Parkersburg, W.Va. (October 28, 2026) — The WVU Parkersburg Board of Governors met Tuesday, Oct. 27, to hear updates on workforce development, grant funding, campus improvements and continued enrollment growth as the college expands educational opportunities for students and the Mid-Ohio Valley.

President Dr. Torie Jackson opened the meeting with a message centered on reinvention, highlighting how WVU Parkersburg is building on its existing strengths, partnerships and resources to create new opportunities for students and the region.

“Reinvention doesn’t mean becoming a different institution. It means continually asking what more this institution can become for our students and for this region,” Jackson said.

Jackson highlighted the college’s growing national recognition, including recent opportunities to advocate for federal investment in community colleges in Washington, D.C., and share WVU Parkersburg’s incumbent worker training model with the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers in Washington state. The model, developed in the Mid-Ohio Valley, is contributing to national discussions about meeting the needs of employers and working adults.

Jackson also announced the completion of the college’s mobile welding trailer, which will expand access to hands-on training beyond the campus. The initiative aims to provide welding education to incarcerated individuals, helping them develop skills that can lead to employment after release.

During the Academic and Student Services Committee report, board member David Bowles highlighted the college’s emergency medical services program, led by program director Chad Knox. The program offers stackable credentials that allow students to advance from emergency medical technician training through advanced EMT and paramedic certifications to an associate degree in paramedic science.

Bowles discussed the program’s emphasis on realistic, scenario-based training that prepares students to respond to emergencies in unpredictable environments. Students have access to an ambulance donated by Jackson County and a simulated patient capable of displaying symptoms associated with medical emergencies.

“The goal is not simply to graduate someone who can pass the national registry, but to graduate someone we would want taking care of us or our family during the worst day of our lives,” Bowles said.

Vice President of Institutional Advancement Olivia Reeder also presented new branding initiatives for two campus spaces, introducing Route 47 Coffee and Bookstore and Cafe 61, designed to make both campus spaces more welcoming to the public. The names reflect the college’s location along Route 47 and its founding in 1961.

The initiative includes updated logos, merchandise and signage, with the goal of attracting more community members and potentially expanding catering and grab-and-go offerings.

Jackson also presented more than $11 million in active grants supporting workforce training, student services and campus improvements. Funding includes equipment for the Applied Technology Center through a partnership with BridgeValley, improvements to the Innovation & Technology Center in Vienna and support for new and expanding academic programs.

“Truth is, if we want to continue to climb with enrollment, we have to look at other populations of students because the number of students coming out of high schools is not the same as it once was,” Jackson said.

Board Chair Blaine Hess reported that WVU Parkersburg has achieved its 12th consecutive semester of enrollment growth, with fall headcount increasing 2% over the previous year.

The Board of Governors will next meet Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2027.