Strong Foundations: STEM in West Virginia

Across West Virginia, young people are aiming for greatness. Many of them are considering futures in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, which helps lay a strong foundation for West Virginia’s economic future. According to a 2011 senior opinion survey by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (WVHEPC), most students in West Virginia who plan to pursue a degree in a STEM field were strongly prepared for postsecondary education.

Nationwide, there is a shortage of workers with backgrounds in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and West Virginia is no different. Work force projections indicate 44 percent of job openings in the next 10 years will require more than a high school education but less than a four-year degree. In four years, workplace demands will require an additional 20,000 college graduates in West Virginia to maintain the state’s economy.

The good news is West Virginia’s economy is growing. With recent economic development announcements focusing on the oil and natural gas and manufacturing sectors, West Virginia is taking the necessary steps to strategically expand its work force over the next five years with a focus on STEM skill sets.

“As we position West Virginia to compete in today’s global economy, we must provide our students—West Virginia’s future work force—with the tools and resources they need to succeed,” says Governor Earl Ray Tomblin. “By encouraging students to explore technology and innovation from an early age, we can help companies investing in West Virginia grow by supporting their future work force. The work we’re doing to prepare our work force will not only affect our immediate future but will position us to succeed for years to come.”

As more students pursue careers in STEM fields, West Virginia is engaging education, business and industry leaders to find innovative and creative ways to prepare students with the skill sets to fill future work force needs.

In April 2014, Tomblin announced the formation of the West Virginia Council on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics to support federal STEM initiatives and expand math and science educational opportunities for students beyond the classroom. Through a collaborative effort among education and industry partners, including the WVHEPC, The Education Alliance, Community and Technical College System of West Virginia, West Virginia Department of Commerce and representatives from the oil and natural gas, technology, manufacturing, aerospace and chemical industries, the council is designing new education and job-training programs to prepare students for tomorrow’s high-skilled jobs in West Virginia and increase the number of graduates in STEM fields over the next 10 years.

“The importance of STEM education has been acknowledged for years,” says Charles Patton, chair of the West Virginia Council on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math and president and chief operating officer of Appalachian Power. “Today, the presence of technology in the workplace is pervasive; therefore, the adequate preparation of our labor force requires we develop curricula and programs to support this reality. I believe the council can present a template for raising West Virginia’s awareness of the importance of STEM-related skills in today’s workplace and facilitate the creation of regional partnerships that tap into the growing network of proven STEM-related programs.”

West Virginia’s education system, especially community colleges and technical schools, has stepped up to the task of providing business and industry with a solid, skilled work force by adapting a curriculum to meet the needs of businesses investing and growing in the Mountain State. Local school systems have partnered with industry to share with middle school students the earning potential of highly-skilled, hands-on career opportunities. Across the board, West Virginia’s education system is helping companies grow by supporting the state’s future workers.

For years, West Virginia has worked hard to make the most of the increased energy production associated with the development of the Marcellus and Utica shales. This new energy source has provided the Mountain State with enormous economic development opportunities.

“Our state is on the cusp of a boom in manufacturing, particularly in petrochemicals, thanks to the vast new resources in the Marcellus and Utica shales,” says Secretary of Commerce Keith Burdette. “If we are going to fully tap the potential of these assets, we need a work force with first-rate skills and training in science and engineering. Thankfully, Governor Tomblin has made the development of that work force one of his top priorities, and we are quickly moving to provide West Virginians with the education and training they need to meet this demand and secure great jobs.”

As the state courts these new development opportunities, community and technical colleges have been on the front lines developing a variety of programs to ensure companies are able to hire qualified West Virginia workers. Since 2007, West Virginia community and technical colleges have implemented 133 new programs specifically tailored toward work force development and training. These successful partnerships are vital to West Virginia’s future success and continued work force development programs.

Among those programs is the Appalachian Petroleum Technology Training Center, a joint program offered by Pierpont Community and Technical College and West Virginia Northern Community College. Over the past two years, statewide employment in oil and natural gas extraction has increased by more than 20 percent. This two-year certificate program, one of only 14 programs of its kind in the nation, has brought together industry and community colleges across the state to develop real-world, hands-on training to equip West Virginians with the skills they need to succeed.

As the automotive industry continues to grow with Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia, Sogefi and Gestamp, BridgeValley Community and Technical College has partnered with Toyota to provide apprenticeships in which students will receive hands-on training three days a week while earning more than $17 per hour—and a degree.

“We welcome the opportunity to collaborate and implement key strategies to engage, prepare and develop students’ skills in STEM subjects,” says Millie Marshall, council member and president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia. “Ultimately, our goal is to increase the number of graduates who possess the knowledge and skills to compete on a statewide and national level for stable, good-paying jobs.”

These innovative partnerships play a critical role in ensuring West Virginians have the technical skills to apply themselves in a variety of STEM fields and take advantage of a variety of job opportunities in the Mountain State.

“Finding and training new employees is no easy task for many of today’s skilled labor businesses,” says Michael Carroll, council member and vice president of Allied Logistics. “That is why STEM education is so important to the next generation of America’s workers. Not only does STEM education create an excellent job pathway for our young citizens, but it puts West Virginia on a level playing field with other states as we face the benefits and challenges of both globalization and a knowledge-based economy.”

Collaboration between members of the West Virginia Council on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, West Virginia’s education system and business and industry will open doors of opportunity for thousands of young West Virginians and enable them to take advantage of the growing opportunities being created for them.

“Our state has unprecedented opportunities for our young people today and for decades ahead,” says Tomblin. “We are preparing our children for tomorrow’s jobs and for a brighter future. Our young people will become the leaders of tomorrow who will help drive our state’s competitiveness by generating new ideas, new jobs and new investment, thereby ensuring the Mountain State remains strong and viable for generations to come.”