Tag: Community College

WVU Potomac State Participating in Free Tuition Program

West Virginia University Potomac State College says it’s participating in a state-funded financial aid program to cover basic tuition and fees.

The legislation was passed by the West Virginia legislature this year.

The West Virginia Invests Grant Program is designed to cover the cost of basic tuition and fees for certificate and associate degree programs in high-demand field for qualifying residents. Majors in agriculture, business, criminal justice, computer information systems and journalism have been identified by the state Commerce Department as qualifying high-demand fields. The website also lists other participating schools.

Participating students must meet certain qualifications including being a West Virginia resident and passing a drug screening test every semester.

Low Community College Graduation Rates Prompt Scrutiny

As many as two-thirds of West Virginia’s public community colleges are expected to come under increased scrutiny from one of their accreditors because of graduation rates that are lower than half the national average.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports the Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions said in a news release Wednesday that its members will ask four-year institutions with graduation rates at or below 25 percent and two-year institutions at or below 15 percent to show how they are working to improve.

A website operated by the U.S. Department of Education says six of West Virginia’s nine public community colleges have graduation rates below the 15 percent threshold. The average completion rate at community colleges nationwide is 39 percent.

Representatives told the newspaper that West Virginia Community and Technical College System Sarah Tucker could not be reached for comment.

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