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Higher Education News Clippings

Week of February 7, 2011

February 4, 2011

Copyright infringement still a problem at Marshall Marshall University was recently placed on a list of the top 25 universities receiving copyright infringement complaints from the Recording Industry Association of America. This is a serious problem facing the Marshall University Information Technology Council. Senior vice president for information technology Jan Fox, released an open letter to students on Jan. 28 explaining that "Federal law prohibits the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material over the internet under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) of 1998." Nothing has changed to lessen this mandate in recent years, and reports of instances of Internet piracy continue to appear in the news. The type of file sharing occurring on Marshall's campus is most commonly known as Peer-to-Peer file sharing. This is when students transfer a file that they have on their personal computer, such as a song or movie, to another person's computer through e-mail, flash drive or any other sharing method. According to U.S. Copyright Law and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, sharing digital copies of any type of media without explicit permission from the copyright holder is illegal. "Marshall University is being notified by organizations such as the RIAA, MPAA, Software Publishers Association, etc. These organizations have a legal obligation to protect the digital works of their clients. Marshall is notified when these organizations detect the unauthorized sharing of a copyrighted work," said Jon Cutler, chief information security officer for the Office of Information Technology. "When Marshall University receives this ‘Notice of Infringement', we are also legally obligated to identify the source of the infringement and prevent further unauthorized distribution. Over 800 infringement notices have been sent to Marshall in the past several years." Cutler goes on to explain that the MU office of IT does not identify the file sharing. The RIAA and MPAA monitor P2P file sharing networks to identify who is illegally sharing media and then alert Marshall to demand that the activity be stopped. The network IP addresses assigned to domain names of universities are public knowledge and it is not difficult to determine who is and is not breaking the law by monitoring P2P sessions. According to Marshall's copyright education website, some of the most common P2P programs used by students are Ares, Azureus, BitComet, BitLord, BitTornado, BitTorrent, FlashGet, Gnutella, KaZaA, LimeWire, Morpheus and uTorrent. As well as

being illegal, this technology makes the user too susceptible to viruses, spyware and exposure of personal information. When a student logs on to the MU network their username, the time, associated IP number and hardware address of the computer they are using is entered into the Marshall network logs. With this information the network IP address can be traced back to the associated user account. When P2P is identified by the RIAA or MPAA, then a complaint is sent to abuse@marshall.edu. According to the MU IT Council's Copyright Infringement Complaint Procedure, "When identified, the username of the individual associated with the computer that assigned the IP address during the complaint window of time will be entered in the ticket and transferred back to the Information Technology Service Desk. Upon receipt of the ticket the Information Technology Service Desk will use Banner to connect the username to a name and student id and attach contact information to the ticket." The Complaint Procedure also explains, "In the case of an abuse occurring on the Marshall University Network (MUNet), access to the MUNet by the device (workstation, laptop, smart phone, etc…) may be suspended pending adjudication. In the case of an abuse occurring over a virtual private network connection (VPN), access to MUNET will be limited by the username of the offending user. This includes but is not limited to access to the VPN service, the MU wireless network and wired connections in residence halls." Once the matter is resolved through Student Affairs, then the identified student will be required to pay a reconnection fee of either $50 or $100. However, if the student is notified by the RIAA, they are given 20 days to respond and settle. An early settlement can cost the student up to $3,000. For more information about Marshall's rules regarding illegal file sharing, log on to www.marshall.edu/it/copyright/index.html or contact the Marshall University Office of Information Technology.

February 4, 2011

Fairmont State Welcomes New Administration Member Folks over at Fairmont State University are welcoming a new member to their administrative staff. Dr. Kimberly Luse is the new Director of University Relations and Assistant to President Krepel. Luse has served in other administrative roles prior to Fairmont State University as the Executive Assistant to the President for Special Projects/Secretary to the Board of Regents at Northern Kentucky University since 2004. Luse says she played a central role in assuring that the responsibilities of the Office of the President were carried out effectively and efficiently while she was at Northern Kentucky University. "This position has been restructured to allow the person in this role to provide leadership for the university's intergovernmental relations and relationships with other postsecondary institutions and agencies", says Dr. Tom Krepel, President of Fairmont State University. As a leader in her field, Dr. Luse has also served as a conference chair for the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities; chair, board member and conference chair of the National Association of Presidential Assistants in Higher Education; executive committee of the Greater Cincinnati Consortium of Colleges and Universities; and delegate of the Council on Postsecondary Education. Luse earned her Ed.D. in Educational Foundations from the University of Cincinnati in 2002, and M.Ed. in Executive Human Resources and Development from Xavier University in 1998, a B.S. in Radiologic Technology from Northern Kentucky University in 1994 and an A.S. in Radiologic Technology from Northern Kentucky University in 1985. Luse is also a graduate of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Northern Kentucky program. Luse also adds that she has never felt more welcomed to a new area, until she came to Fairmont. She started her new position late last year.

February 4, 2011

Future Generations can Learn from Glenville State Project By Bray Cary There's an interesting project under way at Glenville State College. Students at the school are interviewing veterans as part of an oral history project, which they'll submit to the state archives. Preserving these stories is important. These men and women gave so much, and we need to make certain that we never forget what they went through. I think Errol Kennedy, a Vietnam veteran, put it best when he said his time in the service, "taught me to love my country. It taught me I'm proud to be an American." We're honored he would share that with us, and I hope future generations will look back and learn from the experience - and sacrifice - of all our veterans.

February 4, 2011

WVU asking for more time By The Associated Press WVU is working with state officials to extend the five-year deadline for "Bucks for Brains" fundraising through 2015. The West Virginia Research Trust Fund, often called "Bucks for Brains," is an endowment program created by state lawmakers in 2008 to boost research funding at Marshall University and WVU. It requires the state to match donor contributions dollar-for-dollar, providing up to $15 million for Marshall and $35 million for WVU. Each school had five years to raise its portion of the money, but WVU President James Clements said the national recession affected fundraising. WVU has requested more than $8.5 million in matching funds to date. But that's less than half of the $35 million required to generate a trust fund worth $70 million -- the maximum amount possible. "As soon as 'Bucks for Brains' came out, the economy turned and went south," Clements said recently. "I think some of our donors are really stepping back up, so we're asking for a little more time." Dave Miller, WVU's legislative liaison, said the university partnered with the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) and the governor's office to draft legislation that will extend the deadline by two years -- from March 8, 2013, to March 8, 2015. Bills were introduced recently in the House and Senate on behalf of acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin. "It's part of his overall education proposal," Tomblin's spokeswoman, Jacqueline Proctor, said. "He would like to make sure the funds are available through 2015. He thinks it's a very positive thing." HEPC vice chancellor for Science and Research Paul Hill said the two-year extension should help Marshall and WVU meet fundraising goals. He's noticed that both schools have already begun to report larger gifts on a more frequent basis.

"The pace has picked up," Hill said. "Two years should be more than enough 1/8time3/8 to raise the full amount." Miller said WVU will likely announce a "pretty good size" donation within the next couple months that will significantly boost the university's "Bucks for Brains" fundraising total. He declined to provide further details. Hill said Marshall has requested about $2.4 million in matching funds to date. According to information provided by spokeswoman Ginny Painter, Marshall raised more than $2.5 million through the end of 2010, but was not involved in drafting the proposed legislation. "We appreciate the legislature's commitment to ensuring the success of the research trust fund program," Painter said in an email. "Marshall University has not pursued legislative action to date regarding the trust fund. We would carefully examine any potential amendments to the trust fund legislation to determine the implications or opportunities they afford." House Bill 2578 and Senate Bill 239 have both been referred to education committees for review.

February 5, 2011

BOG: Get contract finalized By The Associated Press THE WVU Board of Governors will meet at 8:30 a.m. April 8 at Potomac State College of WVU in Keyser. A new contract for WVU President James Clements will soon be on its way to the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) for approval. WVU also is seeking approval of its largest request to date to match funds contributed to the West Virginia Research Trust Fund -- $7.5 million. The WVU Board of Governors approved a motion Friday, authorizing BOG chairwoman Carolyn Long to do whatever is necessary to complete a personnel action discussed during the board's executive session, including forwarding a resolution to HEPC and signing documents. Long said Clements gave her permission to reveal that the board was discussing renewing his contract, but she declined to provide further details. "It would be inappropriate for us to discuss anything else about that contract at this time because it is still a private personnel matter, and the HEPC has the authority to accept that or not accept that," Long said. "Until it is final, there will be no comment on what is included in that contract." Clements earns $450,000 a year under the terms of his current twoyear contract, which expires June 30. Long said Clements' new contract will be made public immediately after it's approved and signed. Clements did not attend the board meeting. Long said he left town early Thursday to be with his "gravely ill" mother, who died Friday. Research money The board unanimously approved a request during Friday's meeting for more than $7.5 million in matching funds for contributions to the West Virginia Research Trust Fund, often called "Bucks for Brains."

The endowment program was created by state lawmakers in 2008 to boost research funding at Marshall University and WVU. It requires the state to match donor contributions dollar for-dollar, providing up to $15 million for Marshall and $35 million for WVU. Including Friday's request, WVU has asked for more than $16 million in matching funds. The university's "Bucks for Brains" investments now amount to more than $32 million, including private contributions and state dollars. According to a WVU news release, the funding approved for a match Friday comes from 12 sources, including: Frederick P. and Joan C. Stamp Cancer Research Endowment -- $104,701 Michael Baker Corp. Endowment in Civil and Environmental Engineering -- $25,000 Dr. James P. Boland Department of Surgery Endowed Research Fund -- $18,801 James A. & Ruby Romano Department of Civil and Environment Engineering Endowment -- $17,187 Raymond Brooks Vanscoy Cancer Research Endowment -- $8,505 Grace C. Clements Speech Pathology and Audiology Research Endowment -- $5,000 James A. Kent Endowment for Biomedical Engineering -- $4,500 Bowlby Wood Science Graduate Research Fellowship -- $492 Badzek Family Endowment for Nursing Research -- $100 WVU officials said information about the three remaining donors and their contributions will be released later.

February 5, 2011

BOG OKs 2020 strategic plan By Cassie Shaner The WVU Board of Governors applauded the university’s 2020 strategic plan Friday, saying it will make WVU “a great university.” The board unanimously approved a motion endorsing the plan, which aims to enhance academics, global engagement, diversity and the quality of life for West Virginians statewide by elevating WVU’s national research status. An early version was presented to board members last summer. They had not seen the final document since it was submitted to WVU President James Clements on Dec. 17, however, and WVU officials summarized it during Friday’s meeting. “The earlier versions were kind of generic, and this [version] really reflects who we are,” said board member Ellen Cappellanti, who also asked about implementation. Strategic Planning Council chairman Nigel Clark, who serves on the board, said he’s working with WVU administrators to determine who’s responsible for each action item. They’ll find someone to coordinate broad initiatives for which no one is clearly responsible, and the provost and chancellor will oversee the implementation of the plan as a whole. He said the planning council will continue to meet and form smaller groups to address specific issues as necessary. “This has come a long way,” board member Thomas Clark said. “It is a doable strategic plan. The entire university, from classified staff to the president’s office, needs to embrace this plan. ... This will make West Virginia University a great university.” Clark urged WVU officials to do whatever it takes to realize the plan, even if it means asking the board for help. “We have resources,” Clark said. “We have influence. We know the faculty. We know politicians. We know business leaders. We know philanthropists, and I think we need to be called upon.” Also at Friday’s meeting:

The board approved the purchase of a 12,000-square-foot unit at Marina Tower, in the Wharf District, for $3.1 million. The property will provide office space for WVU’s Web, TV and Creative Services units, which must be moved from their existing location along Patteson Drive to build a new $18.8 million student health facility. Wheeling attorney William D. Wilmoth was sworn in by telephone as Ted Mattern’s replacement. Mattern resigned last month to serve as state superintendent of schools. Board member Thomas Flaherty was elected secretary, a post previously held by Mattern. Dave Miller, WVU’s legislative liaison, provided an update on legislative activity related to WVU. He said legislation has been introduced that would provide pay raises for employees, boost the number of annual pay periods and expand investment options. He also noted that the state’s higher education budget for the coming year looks good.

February 5, 2011

Sen. Brooks McCabe: W.Va. needs a School of Public Health CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The general health of our citizens is a real and expensive problem. West Virginia is being brought to its knees by the high cost of health care for its aging population, which is generally in poor health. The statistics speak for themselves with our high incidence of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, prescription drug abuse, and tooth decay and gum disease. Poor health statistics and associated health care costs divert funds needed to grow our economy and to educate our workforce. Year after year we have poured resources into healthcare, debated how to fund retiree health insurance, and spent hundreds of millions of dollars in our limited state budget dealing with the consequences of poor public health. We cannot afford the escalating costs of continuing what seem to be never-ending increases in chronic illnesses, premature deaths and unaffordable health care costs. These costs have the potential to bankrupt the state. Medicaid costs are overwhelming the state's budget. Other post employment benefits, especially retiree health care costs are threatening local, county and state budgets alike. This is in addition to the indirect costs to the state as a result of the effects of illness and disease on worker productivity. To significantly reduce these costs over the next five to ten years, West Virginia needs make a strategic investment in its future. It is the fiscally and ethically responsible thing to do. Our focus on the funding of health care is necessary and very appropriate. Yet, we need to focus on health and wellness to prevent chronic illness as well as doing a better job obtaining and using data to evaluate and influence cost-effective health policies and investments. Schools of Public Health do both. It is time to step up the effort to train our young people for careers in public health and place them in communities across West Virginia. West Virginia University's proposal to establish a School of Public Health is both timely and strategic if our state is to meet its full potential. Core elements in place A school of public health would educate professionals who understand how small community interventions can drive large improvements in health statistics. It would provide training to the next generation of public health professionals and to other health providers who need to understand data. It would design and rigorously test policies so that we know what works, and what does not. It would coordinate with state and local health officials to apply the knowledge that they have generated and to attract federal and private funding.

WVU already has in place the core elements of a school of public health. It offers both master's and PhD degrees in public health in the School of Medicine. Many of the courses are offered through extended learning programs allowing mid-career professionals from around the state to obtain advanced skills without leaving the workforce. Enrollment in existing public health programs at WVU is increasing rapidly. The master's program MPH has doubled enrollment since 2008. Within the confines of its four existing schools (medicine, pharmacy, nursing and dentistry), it competes for funded research, trains young professionals for good jobs, and influences thinking about how best to improve health in West Virginia and beyond. But it does all these things under a considerable handicap. The lack of an independent, accredited public health school means that WVU and our state are less competitive for many available sources of external funding. They are limited in their recruitment of top faculty and of students who want to make a difference in public health. The public health research base we need to make wise decisions is underdeveloped. West Virginia University can establish and maintain a school of public health that will have a strong statewide presence, expand opportunities for learning, and conduct research that will transform our communities and our lives. Self-supporting With a minimal investment today, we can create a school that will be self-supporting based on student tuition, external research funding and other revenue streams. The reason this is possible is that 80 percent of the minimum faculty positions already exist at WVU. Most of the facilities are in place in Morgantown and at the WVU Medical School campus in Charleston. A poll of WVU undergraduates revealed substantial interest in public health offerings -- and a willingness to pay a tuition premium for health programs. If state support could be provided over the first five years with the understanding that thereafter the WVU School of Public Health would be on its own financially, this could be a very successful strategic investment. It would allow for capturing tens of millions in federal research dollars, the education of health care professionals for our rural communities and the redefinition of public health and wellness in our state. Public health is a top priority in Washington, D.C., too. Schools of public health will be first in line to claim vital service and research dollars for their states. We must strategically allocate our resources. Let's not waste them, or this moment. We need a school of public health as soon as possible. It's not just good policy; it is a highly effective use of our limited dollars. Our health is our future.

February 6, 2011

Union pushes Gayle Manchin to recuse self CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - The head of a West Virginia teachers union wants former first lady Gayle Manchin to recuse herself when the state school board chooses a new superintendent. Manchin serves on the board, which is considering three candidates for the spot. One of them, Mark Manchin, is the cousin of Manchin's husband, U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin. WVEA President Dale Lee says that relationship raises a conflict of interest. Lee says school board members should err on the side of caution and recuse themselves in such situations. State Department of Education spokeswoman Liza Cordeiro says Manchin plans to participate because every board member wants the best person for the job.

February 6, 2011

WVU students dominate research day at the Capitol WVU was well-represented on Jan. 25 as almost half of those participating in the eighth annual Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol were Mountaineers. Fifteen institutions were represented at Undergraduate Research Day, which ran from 8 a.m. to noon in the Capitol Rotunda; 30 of the 67 students were from WVU. Undergraduate Research Day allowed students to present their discoveries in poster format and talk to legislators about their findings. The projects were original research and the posters have been designed for a general audience. Students mentored by faculty from the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources; the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design and the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences presented posters in the areas of animal science, plant science, biology, psychology, computer science and information technology, forensic science, physics, chemistry, biochemistry, sociology/social work, engineering, history, African studies, political science, English, environmental studies and geology. In addition to WVU, other institutions represented included Alderson-Broaddus College, Bluefield State College, Concord University, Fairmont State University, Glenville State College, Marshall University, NASA Langley Research Center, SGT Inc., University of Charleston, West Liberty University, West Virginia State University, West Virginia Wesleyan College, Wheeling Jesuit University and WVU Institute of Technology. “Research of the kind conducted by these students is the basis of our economic future and this event offers a great opportunity for members of the state Legislature to interact with students who will be the innovators of the future,” said Keith Garbutt, Eberly family professor and dean of WVU’s Honors College. “It also highlights the importance WVU places on the one-on-one academic activities that take place between students and faculty,” Garbutt, co-chair of the event’s organizational committee, said legislators have shown a lot of interest in the students and their projects in the previous years. “The students really appreciate the interest shown by members of the state Legislature.” Garbutt said. “Visits with the students have increased each year. We feel this is a clear indication of the interest legislators have in higher education in West Virginia.” The following is a list of WVU’s participants: Jordan Beilhart Alan M. Didion Erica Fitzsimmons Samantha Pareso, Savanna Tate and Erica McDermott Adil Moghal Andrew Craig Alan Campbell Andrea Labus Nicholas Mariani Garrett White Sarah Martinelli Adly Noore Grant Shulman Jennifer Wiegand Matthew S. Zitney Matthew Thompson Travis Corwell Sripadh Sharma Jamie A. Barr and Anand Narayanan Matthew Boots Ryan Daniel Coder Zachary Cohen Kristen M. Felice Steve Mandish and Grace Skaff Kaitlin Mock Byron Patterson

February 7, 2011

Big Hill to Climb for College Completion Efforts State Higher Education Chancellor Brian Noland says the numbers don't lie. Noland told members of the House of Delegates Finance Committee Monday afternoon there's lots of work to do to improve the state's going to college and college completion rates. Chancellor Noland says out of every 100 9th graders in West Virginia only 72 graduate from high school. He says of those, 43 go to college and of those only 17 graduate from college on time. The numbers cause Noland to conclude. "Not enough of our students graduate. Not enough of our students who enroll in our institutions receive degrees and unfortunately too many of those students borrow," Noland said. The latest statistics show 63 percent of college students in the state borrow an average of $4,000 a year to get through. Noland says it's very important to keep kids in college. He says if not, they leave school thousands of dollars in debt with nothing to show for it. The chancellor is leading a college completion task force in West Virginia. He says a recent study shows the state must produce 20,000 additional college degrees, certificates and credentials by 2018 to sustain the state economy. Noland also told committee members Monday under previously passed legislation, funding for the Promise Scholarship will remain the same next budget year and if lawmakers increase the needs-based grant program by $6 million it will have the same amount as Promise.

February 7, 2011

Board doesn’t control WVU coaches’ salaries MORGANTOWN - If you think West Virginia University football coaches' salaries are getting out of control, don't blame the institution's Board of Governors. "The only salary we actually approve is that of the president," board chairman Carolyn Long said in a telephone interview. "We do approve budgets of the university departments, which include the (individual employee) salaries for everybody. But we do not approve individual salaries." She said the Board of Governors has trust in President Jim Clements to determine salaries in the various departments. And members also have trust in Athletic Director Oliver Luck (a former B of G member) to set salaries for coaches. Dana Holgorsen, recently appointed football coach, has a six-year contract that could earn him more than $10 million, plus incentives. The 39-year-old newcomer will serve as offensive coordinator and "head coach in waiting" in 2011. And he is scheduled to take over the Mountaineer reins in 2012. That's when Bill Stewart, the current head coach, will step down. Stewart then will continue on the payroll for a 30-month non-coaching position and receive more than $2 million in payments. WVU also now is paying assistant coaches in football $250,000 annually, if not more for some. Don Nehlen, former WVU head coach, recalled recently that head coaches now are paid as much in four years as he got in his school-record 21 seasons (1980 -2000). The Hall of Famer remains the winningest mentor in WVU's 119-year football history. Long said, "Salaries of those in the athletic department are set by the athletic director and, of course, the president has approval also. "We are a governing board and not a managing board. So, therefore, it would be very difficult if we got into a situation where we started approving every salary increase, everything that happens in the athletic department, and those sort of things." She pointed out that the Board of Governors meets only twice a month. "To oversee the fiscal responsibility we certainly give budgets that we expect to be balanced for a university," she added.

Long believes that's an area the board shouldn't get into. "I'm sure our president trusts people (in each department) - and that includes athletics - to make changes," she continued. "And the president has that ability, of course. "I am not going to second-guess our athletic director. But I will tell you all the salaries you are talking about are all within the average for all institutions that we compete with and are playing against (in athletics). "I know some people have issues (with that). But I feel we have to be very supportive of our athletic director and athletic department."

February 7, 2011

Education Interests Sign MOU It's a team effort to help better educate West Virginia students. The West Virginia Department of Education and the state Higher Education Policy Commission signed a Memorandum of Understanding Monday at the state capitol. It combines the now separate tracking systems of the agencies into one. . The agreement creates e one data base that will link information from pre-K to post-secondary education. Acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin says the system will give educators, students, parents and lawmakers access to, "...constructive data that will enable them to enhance our education system." The system will have answers to basic information like what subjects students are excelling in, student migration patterns and what programs help college students finish their degrees and get employment. State Higher Education Chancellor Brian Noland say the system will help prepare students for college and once they get there, prepare them for life after school. "A recent study indicates that we need 20-thousand additional college graduates in the state by 2018 to sustain our state's workforce. The alignment of this database will allow us to make better decisions to meet that benchmark,” Noland said. The program has been four-years in the making. Former Gov. Joe Manchin set aside $5 million in federal stimulus funding to pay for the project. James Skidmore, the chancellor of the state Community and Technical College System, says the work they put into the program today will pay off in the future. "It will help us make decisions that will allow us to serve our students and get them into the type of programs that will lead to jobs,” Skidmore said. There's no time line on when the two system will merge. But Tomblin is urging the agencies to do so as quickly as possible."

February 7, 2011

MU officials keeping eye on Senate Bill 330 Measure would place tuition increase restrictions, increase investment power By Bill Rosenberger HUNTINGTON— A higher education bill that expands institutional flexibility, creates new personnel mandates and increases investment power for Marshall and West Virginia universities is once again moving through the West Virginia Legislature. Senate Bill 330, which was introduced Jan. 28 and sponsored by several members of the Senate Education Committee, is similar to last year’s Senate Bill 480. That bill cleared both the House and Senate in 2010 but was not signed into law because of a technicality. Similar hurdles are not expected this year for the bill, which includes capping tuition increases at 5 percent annually for Marshall and WVU and 3 percent for all other state institutions. Increases higher than those would have to go to the state’s Higher Education Policy Commission for approval. Marshall President Stephen Kopp said he has a favorable opinion of most of the bill, except for the limits on tuition. He said the boards of governors — w hich are appointed by the governor — b ring highly respectable professional track records from numerous fields and should be trusted to make the decision that is best for the university. “They’re not recommending it to gouge students,” Kopp said of increases. “They’re looking at the numbers and what’s feasible. I’m not sure what adding another layer of approval means to the state. “I think Marshall and WVU have shown fiscal restraint and not put the state at risks that have been seen nationwide,” he added. Kopp said this current year’s fiscal budget, which included no resident-student tuition increases at the request of former Gov. Joe Manchin, has only been manageable because of the record number of first-time, full-time freshmen. “If we had the same number of students (from 2009 to 2010) without a tuition increase, we’d be in some serious trouble,” Kopp said. HEPC Chancellor Brian Noland said the distinct difference is that Senate Bill 330 does allow both Marshall and WVU to seek tuition increases above 5 percent. The boards

would not be capped like the current statute is at 7.5 percent . Kopp said he would prefer the number be higher, closer to the current statute. Noland said the bill provides a Nov. 1 deadline to establish a tuition and fee policy that he said would lay out criteria for when a board of governors requests tuition increases above 3 percent or 5 percent. “A majority of presidents are receptive of what’s in Senate Bill 330,” Noland said when discussing the section about tuition increases. The bill also includes a request made by Marshall and WVU to increase the state allowance that their respective foundations can invest on their own. For Marshall, that means increasing from $18 million to $ 30 million. Kopp, noting better investment returns than the state by both Marshall and WVU during the past five years, said it opens up more opportunities “Investment returns create all sorts of possibilities,” Kopp said. “We’ve demonstrated we can manage and manage them well.” Sen. Bob Plymale, the Senate Education Committee chairman and lead sponsor of the bill, said including the larger investment caps makes good financial sense when those universities are realizing 8 percent return, compared to under 1 percent for the state. Inside SB 330 Despite some significant pieces of Senate Bill 330 that directly affects Marshall and WVU, the bill really deals with personnel and financial f lexibility. Plymale said it goes back to 2005 and the passage of Senate Bill 603. It gave Marshall and WVU the ability to do some things on their own, while also commissioning a study on personnel that was completed in 2009. That, he said, was at the heart of last year’s bill and remains so this year. The bill’s legislative summary states its purpose is to create the “FACTS for Higher Education,” which means establishing Fair, Accountable, Credible, Transparent and Systematic mechanisms to determine classification status and compensation for classified employees. That means mandating the funding of the classified salary schedule before any discretionary pay increases for faculty and nonclassified employees. Deadlines were set to meet those goals at 25 percent by 2012, 50 percent by 2013, 75 percent by 2014, and 100 percent by 2015. Kopp said he is fully in favor of doing so, noting that the Board of Governors approved a 25 percent addition to the base budget for the current fiscal year. But he also said the state must step in and assist institutions to meet such financial milestones.

The bill also would extend certain powers afforded to Marshall and WVU in 2005 to other state institutions but also place more responsibility with the state’s two largest institutions. Noland said a lot of the flexibility involved in the bill deals with the fiscal relationships between the institutions and the state, such as payroll and purchasing. “Flexibility is fine with me,” Marshall President Stephen Kopp said. “Some measures granted to Marshall and WVU were like a pilot project. It makes sense to offer the same flexibility measures.” Noland said the HEPC will still maintain some authority of the smaller schools’ boards of governors, while Marshall and WVU will continue to have a bit more freedom. Both universities would be held to higher standards in order to seek performance based funding. “For the governing boards of Marshall University and West Virginia University, the (HEPC) shall distribute incentive and performance-based funds and may review and comment upon the institutional operating budgets and capital budgets,” the bill states. Noland said all of higher education also will be charged with taking a closer look at graduation rates and setting goals and benchmarks. The bill states that the HEPC is in charge of crafting those policies within a specific time frame. In establishing the policy, HEPC is directed to look at peer institutions, differences among the institutional missions, strategies for promoting student access and consideration for out-of-state students. One piece of last year’s bill that did not make into the new version is the HEPC’ s ability to have a say in program management at Marshall and WVU. “I would like to see it just as it is in 45 other states, a role for boards such as the commission to play in program approval and review,” Noland said. In addition to Plymale and Cabell County Democrat Evan Jenkins, the bill also is being sponsored by five other Democratic members of the Senate Education Committee. They are vice chairman Erik Wells, Dan Foster, D. Richard Browning, Ron Stollings and Robert Beach.

February 7, 2011

WJAR President Clements’ Mother Passes Away Geraldine Grace Clements, mother of West Virginia University President James P. Clements, passed away Friday (Feb. 4) in Maryland after a battle with cancer. The family was called together Thursday to be with her and Dr. Clements issued this statement late Friday: "I am very thankful for the prayers and support of the University community," President Clements said. "Our family has been embraced by the University family since our arrival in West Virginia nearly two years ago. The outpouring of support during this very difficult period has been touching and is very much appreciated. My mom instilled in me the importance of a higher education and was so proud when my career led me here to West Virginia." A viewing will be held at the Haight Funeral Home, Route 32, in Eldersburg, Maryland from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 Monday. A small family service will be at Holy Family Catholic Church in Randallstown, Maryland Tuesday morning at 9. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to her favorite charity, the Grace Clements Speech Pathology and Audiology Research Endowment at WVU. Make checks payable to "WVUF/Grace Clements Research Fund," care of WVU Foundation. P.O. Box 1650 Morgantown, WV 26507.

February 7, 2011

W.Va. needs more college grads, higher-ed chief says By Phil Kabler CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Noting that West Virginia will need another 20,000 college graduates by 2018 just to keep the state economy at its current level, Higher Education Policy Commission Chancellor Brian Noland said state colleges and universities need to improve a graduation rate that is below 50 percent. Noland told members of the House Finance Committee that too many incoming freshmen drop out after a year or two with an average student loan debt of $4,600 per year. "They depart $9,000 in debt, with nothing to show for it," Noland said of students who drop out after two years of college. Currently, 48.5 percent of students who start at West Virginia's 11 four-year institutions graduate within six years. That number is buoyed by the state's largest school, West Virginia University, which graduates 58.8 percent within six years -- the only one of the 11 schools with a rate over 50 percent. Delegate Bill Anderson, R-Wood, asked if the solution is to raise admissions standards. A retired schoolteacher, Anderson said he knew of many students who weren't serious about academics in high school, even saying that they would really study once they got to college. "If we raised the quality of students coming in as freshmen, you'd have a better outcome," he said. But Noland said he didn't think that would work in a state where only about 59 percent of high school graduates enroll in college -- nearly 5 percent below the national average. "I don't feel we have enough room in West Virginia to raise our admission standards," he said. "We need more kids going to college." Noland said the policy commission is also reaching out to the more than 173,000 state residents who attended college but did not earn a degree -- including more than 36,000 who have completed more than 60 hours of college credits toward the 102 hours required for a bachelor's degree. Also Monday, Noland said:

Costs of operating the West Virginia Education, Research and Technology Park at the former Dow Tech Park should break even within four years. "Within four years, the revenues and expenses should cross," Noland said. The policy commission's 2011-12 budget request includes $3.5 million for operating costs for the tech park. Noland said he talks frequently with private-sector companies interested in locating facilities in the tech park, and believes the park will be close to full occupancy within five years. The former state Rehabilitation Center in Institute will probably be turned over to West Virginia State University later this year. "It is my hope within the next six months, the deed for that property will be conveyed to State," Noland said. He said the state is determining which buildings in the complex, which closed as a rehabilitation facility in 2007, need to be renovated or demolished. Noland said WVSU will use some of the space for student housing and recreation, and said the rehabilitation center site also provides the only available acreage for any future expansion of the campus. State officials in December abandoned a proposal to use part of the rehabilitation center as a Division of Corrections work-release facility.

February 8, 2011

College Graduation Rate Could Affect Economy State officials say that the graduation rate for college students is less than 50%, and if that percentage doesn't go up, it could have an effect on our economy. Officials say we need at least 20,000 students to graduate from college by 2018, to keep our economy at it's current level. The current average rate is 50%, with schools like West Virginia University having about 58% and West Virginia Wesleyan College having 56%. Director of Admissions at WVWC, John Waltz says they are doing whatever they can to keep their students on the right track. He also says they try to keep a balance when it comes to accepting as many students as possible, while still maintaining high standards.

February 8, 2011

Frontier donates $200,000 to June Harless Center at Marshall HUNTINGTON - Frontier Communications has presented Marshall University's June Harless Center for Rural Educational Research and Development $200,000 during a ceremony at the MU Foundation Hall, Home of the Erickson Alumni Center, on the Huntington campus. The grant is for 21st century technology to advance educational programs and training in West Virginia. Specifically, it involves support for a Virtual S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Academy. "The June Harless Center is extremely grateful for this gift from Frontier Communications," said Dr. Stan Maynard, director of the June Harless Center. "We are pleased that Frontier has the confidence not only in Marshall University, but the June Harless Center in making this initiative successful." Dennis Bloss, Area General Manager for Frontier, said the telecommunications services provider recognizes the commitment that June Harless and her family have made to improve education in West Virginia. The late June Harless was the wife of James "Buck" Harless of Gilbert and one of southern West Virginia's most avid supporters of education and medical research. "The June Harless Center and Marshall University have a clear and bold mission - to provide West Virginia's young people with the skills they will need to compete globally in an economically competitive world," Bloss said. "An academy that uses technology to support the teaching of science, math and other critical subjects is the right program at the right place at the right time." Maynard said the focus of the Virtual S.T.E.M. Academy will be to assist schools in providing special training in integrating technology into Pre-K - 12 classrooms; enrich S.T.E.M. curricular opportunities for rural students who may have difficulty accessing advanced S.T.E.M. classes; provide tutoring support for students enrolled in Advanced Placement S.T.E.M. courses; and provide training for educators in utilizing an academic management system for efficient on-line instruction and assessment. "The announcement of this dynamic, technology-based initiative represents a vital technological portal for launching other June Harless Center partnerships with other education and business agencies," Maynard said.

February 8, 2011

The Picket Sharon Kipetz to Leave Shepherd VP of Student Affairs to Pursue New Opportunity By Kaitlyn Baird A new year is a time for new beginnings, but Sharon Kipetz has been putting hers off just a little bit. Although her new job at the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh would have preferred to have their new Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Success and Engagement and Dean of Students to arrive at the start of the school's term January 31, Kipetz pushed back her arrival in Wisconsin. "I had a lot to finish up here," Kipetz said. Sharon Kipetz has been an integral part of Shepherd University life since her arrival in the fall of 1999. After eleven years, she is a familiar face around campus, and not only as Vice President of Student Affairs. Kipetz also serves as the Student Government Association faculty advisor and has contributed in numerous other ways during her time at Shepherd. "I got to see the apartments built during my time here, I set up midnight breakfast, and I think I impacted and increased the leadership opportunities here," Kipetz said. On the bookshelf in her office, there are three copies of Stephen R. Covey's "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People." It's obvious where Kipetz's interests lie. Her office has been more to her in her years at Shepherd then a mere location. She emphasized how she's loved being in the middle of student life, both literally and figuratively. "A lot of people stop in here to ask a question and end up coming back to check-in," Kipetz said. She said she will miss the personal feel of Shepherd when she moves to a university of 15,000 students. However, she's ready for the job. Kipetz came to Shepherd from the University of Connecticut, another large school. "It's been wonderful getting to know the students so well and have wonderful interactions with them. I'll just have to work harder at it [at the University of Wisconsin]." Kipetz isn't alone in valuing her interactions with the student body. Student Government Association president Daniel Bascom, who has worked closely with Kipetz in SGA mirrored the sentiment.

"Sharon has been one of the most amazing people to work with. She always knows what to say, and always has a smile on her face...we're truly going to miss her," Bascom said. Kipetz said she originally looked into her new position because it seemed like a unique opportunity at a school she's always admired. She knew she would want to stay in public education, and after going for an interview, she was very interested. "It's a beautiful, vibrant community – not that Shepherd isn't, of course." "It's an opportunity for growth, for me to be pushed to do something different. I think we should all model that for our students," Kipetz said. However, there will be things Kipetz will miss when she moves on to her new job. She mentioned her staff, a team of people she's enjoyed working with over the years and said she is extremely confident for the future. "I would have liked to have built the new student center and the addition to the dining hall," Kipetz said, reflecting on some of the changes to Shepherd she wished she could be around to see. Although Kipetz will not get to see these things, she said she has no regrets about her time at Shepherd otherwise. In her time at Shephed, Kipetz has also taught for the master's program in College Student Development and Administration. During the interview, Kipetz pointed out an item on her bookshelf, a painting of a face. She explained that it was done and given to her by a student that hoped one day to have her job, or at least one like it. Kipetz was pleased at the thought of the next generation here at Shepherd.

February 8, 2011

WVU may build new lab facility Officials trying to get bonds for project By Alex Lang WVU could be getting a new $20 million facility to house various clinical laboratories. West Virginia United Health System is working to obtain up to $150 million in bonds for various projects at facilities throughout the state. One project is a new facility to house laboratories at Ruby Memorial Hospital and renovate the current laboratories. The estimated price tag for that project is $27 million. “It’s just too small,” President and CEO of the West Virginia United Healthcare System Tom Jones said of the current facilities. The plans are still in their infancy, Jones said. The facility will be located on the Ruby Memorial Hospital campus, though it is uncertain where. The size of the facility is also yet to be determined. The new building would house various clinical labs and support space. The current labs would be renovated and could be used for physical therapy and emergency department space. The WVU morgue would also move into the new space. The state medical examiner’s office has a contract with a School of Medicine faculty member to perform autopsies. If the WVU morgue and the clinical pathology faculties move into the proposed building, the autopsies would take place there. Jones said they hope to have final plans in the next three to four months. After the plans are finalized, they need approval from various agencies before construction. “This is all still in the very early stages of development, but if it happens, the new building would offer a great opportunity for students to learn about pathology in a more modern environment,” WVU School of Medicine Dean Art Ross said.

February 9, 2011

Board of Education in Interview Superintendent Finalists The West Virginia Board of Education will interview the final three candidates for the state superintendent job in Charleston Thursday. West Virginia University Board of Governors Chair Carolyn Long, state School Building Authority Executive Director Mark Manchin and Deputy State School Superintendent Jorea Marple are up for the job. All three finalists have worked as county superintendents in the past. Long worked in that role in Braxton County, Manchin in Webster and McDowell Counties, and Marple in Kanawha County. The new superintendent will replace Dr. Steve Paine who retired last month. Ted Mattern is serving as an interim superintendent while the board evaluates the finalists. There's no word on when the board will announce its pick for state superintendent.

February 9, 2011

West Virginia State to Take Over Rehab Center The former West Virginia Rehab Center in Institute will soon become the property of West Virginia State University. Higher Education Chancellor Brian Noland says the process is in the works to deed that property to State to use however it sees fit. "There has been some discussion of new dormitory space for State, but in conversation with their board I know they're interested in the acreage,” Noland told a legislative committee this week. "There's not a lot of available acreage around the institution, you have the river on one side and the community on the other." Although the land is seen for potential growth opportunities, there are facilities already in place, including dormitory and classroom space. Noland said part of the plan calls for putting forward money along with the deed to either renovate the existing facilities or razing them to make it developable property. "We're working right now with structural architects to get a sense of what renovation and demolition costs might be,” said Noland. The old rehab center has been sitting empty since the state closed the facility several years ago.

February 9, 2011

Which candidate will be next state school superintendent? By Zack Harold CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- State superintendent candidates Carolyn Long, Mark Manchin and Jorea Marple have a lot in common. Marple and Manchin started their education careers in Greenbrier County. Marple and Long have both taught in Kanawha County schools. Long and Manchin are in their current jobs - WVU Board of Governors' chairwoman and School Building Authority executive director, respectively - thanks to their appointments by former Gov. Joe Manchin. Growing up, all three had teachers in their families. All three are former county superintendents. All three got their bachelor's degrees from Fairmont State College and completed graduate studies at West Virginia University. All three are well known in state education circles. Now, all three want the same job. State Board of Education members will interview Marple, Manchin and Long on Thursday. The board will likely appoint the new state superintendent that same day. The Board of Governors chairwoman Carolyn Long didn't always want to be a teacher. She started college at West Virginia University, majoring in accounting. She quickly realized that wasn't the right direction and switched to education. She transferred to Fairmont State for her senior year and graduated in 1970. Long attributes her change of heart to time she spent in 4-H. A veteran of the organization by her teens, she always enjoyed working with younger 4-H-ers. She also looked up to the teachers in her father's family as well as ones she had in school. After graduation, she started teaching fifth grade at Big Chimney Elementary in Kanawha County. She stayed with that job for five years, leaving after she married her late husband, Harold.

The couple moved to Harold's native Braxton County. Long took a job at Little Birch Elementary in 1975. She stayed there seven years, teaching Title 1 reading and math. Long quit work in 1981 to stay home with her newborn son, Derek, and help her husband with his businesses. She also went back to WVU and received a master's degree in educational administration in May 1986. "In October, the superintendent in Braxton County called me to say the principal at Little Birch Elementary had quit," she said. Kenna Seal, who was the superintendent at that time and now is director of the state Office of Education Performance Audits, offered Long the position. She accepted the job with some conditions: the school would receive a full-time Title 1 teacher ("I knew they needed that"), the position would be part-time and she would work at Little Birch for only one year while the county searched for a permanent replacement. "And I did that for 10 years," she said, laughing. "It was a wonderful school. We had magnificent kids, great parents and we all had the same goal: to do the best by those students." Long left Little Birch and froze her retirement in September 1999. Derek was about to enter high school, and she and Harold - confessed "workaholics" - wanted to be around more for their son. But her life took another sharp turn the next year. Her husband died in a plane crash and her son was critically injured in the accident. Long had to take over Harold's businesses, which then included a trucking operation, tire shops and convenience stores. "The things I did were the right things to do at the time," Long said of her retirement. "But my passion has always been the young people. "I love this county and I love the kids in it." It didn't take long for Long to be back in Braxton County Schools. In January 2001 she became the county's unpaid assistant superintendent and six months later took over as Superintendent Paul Armstrong retired. During her nine-year run as superintendent, Long helped procure more than $12 million in grants from the state School Building Authority and got voters to pass a $17 million bond sale - the county's first since 1962. That money helped renovate Braxton County High, re-roof Braxton County Middle and complete major renovations and additions at every community elementary school. Once

the county sold its bonds, there was even enough money for Little Birch to build a completely new school. Braxton also became the first county to provide all its schools with high-speed Internet connections under Long's direction. Every elementary was awarded Title 1 Exemplary status from the U.S. Department of Education. Frametown Elementary was named a National School of Excellence in 2006. In 2007 and 2008, the county's standardized test scores were in the top 10 percent statewide. "We had a long way to go, still, but I was very proud. I really believe that kids always come first here," she said. Long left Braxton County schools for the third and final time in 2009. A member of the West Virginia University Board of Governors since 2006, she became chairwoman in July 2008. Long - sitting in a home office decorated with a WVU rug, wall clock, snowman, Santa Claus and afghan - says her time on the university's board has "changed my life." She became chairwoman during a rough time in the school's history. President Mike Garrison resigned in September 2008 following a scandal over a degree incorrectly awarded to then-Gov. Manchin's daughter. Long led the search for a new WVU president. Jim Clements became the university's 23rd president on June 30, 2009. He was the fourth man to hold the office in two years. "We have stability now at WVU. We have a wonderful new president, the board works well together and is well-respected at the university," she said. "I think we all feel very good with the path WVU's on." Now Long is looking to bridge the gap between her lives in public schools and higher education. "I'm not ready to come home and sit," she said. "In the last three and a half to four years, I've learned a great deal about higher education and how important that collaboration between higher education and public education is." She said she has learned a lot from Dee Hopkins, WVU's dean of education, as well as university students. Their tongues are a lot looser talking to a Board of Governors chairperson than in conversations with a superintendent or principal, Long said. She said morale is one of the state education system's largest problems. The state has wonderful teachers and administrators, Long said, but even school employees don't believe that.

"No one goes into teaching without wanting to do the very best for the students in their classrooms," she said. "We have to make sure that not just West Virginians but everybody knows our children are just as good, just as intelligent as any others in the nation." She said the state also should align its public school curriculum so students are prepared for technical schools, universities or whatever path they take after high school. Long said she recently traveled to Ireland with WVU's Board of Governors and that country already employs a "K through 20 approach." "The colleges and the high schools, especially, work extremely close together to look at curriculum," she said. She said West Virginia is already heading down that path by taking part in the Common Core Standards initiative, aimed at making sure students around the country receive the same quality education. "I think it's imperative that we do that," she said. Long wouldn't comment on specific policies she would push in the state superintendent's office, however. "To tell you I have a magic bullet, I'm not going to tell you I do," she said. "I really think you have to be a good listener," Long continued. "I think it's imperative." The School Building Authority director Mark Manchin says many people don't remember this, but his dad - former state legislator, Secretary of State and State Treasurer A. James Manchin - was a junior high school teacher. As a boy, he often visited his father's classroom. "I enjoyed that immensely," he said. "I grew up in a family that valued education and valued public service. It was instilled in me early in life." That's why Manchin entered the education world. "I said, 'I can make a difference in some small way,'" he said. "You're giving a child a chance as they grow up, to be successful." After graduating from Fairmont State in 1976, Manchin got his first teaching gig at Renick Junior High School in Greenbrier County. He taught West Virginia history. He moved to Jackson Junior High in Wood County two years later, a school where his father taught 25 years before.

He started working for Regional Education Service Agency 3 in 1982 as coordinator of services to business and industry and staff development. He traveled Kanawha County operating management training seminars and working on communication skills, stress management and supervisory skills with school administrators. Manchin followed in his father's footsteps again in 1988 by serving a four-year term as one of Kanawha County's state senators. He left RESA 3 in 1996 to become Webster County's superintendent. Then-state Superintendent Dave Stewart called Manchin out of that job in December 2001 to be superintendent of McDowell County Schools. The state board had taken control of that troubled school system the month before. "Let's put it this way: there were 265 violations in the (Office of Education Performance Audits) report," Manchin said. The school system employed many unqualified personnel, in both classroom and leadership positions. Manchin cleaned house. "What they simply were missing was leadership," he said. "We set upon, when we arrived in McDowell County Schools, to turn things around." Manchin is quick to say he thoroughly enjoyed his years in McDowell County, and the people there are often "maligned unfairly." "You had to instill confidence in the educational community," he said. "The greatest obstacle to overcome was instilling belief in themselves." Confidence couldn't fix everything in McDowell Schools, however. Manchin said the words "filthy and deplorable" were used 86 times in the state report. Some schools were still heated by coal-fired furnaces. Students at one elementary had to walk through a drainage pipe to reach the school's front entrance. "The worst I've ever seen, by far," he said. In July 2001, a massive flood swept through the county and severely damaged several schools. Another flood struck the county in May 2002, just months after Manchin became superintendent. It damaged 13 and destroyed two McDowell schools. Manchin saw 11 old schools shuttered by the time he left McDowell. The school system has now invested over $100 million in building and renovating facilities, he said.

"Now these children are in state-of-art schools," he said. "As we speak, we have a new Riverview High School and are building a new Iaeger High School." Manchin left that position in 2006 when his cousin, then-Gov. Manchin, appointed him executive director of the state School Building Authority. Since then he's traveled the state helping school systems get school construction projects off the ground with millions of dollars in grant and bond revenue. Now, he wants to fix up the state Department of Education. If named state superintendent, Manchin said he would like to "reinvent" alternative education programs. Counties often send disruptive, chronically absent, drug-addicted, severely behind and, sometimes, pregnant students to alternative schools. "We can't continue to focus on providing an education for those who are easiest to teach," he said. Manchin said he would like to increase support to alternative schools but also hold them accountable for student performance. Currently, students who attend the schools are still tied to their home schools. "We've had this problem and we keep talking about this problem. It's not going to go away," he said. Manchin said he also would push the state board to renew its focus on literacy. When he was McDowell's superintendent, the county' elementary schools administered a reading assessment test and found that three-quarters of sixth-graders were at least one grade level behind. Two-thirds of those students were two or more grade levels behind, Manchin said. If named state superintendent, Manchin said he would like to create a policy that would implement "reading, writing and thinking" across the curriculum. He said he also would establish a "continuum of support" within state schools to encourage literacy and ensure literacy programs receive adequate funding. Manchin said state schools are focused on 21st century skills but technology "is a tool," "not the panacea." "Our children will not be successful without an 18th, 19th and 20th century skill - reading," he said. He says education is only "the means to an end." "If we do it right, there is no guarantee you'll be successful. But they've got almost no chance if we fail. Those are the stakes that we're facing," he said.

The deputy state superintendent Jorea Marple said entering the education field "was a given" in her Braxton County household. Her mother was a teacher and her paternal great-grandfather was once the county's school superintendent, maybe the very first one. "At least, that's what my mother told me," she said. Her sister, now a dentist, received a bachelor's degree in education. But that isn't why Marple got into the education system. "I've always had a passion concerning the welfare of children," she said. Maple said becoming state superintendent would give her the opportunity to support and develop policies that would improve the education process, from the classroom up. "I don't want to say I'm getting old, but I've had 35 years of experience. I think I bring a level of understanding about how things operate," she said. Marple got her first teaching job in 1969, the same year she graduated from Fairmont State College and four years after she graduated from Sutton High School at age 16. She landed in Kanawha County in 1971 as a reading teacher but soon worked her way into the central office. She stayed with the county until 1984. "Then I started having kids," she said. Marple, soon entering her 34th year of marriage to state Attorney General Darrell McGraw, took four years off after their second child was born to finish her doctorate studies. When she came back in 1989, Kanawha Schools hired her as principal of Tiskelwah Elementary. The school was riddled with problems when she arrived - low student achievement, high truancy - but during her time there Marple saw it turn around. The school instituted the state's first full-day kindergarten program, provided music, art and dance instruction to all students, and moved test scores from the 22nd percentile to over the 75th percentile. "With the parents and with the students and with the teachers, we were able to turn that into a National Blue Ribbon School," she said. "We received a lot of attention." Coming off her success at Tiskelwah, Marple was named superintendent of Kanawha County Schools in 1993. She was the fifth superintendent in six years but remained in the post for five years.

During that time Marple said she saw "dramatic improvement" in test scores and student achievement. She said the county also went from a funding deficit to operating in the black and voters passed the first bond sale in 30 years. Her time as superintendent was not without controversy, however. Current Kanawha school board president Pete Thaw was elected to the board in 1998, a year after mounting a successful campaign against a $98 million school bond sale. Thaw's school board campaign focused on fiscal responsibility. He questioned out-of-state travel expenses, pay raises and the number of county-level administrators employed by the school system. He promised voters he would work to eliminate up to 12 administrative positions and save the county as much as $1.5 million. Voters backed the candidate, giving him over 9,200 votes to lead the ticket. After battling Thaw on his proposed cutbacks, Marple and her deputy superintendent, Jack McClanahan, resigned and assistant superintendent Rebecca Goodwin retired in August 1998, about a month after Thaw was sworn in. After resigning, Marple spent six years as principal of Garnett Career Center. She oversaw renovation of the school and expansion of its programs before moving on to the state Department of Education in 2004. Then-state superintendent Dave Stewart, who was treasurer for Kanawha Schools when Marple was superintendent, hired her as assistant state superintendent for school improvement. She became assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction under state Superintendent Steve Paine and stepped up to deputy superintendent after McClanahan retired from that post last year. Now, after working at every level of the state's school system, Marple has her eye on the biggest job of all. If chosen as the state school chief, she said she would work with the board to free teachers of unnecessary restrictions in their classrooms. Marple said when she grew up, knowledge was measured by the number of facts a student could "regurgitate." Rote recall is no longer good enough, however. "We can't say, 'The answer is in the back of the textbook . . . but don't look,' " she said. Marple said students need to learn "divergent thinking" to stay competitive in a global economy. But West Virginia schools won't achieve that unless the education department

provides teachers with "the time and resources to educate in this engaging manner," she said. Current school policy dictates teachers must spend a defined amount of time on each subject: 8,100 minutes in Algebra 1 to obtain sufficient skills, for instance. "That's silly. That comes from an industrial past. We're moving children in batches," she said. Marple said she would like to see those time limits eliminated in favor of an outcome-based system where teachers could spend as much or as little time on Algebra 1 as they wanted, so long as students learned what they should. She also wants to see teachers' pay increased. Marple said increasing educators' salaries would help bring in and retain new, highly qualified teachers. She said county superintendents are often faced with large numbers of vacancies, deficits some counties can't fill with qualified personnel. "We really have to look at how we attract and maintain highly qualified people in our schools," she said. "To me, that's a core issue." She said the state also must have high expectations for children, to convince them that they must take an active role in their education. Marple said American schoolchildren once were told they could be successful if they worked hard and went to college. "I'm not sure all children believe that today," she said. And it gets more difficult to convince children as poverty increases. "We really need to inspire children and give them hope every day," Marple said. "That's fundamental to what we do."

February 9, 2011

WVU tightlipped on new Clements contract offer By The Associated Press MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- The Board of Governors wants to keep West Virginia University President James Clements on the job, but it's not ready to say how long or how much it's willing to pay. The board approved a new contract agreement after an executive session last week and sent it to the state Higher Education Policy Commission for review. No date for a vote has been set, commission spokeswoman Ashley Schumaker said Wednesday. In the meantime, WVU won't outline any salary or benefit details in the proposed agreement or comment on its duration. State law limited Clements' initial contract to two years, but subsequent contacts can go up to five years. WVU spokesman John Bolt said details will be made public when the policy commission votes. "It's not a secret. It's not a final contract,'' Bolt said, citing the need for commission approval. "... Once it's approved, it will be wide open for everybody to see.'' Clements' current two-year deal expires June 30. His new offer would go into effect on that date. Clements signed a contract with WVU on March 27, 2009, that pays $450,000 a year. He started work June 30, 2009, leaving his job as provost at Maryland's Towson University. His salary is $195,000 more than that of predecessor Mike Garrison, who was forced to resign after less than a year on the job over a master's degree scandal involving Sen. Joe Manchin's daughter.

February 10, 2011

Bill aims to jump-start WVU Tech By Phil Kabler CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A bill intended to revitalize the West Virginia University Institute of Technology could be a model for struggling colleges statewide, proponents said Thursday. "This not only addresses Tech's problems, but problems systemwide," said Sen. Greg Tucker, D-Nicholas, citing "horrendous graduation rates" at several colleges in the state. Under the bill (SB486), which advanced from the Senate Education Committee Thursday, the state Higher Education Policy Commission would have to develop a plan by this fall to revitalize the Montgomery college. Among the goals, the plan would have to propose ways to: Reverse declining enrollment. In the past six years, Tech's full-time enrollment has dropped nearly 14 percent, to 1,209 students, while statewide enrollment in four-year programs has jumped 9.2 percent. Improve retention and gradation rates. Tech's six-year graduation rate is 35.25 percent, ahead of only Bluefield State, West Virginia State, and Glenville State, and below the statewide average of 48.53 percent. Finance capital improvements and building renovations. Restructure academics, and improve athletic and other nonacademic programs. Enhance fundraising, alumni support, and marketing and outreach. Sen. Bill Laird, D-Fayette, said he believes the revitalization plan can work, particularly with Tech's strong alumni base. "A lot of people want to see this institution not only survive, but regain its position," he said. Laird noted that, in its day, Tech was considered a leader among regional, four-year engineering schools. Over time, Tech's enrollment and reputation declined, and in order to survive, it eventually became an affiliate of WVU. In 2007, Tech became a branch campus of WVU.

As part of the revitalization plan, the legislation calls for Tech to focus on STEM education -- science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The bill does not provide funding for the program, but specifies that once the revitalization plan is approved by the HEPC, the WVU Board of Governors, and the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability, the Legislature will make funds available specifically to support the project. "It could indeed serve as a template for other institutions," Laird said, saying he is eager to see the revitalization plan move forward at Tech. "For the first time in three years, I feel pretty good about things there," he said. Also Thursday, the committee advanced to the full Senate a bill (SB375) that would require the HEPC to collect and publish what effectively would be a "consumers guide" of information for all public, private, and for-profit colleges operating in the state. Data to be gathered and published for each institution would include graduation and retention rates, post-graduate job placements, loan defaults, student complaints, as well an assessment of academic standards and financial health. HEPC Commissioner Brian Noland said he believes students and parents need the information, particularly with the recent explosion of for-profit institutions. He said those institutions range from small career colleges and trade schools to massive online institutions, such as the University of Phoenix. While he said University of Phoenix is comparable in academics and reputation to regional universities in the state, Noland said the quality of academics can vary tremendously at for-profit schools. "They're all over the place," said Noland, who said the legislation would simply allow the HEPC to provide would-be higher education consumers with comparative information for all institutions operating in the state. He said that's particularly important for for-profit institutions, since 95 percent of students enrolled in those schools have student loans. Nationally, the student loan default rate for for-profit institutions is 25 percent.

February 10, 2011

Bonds help schools grow By Clark Davis The recent sale of millions of dollars worth of bonds will allow many of the higher education institutions around the state the opportunity to grow. The Higher Education Policy Commission sold bonds totally more than 76-million dollars earlier this month. The revenue from the sale of those bonds was distributed to projects at seven different institutions around the state. The highest single amount for any institution went to Marshall University. The school received $25,000,000 toward an Applied Engineering Complex that will bridge the current engineering building with the Robert C. Byrd Biotechnology building. Among the hopes for the facility is that it will provide space for scientists and entrepreneurs to take existing projects and create regional businesses. Gayle Ormiston is the Academic Provost at Marshall University. “It means a lot to us because we have a growing interest in research in engineering, mechanical engineering; we have research needs that really overflow the Byrd Biotech facility right now, from the biomedical sciences and our multi institute for interdisciplinary research,” Ormiston said. The Applied Engineering Complex still needs an additional $25 million before it can be built, but the funding from the bonds sale is a big step. Ormiston says a facility like this can help not only Huntington, but the region and state. “If you look at other schools and public institutions that have done this recently in the last five to six years, it has made a huge difference in the kind of research that has economic development implications to it for the state, for the region and the university as well,” Ormiston said. Other projects the HEPC provided funding to were elected more than two years ago as projects that colleges and universities in the state need help with. Brian Noland is the Chancellor at HEPC and says it’s not something they’ve been able to do a lot in the past, but he hopes this is the beginning of a change in philosophy. “Our hope is that this can become an ongoing commitment of the legislature to fund capital across the system, just as it’s done in most states across the country, we have a

back log of deferred maintenance needs and our hope is that can begin what would be a long term commitment to the state,” Noland said. Noland says the bonds will also help West Liberty University with the expansion of its science program and Shepherd University with a visual arts project. Glenville State University, WVU Tech, West Virginia State and the new Research and Technology Park are also receiving money from the bond sale. “These investments will help to hold down the cost of college because traditionally we have relied on student tuition fees for capital construction and with the investments the governor and the legislature have made both in the recent bond sale and the East bond sale, we’re allowing those scarce resources on the student side to be directed toward instructional outcomes,” Noland said. Gayle Ormiston at Marshall says that school's project should get underway in about 18 months.

February 10, 2011

Hoppy's Commentary for Thursday Talkline Host Hoppy Kercheval --West Virginia has lost one of its best political reporters. Richard Grimes died Wednesday at his Charleston home. Grimes covered West Virginia politics for more than 30 years until Alzheimer’s caused him to retire early in 1999. Grimes' influence extended beyond West Virginia with his book about the political rise of Jay Rockefeller in West Virginia entitled, “Jay Rockefeller: Old Money, New Politics.” --The West Virginia Legislature is sending mixed messages about the booming Marcellus Shale gas drilling industry. On one hand, lawmakers are considering legislation providing tax breaks for companies that capitalize on the economic opportunities from gas production, but on the other, bills are being considered that would raise taxes and impose more fees on drillers. --Meanwhile, some landowners are objecting to a proposal that would allow “pooling” by drillers. That’s where a horizontal driller is able to remove gas from adjacent property and pay the royalties even if the owner has not given permission. Ron Hayhurst has formed a group called the “West Virginia Mineral Owners Association” to lobby against pooling. He says the technique allows drillers to “forcibly take private property.” --House Speaker Rick Thompson is now on record supporting a two percent across-the-board pay raise for teachers, staff and state workers. Thompson made the commitment on Metronews Talkline Wednesday. That differs from Acting Governor Earl Ray Tomblin who is pushing a one-time “enhancement” of roughly two percent. --Tomblin, meanwhile, still has a distinct advantage over all gubernatorial candidates because he can “act as Governor.” That means he can cut ribbons, dedicate finished projects and announce new ones. If Tomblin wanted to grab some headlines, he could figure out a way to solve the controversy over the completion of route 35. The final 15 miles of the road in Mason and Putnam Counties is held up because of money and a dispute over whether to make that section a toll road. --State Supreme Court Justice Brent Benjamin has canceled his upcoming trip to Egypt because of the violence there. Benjamin has made several trips to Egypt as an amateur archeological photographer. --Note to colleges and universities and their staff: Ask somebody about SB 330. The 163 page bill will make significant changes in how non-teaching employees are

classified and compensated, though I think you have to be an expert to understand it. I’m told one of the results will be more employees who qualify as “classified staff.” --Disturbing stat of the day from state Higher Education Policy Commission Chancellor Brian Noland: 72 out of every 100 ninth graders in West Virginia graduate from high school. Of those 72, 43 go on to college. Of those 43, only 17 graduate from college within six years. --By the way, we’re now taking applications from high school juniors for this year’s West Virginia Scholar Program. Metronews, West Virginia Wesleyan, the West Virginia Coal Association and the West Virginia Forestry Association have joined together to provide the four-year scholarship to Wesleyan, valued at $125,000. Students can apply online at wvmetronews.com --It’s common for legislation to have unintended consequences. Last year, the legislature passed a law preventing TV’s, computers and similar electronic equipment from being dumped in landfills because of potential damage to the environment. Instead, the stuff is supposed to be taken to recyclers, but there are not enough recyclers. That means some of the unwanted computers and TV’s end up dumped along side the road or over the hill. --The Senate Judiciary Committee has just passed a bill upgrading not wearing your seatbelt from a secondary to primary offense. I’ve been struggling with this question: Can a conservative who philosophically opposes expanding the reach of government support a state law allowing police to stop you for not wearing your seat belt? Post your response below.

February 10, 2011

Marple Named State Superintendent The West Virginia Board of Education chose Jorea Marple as the new state superintendent of schools Thursday. Marple was serving as the deputy state superintendent. She beat out state School Building Authority Executive Director Mark Manchin and West Virginia University Board of Governors Chair Carolyn Long. The Board of Education conducted interviews in Charleston Thursday afternoon before making a decision. Marple says she has big goals for her new job. "We're going to restructure public education," Marple said. "Raise the rigor of what is taught in the classroom and raise the rigor of our assessments." In order to get that done, Marple says the state needs to increase the availability of technology to students "We need to have every child have access to technology so they can learn," Marple said. Marple has experience with West Virginia school systems. She started her career in education as a teacher. She also served as principal at Tiskelwah Elementary School on Charleston's West Side. From 1993 to 1998, she served as Kanawha County Schools superintendent. Marple says she plans to work with teachers to make sure schools run smoothly. "I want to make sure that I'm spending some time in the classroom, so I understand how complex and how difficult the job of teacher is today," Marple said. Marple is married to state Attorney General Darrell McGraw. She has a master's and doctorate from West Virginia University. Her undergraduate degree is from Fairmont State College. Marple will officially start her job on March 1. She'll be the first woman to serve as superintendent.

Ted Mattern is currently serving as superintendent in a temporary role. Former superintendent Dr. Steve Paine resigned at the beginning of the year. Marple says once she gets started she expects big results from schools and students. "What we're looking for would be outcome evidence that our children have learned what we expected them to know in any given subject area," Marple said.

December 10, 2011

The West Virginia Record Marshall settles suit with nursing student By Steve Korris HUNTINGTON - Marshall University governors decided against defending the school in a trial that would have compared the treatment of the state treasurer's daughter to that of a student with a hearing impairment. On Feb. 7, the governors and nursing student Alexandra Bertolotti told U.S. District Judge Robert Chambers they settled her discrimination suit. He called off a trial he would have started on March 1. Bertolotti planned to introduce evidence about officials who boosted a grade for Emily Perdue, daughter of John Perdue. The governors failed last year to keep the Perdue story out of the Bertolotti suit. As trial approached, they prepared to resist the connection again. On Feb. 3, they moved to exclude "news reports, including but not limited to, those related to any other student alleged to have been enrolled at Marshall University." Cheryl Connelly of Huntington wrote, "The evidence plaintiff seeks to introduce would tend to confuse issues, mislead the jury, cause undue delay and waste time." She wrote that "for the sake of argument only, plaintiff contends that another student benefited from having parents with political influence." She wrote, "Taken at face value, plaintiff's assertion does not make the claims raised in her amended complaint anymore or less likely." The governors sought to suppress other touchy topics. Connelly moved to exclude evidence of Board of Governors Policy GA-3 on social justice, or social justice plans, or any internal investigation. She wrote, "Whether or not Marshall University has followed its social justice policy or plan, or investigated or failed to investigate plaintiff's claim of disability discrimination does not make the claims raised in her amended complaint any more or less likely."

She moved to exclude a letter from parents Meg and Ric Bertolotti to dean Stephen Hensley and e-mails between daughter and parents. She moved to exclude "testimony from her parents regarding what she told them about matters they did not personally witness." Bertolotti sued Marshall and instructor Sandra Prunty in 2009, claiming they refused to accommodate her hearing impairment. She claimed she fell barely short of a grade necessary grade for advancement. She started without a lawyer, but Mike Weikle of Ann Arbor, Mich., took the case. When news of Perdue's grade swept the state, Weikle pressed for evidence. Marshall governors pleaded for privacy, redacting her name 15 times in their brief. Last April, Magistrate Judge Robert Taylor ruled against the governors. In September, Chambers dismissed claims against Prunty.

February 11, 2011

Funding headed to W.Va. health center By The Associated Press BECKLEY, W.Va. (AP) - Community Health Systems in Beckley has been awarded $150,000 to train primary care physicians in southern West Virginia. The funding announced Thursday by Rep. Nick Rahall is intended to train physicians as well as dentists in primarily rural communities. The Beckley center is one of 11 in the nation selected by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as a teaching health center. Rahall said the Beckley funding will increase the pool of prospective doctors and broaden access to health care.

February 11, 2011

NewsandSentinel Parkersburg WVU-P approves tuition, fee hike PARKERSBURG - The West Virginia University at Parkersburg Board of Governors approved a $100-a-semester tuition increase Wednesday for community college students. Currently, certificate- and associate degree-seeking students pay $1,038 a semester. The proposed tuition recommendation will increase tuition to $1,138 a semester. Tuition for West Virginia residents seeking baccalaureate degrees will increase by $137 a semester. Bachelor degree students pay $1,422 a semester. Their tuition will increase to $1,559 a semester. WVU Parkersburg has not had a tuition increase since 2009 and efforts are made to keep student costs to a minimum, Vincent Mensah, the college's chief financial officer, noted. Mensah pointed out rising expenditures in college operations, student support services, technology infrastructure, program sustainability and personnel expenses due to enrollment increases had prompted the need to revise tuition levels. The tuition and fees' recommendation will be forwarded to the state Council for Community and Technical College Education and the state Higher Education Policy Commission for review. If approved, the increases will be effective with the 2011-2012 academic year. In other business, board member Curtis Miller gave a report on the college's various facility projects. He noted the roof, facade, electrical distribution and elevator projects at the college's downtown center on Market Street are on schedule and expected to be completed by June 1. Also, Miller said that two new campus facilities the child development center and the applied technology center - are to be bid in late March with construction beginning in June. Both are to be completed by March 2012. Miller was elected to serve as vice chair following Keith Burdette's resignation from the board to become state Secretary of Commerce.

February 7, 2011

College Goal Sunday event set By Sarah Plummer The second annual College Goal Sunday event will be held Sunday at 18 locations across the state, four of those in southern West Virginia. College Goal Sunday is a time when parents and students can get help completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or get their questions answered. Lena Belcher at the Erma Byrd Higher Education Center notes that their site will have financial aid professionals from several area schools including Mountain State University, New River Community and Technical College, Bluefield State College and Valley College. “Students will be able to get help with quick questions or get help filling out a FASFA form from start to finish. Professionals will be able to answer all questions about receiving state level assistance,” she said. To participate in College Goal Sunday, pre-registration is recommended, but not required for this free workshop. Students should plan to bring tax documents, Social Security numbers, investment information and back account balances. For a detailed list of what to bring, visit www.cfwv.com and follow the links to College Bowl Sunday. Information on pre-registration can also be found online. In addition to getting assistance and great information, students who participate in the workshop at each location will be entered into a drawing to win an Apple iPad. Locations throughout our region include Bluefield State College, from 1 to 4 p.m. Contact Mike Goins 304-425-6165. Concord University, from 1 to 4 p.m. Contact Terri Philpott 304-384-5282. Erma Byrd Higher Education Center, from 1 to 4 p.m. Contact Lena Belcher 304-256-6260. New River Community and Technical College, Greenbrier County, from 1 to 4 p.m. Contact Donna Polk 304-647-6586.

February 7, 2011

College Goal Sunday to help students throughout state with FAFSA By Ashley Grohoski Marshall University is encouraging students to attend College Goal Sunday. This event gives students and their family the opportunity to become more confident about filling out their FAFSA. The assistance is free and will be available at 18 different locations throughout the state. This will be the second year that the nationwide College Goal Sunday event takes place. Students will be offered advice by FAFSA staff and experts on how to approach the annual form. "The College Goal Sunday will be a "laid back event, offering food and giveaways", says Angela Holley, director of the Heart of Appalachia Talent Search program. In addition, students will also have the opportunity to win giveaways, which include an Apple iPad and accessories. This is the second year for the College Goal Sunday, and last year over 300 people attended it statewide. This year, over 100 students have already signed up and 200 volunteers will be involved. “Students do not have to worry if they forget to register online. They can still attend the event regardless", says Holley. She says that they are trying to accommodate students with food and preparations, and registering for the event helps them to do so. Students can fill out the FAFSA each year they decide to attend college. Education is becoming more expensive, and the FAFSA form offers money for the education students wish to receive. Grants, federal student loans, and work-study programs are all available to assist the tuition fees many people face when entering their selected college. Catrese Thomason, senior psychology major says she fears filling out the FAFSA.

“I'm afraid of not doing it right, especially my freshman year when I did it myself. I was afraid I'd be poor next year if I did it wrong," Thomason says, expressing how "nerve-wracking" it tends to be. "I stress out every year!" Holley says that the IRS is making it easier for families to fill out the form. A new feature allows a click of a button to send the students' and parents' tax information to be inserted into the form to avoid possible stress. Students may not be aware they can use last year's tax forms in the FAFSA until their new ones have arrived. “But in essence, the earlier that students complete the FAFSA with accuracy, the better", says Tira Runyon, counselor of Heart of Appalachia Talent Search Program. Families are still encouraged to attend the event to feel more at ease if they are cautious about asking questions or unsure about attending college within the next year. A tax preparation course will also be available for students and families that are attending College Goal Sunday. The College Goal Sunday event will be at 18 different locations throughout West Virginia. Students can search for their nearest location on www.cfwv.com.

February 7, 2011

Financial Aid Available to Students This is Financial Aid Awareness Week at WVU. By Macall Allen MORGANTOWN -- West Virginia University is reminding students that the deadline for priority filing the Free Application Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is March 1. Counselors say a lot of financial aid programs and grants are first come, first served. WVU received more than 38,000 FAFSA for this school year, that's up eight percent from last school year and four percent from the year before. "Many people aren't aware there are grants and low interest student loans to help them pay for their education, not only for college but other types of post-secondary education. So we want to make them aware of those opportunities," said Paula King, Senior Financial Aid Counselor. King says to make sure the FAFSA you fill out is on a .gov website and not a .com website because some websites try to charge for the application that is free to fill out. On Sunday WVU will participate in College Goal Sunday where people can stop by the Mountainlair and get help filling out their FAFSAs. A financial aid information booth will be set up in the Mountainlair through Friday.

February 10, 2011

FAFSA help to be offered to state students By Megan Fisher SHEPHERDSTOWN - For some people, completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid can be just as daunting as completing tax forms, but they can find help at College Goal Sunday this weekend in Shepherdstown. The event will provide financial aid experts to help families complete the FAFSA and explore additional financial aid sources that may be available. The second College Goal Sunday is hosted by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission at 18 locations throughout the state, and the local program will be held in White Hall on the Shepherd University campus from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. "We are extremely pleased to offer this opportunity for our students and families to receive personalized, one-on-one support in navigating the financial aid application process," said Adam Green, director of student success and P-20 initiatives. The free event is open to all students planning to attend school next fall, including returning students. Preregistration is recommended but not required. "Completing the FAFSA is a big hurdle for those who need financial help," said Jessica Kennedy, communications manager for HEPC. "It's a nice opportunity for students and families to sit down with an aid professional and discuss their options." Participants should bring a driver's license, both the student's and parent's Social Security numbers, 2010 tax records (or 2009 records if 2010 forms are not yet available), 2010 untaxed income records and information about investments and bank account balances. "Every piece of information is confidential," Kennedy added. In addition, participants will be entered into a drawing to win one of 18 Apple iPads being given away across the state. The event also will offer free income tax preparation services through a partnership with the West Virginia Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. More information is available at www.cfwv.com or by calling Kennedy at 304-558-0655.

February 10, 2011

Gelnville: College Goal Sunday - 02.13.11 Do you need Cash for College? College Goal Sunday is being held state-wide and is an opportunity for students and families to get FREE help with completing the Free Application for Student Federal Aid (FAFSA). The local event will be at GSC’s Robert F. Kidd Library on Sunday, February 13, 2011 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. Please visit www.CFWV.com for details or call 304.462.6171.

February 10, 2011

Mountwest, MU hosting College Goal Sunday events HUNTINGTON — Mountwest Community & Technical College, Marshall University’s Mid-Ohio Valley Center and Lincoln County High School are among hosts for second annual College Goal Sunday events from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13. The event, hosted by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, provides assistance for parents and students in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) during free workshops. Financial aid experts also will be on hand to help students and families complete and submit the FAFSA and explore additional financial aid resources that may be available. Online pre-registration is recommended at www.cfwv.com, but it is not required to attend. Anyone planning to attend college next fall can participate, including graduating high school seniors, returning college students or adult students interested in returning to school to earn a degree or certificate. Students, or potential students, who participate in the workshop will be entered in a drawing to win one of 18 Apple iPads being given away across the state. Many sites will also offer free income tax preparation services through a partnership with the West Virginia Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. Students and families should bring a driver’s license, both the student’s and parent’s Social Security number, 2010 tax records (or 2009 records if 2010 forms are not yet available), 2010 untaxed income records, and information about investments and bank account balances. All information that is provided will be submitted through the federal government’s secure FAFSA network. College Goal Sunday was created by the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association with funding from Lilly Endowment, Inc., and with supplemental support from Lumina Foundation for Education. College Goal SundaySM West Virginia is coordinated by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission in partnership with the West Virginia Association of Financial Aid Administrators, the YMCA, college access organizations such as TRiO and GEAR UP, and the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Bureau for Children and Families. Mountwest Community and Technical College, 1 John Marshall Drive, in the MCTC Building across from Gullickson Hall on 18th St., Huntington; Contact is Tira Runyon at 304-696-3259 or runyon21@marshall.edu.

Marshall University Mid-Ohio Valley Center, 1 John Marshall Way, Point Pleasant; Contact is Roxanne M. Smith at 304-674-7204 or smith221@hepc.wvnet.edu. Lincoln County High School, 81 Lincoln Panther Way, Hamlin; Contact is Jay Wright at 304-617-5551 or wright5@marshall.edu.

February 11, 2011

Meeting financial need Clarksburg, Morgantown among locations for ‘College Goal Sunday’ By Jessica Borders FAIRMONT — The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission is hoping to increase students’ and parents’ knowledge through its one-day extravaganza for financial need. This Sunday, Feb. 13, the commission is hosting “College Goal Sunday” at 18 locations across the state, including Clarksburg and Morgantown. The local events will take place at the Fairmont State University Gaston Caperton Center, located at 501 West Main St. in downtown Clarksburg, from 1-5 p.m., and in Morgantown at the West Virginia University Mountainlair in the Rhododendron Room from 1-4 p.m.

February 11, 2011

WV Higher Ed Commission hosts College Goal Sunday By Ben Adducchio This Sunday at 18 sites across the state, students can get some help with filing federal student aid information. This is the second year for the College Goal Sunday. From Bluefield to Shepherdstown, 18 locations will offer assistance to students, parents and others who want to go to college. Financial aid experts will assist them with the federal FAFSA. Jessica Kennedy is with the Division of Student Success and P-20 Initiatives for the Higher Education Policy Commission. "This event is open to anyone who needs more information about financial aid for college. A lot of times people think of events like this as being just for high school seniors," she said. The event is free. Students and their families should bring a driver’s license, tax records, and investments and bank account information.