob Wilcox, AAS, Computer & Information Technology;

Waverly: Shannon O’Dell, AAS, Strategic Communication;

Williamstown: Allyson Pickering, RBA; Yurgita Vaidya, BS, Nursing, Magna Cum Laude; Jessika Walters, RBA, and AA, General Education; Bailee Westbrook, AAS, BOG;

OHIO – Belpre: Rebecca Garrett, CAS, Patient Care Technician, Magna Cum Laude; Kimberly Weiner, AAS, BOG;

Marietta: Lacey Wilson, RBA;

Pickerington: James Garrett IV, AAS, Occupational Development, Cum Laude;

Woodsfield: Jordan Smith, AAS, BOG;

VIRGINIA – Salem: Courtney Shaffer, BS, Business Administration.

Parkersburg, W.Va. (September 2, 2020) –WVU Parkersburg announces a significant enrollment increase in new students for fall 2020 and expects when final numbers are tallied to report level enrollment overall for the current semester.

“In the midst of a pandemic, I am delighted to be able to say that we are meeting so many of our enrollment goals for the fall semester at WVU Parkersburg,” President Chris Gilmer said. “While many colleges across the nation are struggling with significant declines in students, we have taken every step possible to keep our students safe, to encourage returning students to stay with us, and to welcome a large class of new students.”

Enrollment of traditional college students, currently 102.8% of last year’s total, shows efforts not only to retain students, but also to attract new students. New student totals are currently up 24% for fall 2020.

“The recruitment staff played a vital role in increasing the new student enrollment numbers,” Vice President of Enrollment Management Steven Smith said. “Prior to the pandemic, we were very intentional about increasing the number of applicants and cultivating that population to ensure enrollment growth.”

Continuing traditional student enrollment is currently up 1%, further showing an effort to retain students despite the pandemic. Final summer 2020 enrollment also showed a 10% increase over summer 2019. WVU Parkersburg is offering most of its courses for the fall semester in a technology-enabled instructional environment. Still, about 25 percent of courses have some hands-on, face-to-face component. Those courses are primarily in technical programs such as welding, and for some science, healthcare, and education programs which have lab and field experiences. The university also opened Zoom rooms and computer labs for students, recognizing that access to Internet in rural areas is one of the primary challenges of virtual instruction. WVU Parkersburg adjusted expenditures to keep tuition at the same affordable level for the 2020-2021 academic year, declining to implement an approved 5% tuition increase.

“We recognize that we will lose some students after fall deregistration, a process which adjusts our rolls for non-payment, non-attendance, or other factors, but we are doing everything within our power to find a way to hold onto every student who wants to earn an education. These amazing enrollment numbers will change somewhat over the next few weeks, but I could not be prouder of our team for posting such strong numbers during the third week of fall classes,” Gilmer said.

One section of enrollment that is not yet calculated into fall totals is the early college/dual credit population. To assist parents in getting students registered for classes, a process that normally would have occurred in May, college staff spent 10 evenings at high schools and allowed parents to drive up to register their children for early college. While that was effective at bringing in over 550 students, more registrations are expected through personal telephone calls to parents.

“The efforts to enroll early college students who haven’t been on their high school campuses since March is a team approach for which many people are to be thanked,” Vice President of Institutional Advancement Torie Jackson said. “This collaboration with our local school districts to provide higher education opportunities to high school students is essential and must be continued, which is why WVU Parkersburg devotes extra energy to ensure its success.”

The dual credit/early college classes at area high schools begin Sept. 8. Registration is continuing for those students. WVU Parkersburg provides early college/dual credit classes at 10 area high schools and in two vocational-technical centers. Workforce development registration has also not been computed as part of these totals and is expected to add a significant number of additional students this fall.

Parkersburg, W.Va. (August 27, 2020) – WVU Parkersburg Instructor of English Danielle Kelly recently headlined the first Little Kanawha Reading series event for Fall 2020. Kelly presented fictional readings from her novel-in-progress “Walk Me Down to Jordan” and a brand-new short story “Map Back to You.”

The Little Kanawha Reading Series showcases a diversity of literary forms and voices, acknowledging and enriching Appalachia’s cultural heritage and the communities around the Little Kanawha River.

“The pieces I chose for the reading embrace the theme of strong women,” Kelly said. “All the pieces deal with narrators that ruminate, express, and display hidden, oftentimes subtle strength of women, which is a common occurrence in women in Appalachian culture.”

“Walk Me Down to Jordan” details the family structure in an Appalachian community and how the family members navigate their individual lives and face larger impacts on the family unit. The story is told in a multiple narrative structure with four family members telling their story.

Another piece Kelly presented appeared in the Women of Appalachia Project’s fifth volume entitled “Women Speak” which can be purchased at mountainstatepress.org/shop/women-speak/.

Aside from fiction, Kelly has also written and published creative non-fiction. Her essay “What to Do on a Day Like This” details the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting events and was nominated for the Pushcart Prize. The essay was originally published in the June 2016 issue of r.kv.r.y. quarterly literary journal and may be read at rkvryquarterly.com/what-to-do-on-a-day-like-this-by-danielle-kelly/.

“I enjoy writing because it allows for some flexibility and is all about letting the content dictate the form, so every piece is a process of discovery for the writer,” Kelly said. “I communicate the same philosophy with my students, that writing is messy and never truly complete, but we have to mine out the right ideas to find the gold amidst the dirt.”

Students, faculty, or staff interested in creative writing may contact danielle.kelly@wvup.edu. The WVU Parkersburg English Department re-established “The Poorhouse Rag,” the campus’ literary magazine, and looks to start a Creative Writing Club and offer creative writing classes to students.

To watch Kelly’s Little Kanawha Reading Series presentation, visit https://bit.ly/3kRU5vr.

Parkersburg, W.Va. (Aug. 26, 2020) – The West Virginia University at Parkersburg Board of Governors will hold a special meeting on Thursday, Aug. 27. Due to COVID-19, the members will not meet face-to-face. The meeting will take place at 10 a.m. via video conference.

For further details and instructions on how to attend the meeting, please contact Brady Whipkey, WVU Parkersburg chief of staff, at brady.whipkey@wvup.edu.

Visit wvup.edu/about/board-of-governors/agendas/ to view the complete agenda.

Parkersburg, W.Va. (August 12, 2020) – “The world can take away many things from you, but one thing it can never take away is your education. Once you earn it, it is yours forever. Each one of you is special, and we are so very proud of your determination to earn an education and a great career.”

West Virginia University at Parkersburg President Dr. Chris Gilmer recently addressed the college’s inaugural class of Ascend students during the program’s Summer Institute, offering words of advice and commending their academic drive as they begin the semester.

The Summer Institute, held over the course of two days and four sessions to accommodate for public health and safety guidelines, served as an orientation for 56 individuals participating in Ascend.

Ascend (Accelerating Student Completion: Encouraging New Dreams) was created to help more students earn certificate and associate degrees within three years by increasing financial, academic and personal supports. Funded by a $1.7 million, five-year grant from Arnold Ventures, Ascend is modeled after the Accelerated Studies in Associate Programs (ASAP) at City University of New York’s (CUNY) colleges. WVU Parkersburg is one of only two colleges chosen by the Arnold Foundation for financial support this year.

“There is no better time, in recent memory, for WVU Parkersburg to launch this excellent program and welcome the first class of Ascend students,” WVU Parkersburg Provost Dr. Chad Crumbaker said. “The program is uniquely designed to individually support and benefit students in every way possible to ensure successful and on-time completion of their degrees. It was my pleasure to meet our Ascend students and I could sense their excitement about starting the school year and being a part of such a valuable and enriching program.”

During the event, students met with Ascend staff and faculty who offered information about special class registration options, career assistance, tutoring, tools to be successful in the classroom and more.

At the conclusion of the Summer Institute, students were formally recognized for their admission into the program with a signing ceremony. A photo gallery of the signing ceremony can be found at wvup.edu/ascend.

“I am extremely pleased to welcome our first cohort of students into Ascend,” WVU Parkersburg Ascend Director Jennifer Forster said. “Our goal is for all students in the cohort to complete their certificate or associate degree within three years with the help of additional academic advising, tutoring and career guidance.”

WVU Parkersburg is pleased to announce its inaugural class of Ascend students:

Chad Albright
Savannah Anthony
Zachary Ball
Sydney Barker
Jenna Barnhart
Jakeb Bertram
Kylee Bethel
Brittany Brady
Julian Brady
Brian Buck
Samantha Chandler
Heavenly Chase
Julie Coberly
Hunter Coull
Isaac Cutright
Mattyson Darling
Ethan Drinkwater
Kaitlyn Fox
Brook Freeland
Caden Fryman
Addison Garner
Savannah Hedgepath
Karly Henderson
Adam Hill
Adam Hoschar
Logan Jackson
Natalie James
Robert Jarvis
Zachary LeClain
Stormie Mahone
Taylor Marks
Jasmine McClure
Travis McDonald
Sierra Mcelwain
Christopher Miller
Jessica Mosier
Kylie Myers
Teddi Northrop
Sydney Nuckolls
Brayden Pfaff
Nachelle Probst
Alexandra Queen
Katelynn Rhodes
Nevada Richards
Noah Richardson
Zachary Silvia
Nathaniel Simonton
Trinity Smith
Tanner Snodgrass
Amauri Tillman
Raynah Wagoner
Amber Ward
Jacob Watson
Levi Westfall
Ethan Wix
Brooke Young

Parkersburg, W.Va. (Aug. 11, 2020) – The West Virginia University at Parkersburg Board of Governors will meet Wednesday, Aug. 12. Due to COVID-19, the members will not meet face-to-face. The meeting will take place at 3:15 p.m. via video conference.

For further details and instructions on how to attend the meeting, please contact Brady Whipkey, WVU Parkersburg chief of staff, at brady.whipkey@wvup.edu.

Visit wvup.edu/about/board-of-governors/agendas/ to view the complete agenda.

Parkersburg, W.Va. (July 20, 2020) – WVU Parkersburg will operate in Fall 2020 with technology-enabled instruction, President Chris Gilmer announced on Friday, July 17.

“The bottom line is this:  I must live with my own conscience, and ultimately we can have no greater concern than the preservation of even a single human life,” Gilmer explained as he noted the decision could impact enrollment and have a short-term financial loss for the institution. 

Meetings with stakeholder groups on how to best implement technology-enabled instruction begins on Monday, July 20. “We will follow the leadership of faculty and students about the best ways to implement instruction,” Gilmer assured.

WVU Parkersburg will follow the leadership of staff and students about the best ways to serve the front-line needs of our students while keeping everyone safe.

WVU Parkersburg will make some exceptions for our technical programs such as welding, and for some of our science, healthcare, and education programs which have lab and field experiences.

WVU Parkersburg will reopen our computer labs on a limited basis because we recognize that access to Internet in rural areas is one of the primary challenges of virtual instruction.

WVU Parkersburg will continue our phased reopening of our facilities to register, advise, teach, and serve students, but in a slow and safe way emphasizing the mandatory wearing of face masks and social distancing.

To students, the college president offered assurance. “We will be here to ensure the best possible learning experience for you.”

To staff, the college president offered safety. “We will design our workspaces to provide you with the most safety possible.”

To faculty, the college president offered resources. “We will make our Zoom rooms and other tools you need to do your job available.”

And to parents, spouses,  and families, the college president made a promise. “Send us your loved ones as students for the fall semester, and we will do all within our power to keep them safe while we provide a quality education.” President Gilmer further explained his decision for a semester of technology-enabled instruction, “I can’t promise that I will keep the virus from coming to our campuses. No one can. But I can promise you this—my most solemn responsibility is to do all that I can toward that end, and this decision is a reflection of that promise. 

What does this mean for students? Some classes will still meet face-to-face, but most will use a virtual means to communicate. The methods will vary. Faculty will reach out to the students with more information. Students do not need to worry about changing their classes to online; all changes as a result of this announcement will be made for students. More information on a technology-enabled instruction for Fall 2020 will be posted on the college website as it becomes available. Students are encouraged to check their WVUP email accounts regularly and to find updates in the weekly Blue & Gold Post, a resource sent out by email.