Center for Student Support Services

Mental Health Counseling

The mission of the Counselor is to provide crisis intervention and scheduled brief supportive/problem-solving counseling services to address emotionally distressed issues that are significantly interfering with a student’s ability to function. The Counselor also provides educational services in the form of workshops, seminars, lectures, and mini-presentations on topics related to mental well-being.

Resources

Crisis Intervention
Short-term Individual Counseling
Short-term Couples Counseling
Mental Health Referral Information
Mental Health Information
Problem Solving Sessions

Counseling

Alcohol & Drug Abuse Concerns
Anxiety and/or Depression
Self-confidence concerns
Stress Management
Coping with loss
Relationship concerns

Disability/Accessibility Services

Disability Services

The Office of Disability Services is committed to helping qualified students with disabilities achieve their academic goals by providing reasonable academic accommodations under appropriate circumstances. Appropriate accommodations are based upon both documentation of a disability and the significant functional limitations supported by diagnostic test data. Disability/Accessibility services are provided free of charge.

The following information is designed to help you to understand the policies and procedures related to obtaining disability-related accommodations at WVU Parkersburg. This information is meant to assist you in obtaining services that are available to all students at WVU Parkersburg.

All current, incoming, or transfer students, in person, must:

Schedule an initial interview with a counselor to register with the Center for Student Support Services (Room 2210B) – (304) 424-8378
Provide documentation of your disability that meets WVU Parkersburg criteria for obtaining disability-related academic accommodations
Request services on a semester-by-semester basis

Moving from High School to College

Students having received disability-related accommodations in secondary schools will find important differences as they continue in higher education. Being aware of these differences can make the transition easier. Among the differences are:

Once a student reaches the age of 18, they will need to give written consent to the Office of Disability Services for any kind of parental involvement. Even if parents are assuming the financial responsibility for a student’s education, this release is still necessary.
Secondary schools may have provided for the financial cost of securing necessary documentation of a disability. In higher education, that cost is the responsibility of the student.
The length of time documentation is valid is substantially different in higher education.
Some types of accommodations, such as study guides, that are often used in secondary education are not available at the college or university level.
The amount and type of documentation that will be needed may be different between secondary and higher education. More detailed information about differences may be found at: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/transition.html

Assistive Technology and Services

The Office of Disability Services at West Virginia University at Parkersburg offers an array of assistive technology (AT) and services for student use or accommodation need. The Center for Student Support Services is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday; with the exception of official college holidays and closings, as well as other specified times throughout the year.

Assistive technologies available for use through the Office of Disability Services include:

JAWS (Job Access With Speech)

JAWS is the most powerful screen reader and uses an integrated voice synthesizer and your computer’s soundcard to output the content of your computer screen to speakers. More information about JAWS can be found here: http://www.freedomscientific.com/Products/Blindness/JAWS

Kurzweil

Kurzweil provides both audible and visual accessibility to word documents and web pages. The company is recognized as the leading developer of reading technology for people with learning difficulties and those who are blind or visually impaired. More information on Kurzweil can be found here: https://www.kurzweiledu.com/default.html

ZoomText

ZoomText, the world’s leading low-vision solution, is available as a screen magnifier or integrated magnifier/reader. With magnification up to 16x, ZoomText enlarges and enhances everything on the screen, making all your applications easy to see and use. More information on ZoomText can be found here: http://www.aisquared.com/zoomtext

FM Systems

FM systems work like small radio transmitters and receivers. A parent or teacher wears the FM transmitter and microphone. The receiver picks up the signal from the microphone and routes it to a personal hearing aid, cochlear implant processor, or other device.

UBI Duo

UBI Duo is an electronic communication device used by individuals with hearing impairments to enable instant communication.

Sorenson Video Relay Service (SVRS)

SVRS is a free, 24-hour service that enables users to place and receive calls through a professional American Sign Language interpreter via a videophone and high-speed internet connection. The service is available in the Library Room (Room 1332). Access after normal business hours is accomplished with the assistance of Campus Security.

Enlarge Keyboards

Scanners

Text in Alternative Formats

Riverhawk Food Pantry

The Riverhawk Food Pantry is open to all active WVU Parkersburg students.

Life is full of stressors. Work, school, family, and the rising cost of living conspire to leave you feeling as if barriers stand in your way at every turn. Every day seems to bring one more thing to worry about. Food insecurity doesn’t need to be one of those worries.

The Center for Student Support Services recognizes that hunger and food insecurity are problems in our society, and no student performs at their best if they are hungry. Poor nutrition – quantity over quality – can also interfere with a person’s mental health and ability to absorb new knowledge.

WVU Parkersburg’s Riverhawk Food pantry is available to all active members of our college community at the Parkersburg and Jackson County campuses. The Pantry features non-perishable foods and personal hygiene items. When adequate funding is present, perishable foods (butter, eggs, milk, bread) may be available in customizable orders.

Requests for the Food Pantry are confidential, and proof of income is never required to receive assistance.

To learn more about the Riverhawk Food Pantry and/or apply for assistance, call the Center for Student Support Services at 304-424-8378. Our office hours are Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Community Services

Child Care

Choices Child Care Resource & Referral

This agency assists parents, guardians and early child care providers in Wood, Pleasants, Ritchie, Wirt, Calhoun, Gilmer, Harrison and Doddridge counties with the cost of child care (family child care providers, family child care facilities and child care centers).

Food

Food Stamps/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

SNAP is a monthly benefit program that aids eligible households to buy food (this excludes household items, grooming products, tobacco, alcohol products, pet food, etc.). Eligibility to receive benefits is based on household size, income, assets and some household expenses.

Health Care

Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department Dental Assistance

The Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department offers oral health assistance in the forms of a dental clinic for children ages 1-5 who have never been to the dentist and the Smiles for Life dental program. Smiles for Life is a dental screening, hygiene and referral program that is open to low-income adults and children with WV Medicaid/CHIP and who meet income guidelines.

Medicaid

Medicaid and CHIP provide health insurance to eligible low-income adults and children. The West Virginia Bureau for Medical Services can direct you in applying for Medicaid, CHIP and other Department of Health & Human Resources programs.

Housing

Parkersburg Housing Authority

The Parkersburg Housing Authority assists low-income families, the elderly and disabled with affordable housing opportunities and paying their monthly rent through the Rental Voucher program. This program administers aid to Wood, Pleasants, Tyler, Doddridge, Wirt, Wetzel, Ritchie and Marshall counties.

West Virginia’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program

TANF

West Virginia's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program, also called WV WORKS, assists financially dependent and at-risk families to become self-supporting and self-sufficient. This program also provides monthly cash assistance to eligible families.

Veterans Resources

The Veterans Resource Center (VRC) of West Virginia University at Parkersburg recognizes the service our veteran students have given to our country and the sacrifices made in the process. It is our goal to provide a learning environment that conveys the college’s appreciation and offers the tools and services necessary for veterans to achieve academic success. Over 200 veterans and dependents are currently taking advantage of the many degree certificates, associate and bachelor degrees, and other classes and programs to further their academic and professional interests.

Visit our Veterans Resource page for more information here.