(March 26, 2020) – West Virginia University at Parkersburg is using its unique resources to find solutions to help with shortages our local health care facilities are facing during the COVID-19 crisis.

Jeff Matheny, WVU Parkersburg Board of Governor’s member and CEO of Physician’s Business Office, recently contacted the WVU Parkersburg’s Workforce and Economic Development Division (WED) Executive Director Michele Wilson to see how WED could use their onsite makerspace to help provide additional face shields to our health care community.

“I had been following the news on the COVID-19 response from hospitals and health care facilities around the country when I saw an article talking about shortages of personal protective equipment because of the huge demand,” said Matheny. “The article described a process that had been developed in Boston to utilize 3D printers to produce face shields. Once I forwarded this information to Michele, her team jumped in and produced a prototype very quickly. After showing what had been produced to people working in health care settings locally, they confirmed the need and were excited to have something to protect the staff who might be exposed to the virus.”

Facing the challenge of producing protective face shields as quickly as possible, Logan Mace, WVU Parkersburg Entrepreneur Center project coordinator, immediately started researching potential solutions. He found that the online maker community had already developed great designs that the college’s makerspace would be able to fabricate via 3D printers and a laser cutter. A protype was created and shared with Matheny, who then asked the makerspace to create 100 face shields as quickly as possible for distribution to local hospitals, physicians’ offices and health care centers later this week.

“Our institution, and our division in particular, has always searched for ways we can give back to the community and help find solutions to the problems business and industry face,” said Wilson. “We are very happy we can use the resources we have, which are normally open to the public to use, to do our part in helping keep our doctors and health care providers safe.”

Other community partners have since become involved in the project. When local philanthropist Tres Ross of the Ross Foundation became aware of what we were doing, he called upon two other local makerspaces – the Epicenter in Marietta and the Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg – to help as well. Ben Shuman, executive director for the Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg, ordered the raw materials and Brad Hemmerly, Epicenter Makerspace coordinator, is picking them up in Columbus, Ohio. The Ross Foundation is providing a $5,000 grant for the materials. Woodcraft Supply is also providing more than 650 masks and shields to local health care workers. The hope is that between all of the community partners thousands of face shields will continue to be made and distributed to area medical workers.

WVU Parkersburg’s WED is planning to virtually train other makerspace locations throughout the state on how to create these masks for distribution. The West Virginia National Guard is also collecting a prototype to test it for durability and protection capabilities.

Parkersburg, W.Va. (March 23, 2020) – In response to the continued threat of COVID-19, West Virginia University at Parkersburg is closing all buildings owned by the college, both in Parkersburg and in Ripley, effective Monday, March 23, at the close of business until further notice.

President Chris Gilmer announced today that all instruction and business functions of the college are moving immediately online with all offices operating remotely beginning Tuesday, March 24.

“It is our great hope that we will be able to come back to face-to-face operations as soon as possible,” said Gilmer. “We will be monitoring the situation continuously and making appropriate announcements.”

As announced last week, spring break has been extended on both WVU Parkersburg campuses through Sunday, March 29. Classes will resume in a fully alternate, non-face-to-face format on Monday, March 30.

The college will continue to make updates to the campus website to notify students, faculty and staff. The web link is www.wvup.edu/coronavirus.

(March 17, 2020) – Spring break will be extended for one week for students at West Virginia University at Parkersburg. President Chris Gilmer announced on Tuesday, March 17, that spring break is extended on both campuses through Sunday, March 29. Classes will resume in a fully alternate, non-face-to-face format on Monday, March 30.

The college president also closed the campuses – both Parkersburg and the Jackson County Center – to the general public. Both campuses are open to students, faculty and staff only. Members of the general public are asked to transact business by telephone or through technological means. This will include requesting admission to the university, registering for classes, getting advised, paying bills, and other necessary functions. A link will be available on the college’s website to allow students to access these functions in a succinct online location. Students are also encouraged to call 304-424-8310 to talk to the admissions staff.

“The university recognizes that this decision will create a hardship for some faculty members, some students, and the public. We deeply regret any inconvenience; however, the decision is judged essential toward the promotion of public health and is in keeping with prevailing national trends,” President Gilmer said. “We look forward to providing our usual excellent customer service when this crisis has passed.”

At present, the University hopes to resume face-to-face instruction on Monday, April 20, although this date will be evaluated regularly and could be extended.

Computer labs on both campuses will be open during regular hours, and the IT help desk will remain open, anticipating a higher volume of calls due to an increase in online instruction. Labs will be available for student and faculty use to complete instruction because the University recognizes that many students and some faculty members do not have reliable access to the Internet at home. Social distancing will be enforced in the labs.

“The goal is to protect the university’s employees and the public to the degree possible by enforcing social distancing,” President Gilmer said. The practice of social distancing is now in mandatory effect on both campuses. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention define social distancing as “remaining out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining distance (approximately six feet or two meters) from others when possible.”

The opportunity for most employees to work remotely will be phased in over the next few days.

The college will continue to make updates to the campus website to notify students, faculty and staff. The web link is https://www.wvup.edu/coronavirus/.

College wins gold, silver, bronze and merit awards for marketing and advertising work

(March 17, 2020) – The West Virginia University at Parkersburg Marketing & Communications team was honored with five awards in the 35^th annual Educational Advertising Awards competition, sponsored by the Higher Education Marketing Report.

This is the first year the college has been recognized for its marketing efforts by the largest educational advertising awards competition in the country.

WVU Parkersburg earned two gold awards in the Newspaper Advertising – Single Ad and Ad Series categories. The single ad “Start Sooner, Finish Faster” highlights the achievements of a football player who excelled on and off the field by earning college credits during high school. The “Come Join Us” ad series features students in well-known spots throughout the seven-county region served by WVU Parkersburg, such as North Bend State Park in Ritchie County, Fort Boreman in Wood County and the Little Sister oil well in Tyler County.

An ad series featuring students who attended rival high schools but then became best classmates at the college won a silver award in the Newspaper Advertising – Series category.

Bronze and merit awards in the Outdoor Advertising category were received for “Let Us Invest in You” and “Join Us” billboards showing students in the college’s Communication and Media Studies experiential learning program in scenic outdoor spots in Wood and surrounding counties. The students visited the communities as part of an assignment to examine the demographics and other characteristics of the target audiences in those areas for marketing research.

“Our team is innovative in both design and in approach to educational advertising,” said Dr. Torie Jackson, vice president for Institutional Advancement, WVU Parkersburg. “It is this initiative to pursue uncommon marketing techniques that allows WVU Parkersburg to make a prominent statement among the pages of newspapers, the sounds of airwaves, or the passing of billboards. It is an honor to work with such a talented team.”

This year, the Educational Advertising Awards received more than 2,350 entries from over 1,000 colleges, universities and secondary schools from all 50 states and several foreign countries.

Judges for the awards competition consisted of a national panel of higher education marketers, advertising creative directors, marketing and advertising professionals and the editorial board of the Higher Education Marketing Report.

A full list of Educational Advertising Awards winners can be found at educationaladvertisingawards.com.

The health and safety of our University communities is without exception my greatest concern and highest responsibility.

On Tuesday, March 10, 2020, I convened a town hall meeting on the Parkersburg Campus of West Virginia University at Parkersburg to provide current, medically-sound updates on the national spread of COVID-19 and its potential implications for the University and the communities it serves. The meeting was transmitted live to our campus in Jackson County and was available remotely to all members of the broader community. The panel consisted of medical and public health experts of the highest order so that our community would have access to the very best and most reliable information. About 75 community members participated, and the panelists answered every question that was asked.

This town hall meeting was held as part of our ongoing commitment to providing timely, thorough, and consistent communication to our students, faculty, staff, and friends of the University. Such communication will continue until the threat of the virus has passed. As the medical experts have told us, this situation changes very rapidly; therefore, the University will err on the side of caution and will continue to communicate with our stakeholders on a heightened basis.

We are in close communication with Chancellor Sarah Tucker and her leadership team, and Chancellor Tucker is in close communication with the Governor. I was recently updated that a State of Emergency has not been called in West Virginia, and no guidance has yet been provided on a statewide level about consideration of closing campuses or curtailing events. We will, of course, follow any statewide guidance that we receive. Unless and until such guidance is received, we will make the very best and most informed decisions that we can make on a local level.

To the degree that such transition is possible, I have instructed the Provost of WVU Parkersburg to begin making preparation to transition our face-to-face classes to online classes. I may make this decision to transition at a local level or state authorities may make it at a statewide level. Further, I am reviewing requests for out-of-state travel on a case-by-case basis, and am considering putting a complete halt on non-essential domestic travel. I have not yet taken that step, on advice of medical authorities who do not believe such a step is currently necessary. WVU Parkersburg is not aware of any University-sanctioned international travel recently undertaken or planned.

As always, I take the safety, security, and health of our community very seriously, and will work in consultation with our Board of Governors, local, state, and national authorities, and the management team of the University to do everything we can reasonably do, based on medical counsel received, to maintain a safe learning and working environment.

West Virginia University at Parkersburg will host a community forum on the coronavirus, COVID-19, tomorrow, Tuesday, March 10, at 12:15 p.m., in the college theater. The information session will provide the latest information from reputable medical sources about the international and national spread of the virus, how to best contain and prevent it, and steps the college and the communities it serves should take to prevent, prepare and react should there be confirmed cases in West Virginia.

The information session can also be watched online at www.wvup.edu/live.

Interested students, faculty, staff and community members are welcome to participate to hear the latest updates and ask questions.

The West Virginia University at Parkersburg Board of Governors will meet Wednesday, March 11. The meeting will take place at 3:15 p.m. in the student lounge of the WVU Parkersburg Jackson County Center.

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

March 6, 2020
Singers, songwriters, puzzle-solvers and instrumentalists – WVUP’s Got Talent showcased a variety of talents during its first year of competition. More than 20 West Virginia University at Parkersburg students, faculty, staff and alumni auditioned for the chance to compete at the grand finale, but only one took home the first-place title, grand prize and bragging rights.

Tim Bales, a student in the Associate of Applied Science in Drafting program, was named the first-ever WVUP’s Got Talent winner. In both the preliminary round of competition and grand finale, Bales sang an original song and played the guitar. Bales wrote “Tape Deck Apology” and “Allies” about his long-distance best friend and brother, respectively.

“I’ve always found that people are my biggest source of inspiration,” Bales said. “Powerful and moving stories, rare experiences, thought-provoking conversation – these are the things that make me want to write.”

Seven finalists performed at the WVUP’s Got Talent grand finale. Each finalist had to audition, as well as compete and win one of three preliminary rounds of competition by receiving the judges’ or people’s choice vote, to make it to the finale.

The seven finalists included: Tim Bales, Tyler Barnhart, Brandi Bush, Olivia Kinder, Eliza Lawrentz, Austin Grimmett and Ryan Manley.

David Traugh, a Parkersburg local and Emmy award-winning film and television composer, served as guest judge during the finale. Traugh is best known for his work on the music of “Wild Things” and “King of Queens.”

“We are thrilled with the response to this event from our campus community,” Samantha Suggs, Student Activities coordinator, said. “It has been wonderful to see so many young and talented people in the spotlight and we cannot wait for next year’s competition!”

As the winner, Bales received an overnight stay at the historic Blennerhassett Hotel, $100 spending card to the hotel restaurant and free tour with the hotel historian.

“I am still surprised that I won. I judge my art very harshly; it’s a habit a lot of musicians and artists fall into,” Bales said. “I was absolutely ready to cheer for whoever was about to win because I definitely didn’t think I would. I am very flattered and grateful for the support from the community. To be chosen as the first WVUP’s Got Talent winner using my original music is really moving.”

To watch the WVUP’s Got Talent preliminary rounds of competition and the grand finale, visit wvup.edu/talent.

March 3, 2020

West Virginia University at Parkersburg Ntiva Service Desk Academy student interns recently laid down their headsets to travel to Ntiva Headquarters in McLean, Va., to work side-by-side with employees from across the country.

Students Anthony Bowie, Justin Cronin, Jadon Satterfield and Mike Shotwell, attended the “All Hands” meeting with Service Desk Senior Manager Josh Strahler to discuss year-end financials and performance, as well as cast vision for the new year and company goals.

“For the interns, its an opportunity for them to see ‘who’ they work with; not only the people but the area and the office,” said Strahler. “It’s also a great equalizer. When they’re together with the rest of the group, they’re seen as equals, peers and friends.”

In addition to attending the “All Hands” meeting, the students gathered in Tysons, Va., for Ntiva’s annual holiday party. The team was treated to a night of food, prizes and the chance to meet their peers from different offices and areas of the country, including Chicago, New York and Washington, D.C.

The Ntiva Service Desk Academy opened six months ago in the WVU Parkersburg Caperton Center for Applied Technology, enabling students in the college’s Computer and Information Technology (CIT) Learn and Earn program to work remotely for the D.C.-based tech company while completing their associate degree. Students work in a live, fully-functional, professional IT service desk environment, working with customers on IT requests, technical issues and projects while earning $16 an hour and working up to 1,200 hours during the internship period.

“The interns have grown leaps and bounds over the last semester,” said Strahler. “I am absolutely blown away by their growth here both professionally and personally. Each one of the interns brings a unique skillset and personality to the table and its truly been an honor to work alongside them as they begin their careers in the IT industry.”

Looking to the future, Ntiva and WVU Parkersburg would like to expand the service desk academy to accept an additional eight to 12 learn and earn students.

To learn more about WVU Parkersburg’s Computer and Information Technology Learn and Earn program, visit wvup.edu/learnandearn.