With an eye toward the economic needs of the state and the corresponding educational needs of West Virginia college students, academic leaders from West Virginia State University (WVSU) and Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College (SWVCTC) met in Logan last week to begin discussions on a series of 2+2 partnerships that will make it easier for students who complete an associate’s degree to transition into a bachelor’s degree program.
The potential articulation agreements focus on creating a seamless pathway for students preparing to work in the four high-demand career fields of allied health/rehabilitation, management, criminal justice and elementary education.
“This collaboration will create even more educational and career options for graduates of Southern and will significantly increase the pool of highly educated employees for businesses in West Virginia,” said Southern’s President Joanne Jaeger Tomblin.
“We are excited about these discussions with our partners at Southern as we continue to build bridges for transfer students into State’s bachelor’s degree programs,” said Dr. Brian O. Hemphill, president of West Virginia State University.
“President Tomblin and I are in complete agreement on our goals to graduate students who will become leaders in their chosen career fields and communities in West Virginia. These 2+2 programs are the next steps needed to achieve these goals.”
Academic and administrative leadership at both institutions have begun the groundwork necessary to explore oversight and accreditation requirements, timelines, course requirements and delivery locations and methods.
“These discussions are just the beginning of what President Hemphill and I see as an ongoing alliance that will benefit our students and support our common purpose of providing quality, accessible higher education for all West Virginians,” Tomblin added.
