RIPLEY, W.Va. (WV News) — The new sign recently installed on the building is only the beginning of the changes planned for West Virginia University at Parkersburg’s (WVUP) Jackson County Center.
In October, the WVUP Board of Governors approved a $450,000 investment proposed for the Jackson County location by President Dr. Torie Jackson.
The result of this commitment of funds to the campus will be a renovation that will allow, for the first time in many years, two full degrees to be earned locally.
“This has not been the reality here for a long time,” Dr. Jackson said. “I am very pleased that we will be able to offer that option soon.”
Dr. Jackson explained that being able to respond to the changing needs of the area is one of the strengths of a community and technical college. That response for the Jackson County Center will see the establishment of two new Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees.
“After discussion with area industries, including Constellium and incoming companies such as TIMET in this county and Nucor in Mason County, we were able to adjust our focus for the Jackson location,” Dr. Jackson said.
The new AAS degrees will be for advanced manufacturing technology and multi-craft technology electrical maintenance. The degrees can be obtained by taking all the classes on the Jackosn campus.
The first year of an AAS degree in reliability and maintenance technology will be offered there as well.
The second year would shift to the main campus at Parkersburg.
“The second year would involve welding,” Dr. Jackson said. “Our welding lab located at the main campus is the hands-on component of the degree.”
One of the companies has been in a partnership with the college for the past four years. Constellium Rolled Products, located in Millwood, offers scholarships to several students, mainly in Jackson, Mason, Roane and Wirt Counties. In return, the graduates agree to work and continue their training with the company for at least three years.
“This is a prime example of how collaboration can be highly successful,” Dr. Jackson said.
Dr. Jackson said WVUP offers many degrees that have job opportunities attached to them.
“Our nursing program offers students the chance to sign with WVU Medicine or Marietta Memorial Hospital and have their degrees financed,” she said. “We also have a very strong education degree that sees many of our students employed in the mid-Ohio Valley region.”
All of these additions to Jackson County’s campus will mean some dramatic renovations to the building.
The entire first floor will be turned into the Applied Technology Center.
“The architectural firm Pickering Associates has been awarded the contract,” Dr. Jackson said. “There will be walls removed, a garage door installed, a robotics center added and so much more. We believe the money allotted will fully cover the renovation.”
The college is seeking funding for the machinery and equipment needed to fulfill the degrees.
“We are confident that we will be able to fully equip this facility with whatever is needed,” Dr. Jackson said. “Ultimately, this is estimated to be a $2 million investment.”
Perhaps the most difficult challenge will be finding instructors. While an education diploma is not a requirement, expertise in the field to be taught is mandatory, including a degree.
“The problem is they can make higher salaries working in their fields,” Dean of Workforce and Economic
Development Melanie Wilson said. “But this is an excellent opportunity for retirees, giving them a chance to share their knowledge and help develop skilled workers in their own career fields.”
For both Dr. Jackson and Dean Wilson, the most exciting part of this new venture is the employment opportunities for the graduates of the two-year programs.
“We have developed these courses so that TIMET, Our Next Energy, Nucor and Berkshire Hathaway will have a workforce available to them,” Dr. Jackson said. “This is an incredible chance for these students and we feel will be a great benefit to Jackson County.”
General education classes will still be offered on the second floor of the facility.
“The problem has been that we only offered the basics here and then students would have to shift up to the main campus,” Dr. Jackson said. “The Jackson County Center has lost money for the past several years. We realized that we had to invest here in the best way to make an impact on the lives and livelihoods of people in this area. This new technical center will do just that.”
Not just those who have already graduated be able to take these classes. The college will be partnering with Jackson County schools to allow students to take career and technical education classes in these fields in their junior and senior years.
“If they complete a year of the degree while they’re still in high school, they will only have one more year and they’re ready for the workforce,” Dr. Jackosn said. “That means at the age of 19 they can be fully employed in a good job.”
After being named interim president of the college in June 2022, Dr. Jackson was hired for the permanent position in July 2023.
“We have seen an increase in enrollment in the past couple of years,” she said. “That has not been true for students taking classes here at the local campus. We knew we needed to make a change here and this is an exciting one. We also will refresh the outside of the building with new siding and windows.”
The construction will begin in February with classes being offered in the 2024 fall semester.
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