Higher Education Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

New Partnership At Shepherd Covers Academic Costs For Amazon Employees

A new educational partnership at Shepherd University aims to help employees of a well-known corporation access academic opportunities in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle.

In 2012, multinational tech and ecommerce company Amazon launched its Career Choice program. The program helps cover higher education or professional development costs for some employees.

Shepherd University announced Thursday afternoon that it was selected by Amazon as a Career Choice education partner, adding it to the list of institutions that eligible employees can access with the company’s financial support.

The Career Choice program is “open to the vast majority of Amazon hourly full-time and part-time employees after 90 days of employment,” with “no limit to the number of years they can participate,” according to the company’s website.

The company can “pre-pay tuition and reimburse books and fees up to an annual amount” for several different courses of study, the website continues. This includes some bachelor and associate degree programs, GED programs, second-language English instruction and professional development courses.

More than 200,000 Amazon employees have participated in the program since its launch, Sam Fisher, a public relations representative for Amazon, wrote in an email to West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

“Our goal is to meet individual learners where they are on their educational journey through a variety of education and skills training opportunities,” he wrote.

In his email, Fisher did not directly address why Shepherd was selected for the program. But he wrote that more than 600 schools have been approved to participate across 14 countries through a “rigorous selection process.”

The company is “regularly looking to expand that list to provide more opportunities for our employees with trusted partners,” he added.

Scarborough Library houses academic support services and the Center for Appalachian Studies and Communications at Shepherd University.

*Photo Credit: Jack Walker/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Amazon is not a major employer in the Mountain State. As of January 2024, the company directly employed 300 full and part-time employees in West Virginia, according to its Investing in the U.S. report. That is one of its lowest statewide employment rates in the country.

But in Virginia and Maryland, which both border Jefferson County, Amazon is a bigger player in the job market. The company currently employs 39,000 full and part-time staff members in Virginia, and 23,000 in Maryland.

In Virginia, Amazon operates a distribution and fulfillment center just south of the Berkeley County line, roughly 20 miles from Shepherd’s campus. When it opened in 2018, Amazon said the facility aimed to hire employees for 1,000 full-time positions.

Tammy Thieman, director of career development programs at Amazon, said in a Thursday press release from Shepherd that the new partnership is part of a company effort to bolster third-party educational resources for current employees.

These programs can help provide employees “the education and training they need to grow their careers, whether that’s with us or elsewhere,” she said.

Administrators at Shepherd University are excited for what the new program can bring.

“Amazon shares our commitment to student success, and we look forward to providing quality instructional opportunities to their employees through this innovative program,” President Mary Hendrix said in Thursday’s press release.

“Shepherd University is excited for the opportunity to partner with the Amazon Career Choice program,” said Hans Fogle, executive director of university communications.

“We will be working with Amazon to support the success of their employees through this significant educational benefit,” he said.

For more information on Shepherd University’s education partnership with the Amazon Career Choice program, visit the university’s website.

At Shepherd University, Pride Buttons Make LGBTQ Identity More Visible

Around noon, the Ram’s Den at Shepherd University can get crowded. As the main dining hall on campus, it is a place where students often grab a quick meal or hang out with friends.

But last Friday, some students gathered for a different reason. The university’s Program Board — an organization that plans student activities — held an event to commemorate National Coming Out Day.

Each year, Oct. 11 celebrates people who make the decision to self-identify as part of the LGBTQ community. At Shepherd, the day is marked by an annual Pride button-making event, where students can walk away with small symbols of their identity or allyship with the LGBTQ community.

Senior Jackson Heath ran the table this year for Shepherd’s Program Board. But four years ago, he was a freshman stopping by the table after his first couple of months on campus.

“It was just like, a really nice thing where I was like, ‘Wow, I finally like, feel seen. I feel comfortable,’” he said. “This is something that’s happening on campus where I can actually go somewhere and not be scared of who I actually am.”

Shepherd University’s Program Board hosts a Pride button-making event annually for National Coming Out Day.

*Photo Credit: Jack Walker/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Program Board staffers printed out as many Pride flags as they could find for last Friday’s button-making event.

*Photo Credit: Jack Walker/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Some students say identifying as LGBTQ in West Virginia can be tough, because not everyone is welcoming of their identity. But Heath said seeing Pride buttons on backpacks around campus can remind LGBTQ students they’re not alone, especially when they arrive at college.

Students at Shepherd are not the only ones who display buttons with rainbow patterns on their backpacks. Around their country, many college students make and display similar pins. Some feature a flag for their specific identity under the LGBTQ umbrella, and others state the pronouns a student uses.

LGBTQ identity is not always visually identifiable. But junior Anika Wirt, who helped run the booth, said these pins can signal that someone is an ally without requiring a formal conversation.

“Sometimes it can be awkward to be like, ‘Oh, I am this thing,’”she said. “But, in a way, it kind of broadcasts your identity and says, ‘This is who I am,’ and can help other people see that recognition in the people around them.”

To make the buttons, students cut out a circular piece of paper with a design on it, then place it into a button press between a plastic cover and metal backing. When they apply pressure, the plastic seals over their design, forming a button.

From left, Joanna Schoonover and Anika Wirt staff last Friday’s button-making event in Shepherd University’s dining hall, the Ram’s Den.

*Photo Credit: Jack Walker/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

The annual activity brings together students with similar experiences, according to Joanna Schoonover, a sophomore with Shepherd’s Program Board. But walking away with a free Pride button also helps students carry that sense of community beyond any single event.

“I’ve seen students have buttons on their bags with them all year round,” she said.

Buttons at Shepherd often come with an Appalachian flair. Some show the outline of West Virginia and slogans like “Y’all means all,” “All are welcome here,” or “No hate in my holler.”

Others feature woodland creatures in front of Pride flags, like a possum in a pink cowboy hat or a deer with the text, “Oh deer, I’m queer.”

Senior Ruby Anderson said it is partly just fun. But it also shows that people can be both West Virginian and members of the LGBTQ community, or that they welcome people with these experiences on campus.

“It’s really nice to walk around and see that other people have queer identities,” she said. “If someone has a pin that’s a rainbow … you know they’re going to be more open to that kind of identity. They’re not going to be outwardly homophobic.”

Plus, Anderson also says it’s simply a way to show she is proud of her identity and her community.

“I just love gay people, and I love being bi and out on campus,” she said.

Academic Opportunity For Students In Foster Care Formally Launched

State leaders including Gov. Jim Justice and Senate President Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, attended a ribbon cutting Friday to celebrate the opening of The Middle College at Fairmont State University (FSU).

The program aims to provide youth in foster care a high school diploma and an associate’s degree in two years, plus guaranteed admission to FSU. Middle College students live on campus, attend classes, participate in on-campus activities, and receive services to support their success.

“What a wonderful opportunity. We’re taking the less than advantaged to being gainfully advantaged in the long run,” Blair said. “This may be the first one there is in the state of West Virginia, but mark my word. In 10 years, this will be replicated all over the country. The one thing that needs to be changed up, the federal government’s got to make the waivers in place or make the changes in the rules that allow the money to follow the child to be able to make this work properly.”

Diana Phillips, provost and vice president of academic affairs at FSU, said students in foster care have already been on campus for a month, attending classes and engaging in on-campus activities.

“We’re here to celebrate them and their work as well,” she said. “It’s historic, because middle colleges have existed in the United States since the late 60s. But this is the first one, the very first one, that has ever focused on youth in care, youth in foster care, and so here we are in the state of West Virginia, making historic inroads, not only at Fairmont State.”

The Middle College is a collaboration between FSU, KVC West Virginia – a nonprofit child welfare organization, Marion County Schools and the West Virginia Schools of Diversion and Transition.

Prichard Hall, the home of the Middle College program on Fairmont State University’s campus.
*Chris Schulz/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Brent Lemon, executive vice president of the Middle College Program at KVC, said students in foster care often struggle in school because they lack support.

“We know we need to create a solution connecting foster youth in foster care to psychological, emotional, social and academic support that they deserve,” he said. “Middle College is more than just a program. It’s a link to a community, a pathway to opportunity, and a place where young people in foster care can find the connection they need to write their stories and begin to fulfill their individual dreams.”

The program has a lot of room for growth.

Sarah Marshall Roy, regional director for KVC at Middle College, said 18 students are currently enrolled in the program, with 25 more being actively recruited. She said the original goal was to enroll 50 students for the fall.

“In order to be admitted to Middle College, students have to go through a thorough evaluation of an interview, along with meeting with different academic folks from the Department of Education, and so it is a process,” Marshall Roy said. “All of the students walked through that process, they had to complete different academic requirements and so forth. Because of all of that, I think some of the students you know that maybe it wasn’t the best fit for them, decided to opt out of this type of program. We did connect those students with other opportunities.”

Wheeling University Names New President

Dianna M. Vargo has been named the 14th president of Wheeling University.

Dianna M. Vargo has been named the 14th president of Wheeling University. Vargo was chosen by the Board of Trustees of the private Catholic university and Rev. Mark E. Brennan, bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling.

Vargo has served as the university’s interim chief operations officer since February, after the suspension of the previous president, Ginny Favede. The university has never given a reason for Faveda’s departure.

Known as Wheeling Jesuit University until 2019, the institution has dealt with financial issues that saw the elimination of several majors, including theology, philosophy, history, engineering and literature in recent years. In 2021, the university was placed on probation by the Higher Learning Institution for not meeting accreditation criteria, which was lifted in 2023.

In a press release, Vargo says the position “is a very exciting and important opportunity, not just for me, but for our entire faculty and staff.”

“All of us here are firmly committed to advancing this great University and providing the best learning environment for our students. I’m very grateful to Bishop Brennan, Board Chair Mr. Hendrickson, and all our Trustees for their confidence in our team,” Vargo said.

A Budget Surplus, A Coming Special Session And COVID-19 Cases Rise, This West Virginia Week

On this West Virginia Week, Gov. Jim Justice made multiple announcements during a Monday event. The governor said West Virginia residents could soon see their income taxes go down further because the state collected $826 million more in revenue than had been budgeted for this fiscal year.

On this West Virginia Week, Gov. Jim Justice made multiple announcements during a Monday event. The governor said West Virginia residents could soon see their income taxes go down further because the state collected $826 million more in revenue than had been budgeted for this fiscal year.

Justice also said he plans to call another special session of the state’s legislature in the coming months to cut an additional 5 percent from the state’s personal income tax and pass a childcare tax credit.

Plus, we’ll hear about the expansion of the Hope Scholarship and how West Virginians can track their vaccination status during a summer surge of COVID-19.

Emily Rice is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.

West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week’s biggest news in the Mountain State. It’s produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.

Learn more about West Virginia Week.

Campus Carry Goes Into Effect Across State

Campus Carry passed the West Virginia Legislature during the regular session in 2023 and is now in effect at universities and colleges across the state.

A law allowing concealed carry permit holders to carry a firearm onto the campus of any of the state’s higher education institutions goes into effect July 1.

On a morning in late June, Brian Selmeski demonstrated the utility of one of Fairmont State University’s new gun locker rooms on the ground floor of a residence hall. The lockers were set into the wall, just big enough to hold a holstered firearm along with a small amount of ammunition.

“For this side of campus, we’ve installed 24 safes,” Selmeski said. “In the other residence hall, we have 48 gun safes. They are both in rooms that are cinder block construction, they will have electronic access, which will be set by the University Police Department. They have cameras internally so we ensure that we have eyes on these firearms at all times.”

Fairmont State University Director of Housing and Residence Life Jeremiah Kibler opens the door to one of the two residence halls on campus equipped with gun lockers.

*Photo by Chris Schulz/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Selmeski is the chief of staff at Fairmont State University, where the infrastructure is largely in place for the implementation of Senate Bill 10, commonly known as Campus Carry. The law requires all colleges and universities to allow concealed carry permit holders to have weapons on campus with certain limitations, such as large campus events and residence halls. Hence the lockers.

Selmeski said the university is looking at Campus Carry as an opportunity.

A closeup of some of the stickers used on Fairmont State University’s campus to designate firearm storage and prohibited areas for Campus Carry.

*Photo by Chris Schulz/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

“We have constituencies that have strong opinions, some pro, some con,” he said. “How do we ensure we are ideologically neutral and use this as an opportunity to model the sort of civil discourse that universities are here to help foster and that our country really desperately needs right now?”

After many attempts spanning more than five years, Campus Carry passed the West Virginia Legislature during the regular session in 2023.

Previously, each university decided for themselves whether to allow firearms on campus, with most opting against. West Virginia University President Gordon Gee and Marshall University President Brad Smith published a joint statement during the session in opposition to the law, as did some of the state’s smaller universities.

“We don’t have the luxury of taking an opinion or taking a position on this law,” Selmeski said. “We need especially to model that civil discourse that I keep coming back to, make students who choose to exercise this right feel comfortable. We also need to be cognizant of the fact that it makes some of their student peers uncomfortable. So the last thing we want to do is comply with the letter of the law in a way that creates tensions between students. That’s how we’re approaching the lockers.”

SB 10 included no state funding for its implementation, and at the onset there were concerns about the ultimate cost. Fairmont State estimates they spent just over $13,000 on signage and gun lockers, but that does not include other line items including new cameras and card readers. Marshall University appropriated around $300,000 to prepare for Campus Carry.

Officials at WVU estimate they have spent around $1 million across their three primary campuses to comply with the law.

Gov. Jim Justice signed SB 10 in March of 2023, and schools had the ensuing 16 months to prepare. They’ve used all the time given to them, forming committees and holding campus conversations. WVU’s Board of Governors approved their campus carry rule in April. Fairmont State’s governors approved theirs less than three weeks ago, in June.

Corey Farris is the dean of students at West Virginia University, where students will be able to access gun lockers at residence halls at a cost of $140 per semester.

“I’d say we’re pretty much ready,” Farris said. “I mean, we still have probably a few stickers to put up on some of the offices and then just this last minute communication, just reminding people that July 1 the law takes effect.”

WVU allows single-occupancy offices to be exempt from campus carry. Speaking in front of a gun locker room in a residence hall on WVU’s Morgantown campus, Farris said just over 320 staff members have requested their offices be exempt.

That is significantly higher than the number of students that have requested access to the new lockers so far, of which there are 120 on the Morgantown campus alone.

“We’ve had four students who are living in the residence halls who’ve made that request,” Farris said. “Potomac State zero students have made that request WVU Tech, one student has made that request for a locker.

Most universities exempt on-campus health and mental health clinics from the Campus Carry requirements.

*Photo by Chris Schulz/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

West Virginia is now the twelfth state to allow campus carry, and officials at all of the schools that WVPB contacted for this story said they had spoken with their counterparts in states like Georgia, Texas and Tennessee that have already implemented their own versions of campus carry. Farris said colleagues at other state schools have told him implementation is the hardest period.

“We weren’t doing a one-time build,” he said. “We’re building this out for many years. We just want to be ready and not underprepared. It’s better to be over prepared.”

Schools across the state will be reassessing their approaches to storage, restrictions and many of the other smaller details of campus carry for years to come.

“Until we get it up and running and tweaking it, no plan survives first contact. So we’ll see how it works out,” said James Terry, director of Public Safety for Marshall University. He said their emphasis will be on personal responsibility.

“We put the responsibility on the permit holder,” Terry said. “If they’re gonna live in the residence hall, they have to lease a gun safe from a vendor, which we already have. We did not build a safe room or gun room.”

Terry said education is just as much for concealed carry permit holders on campus, as well as for the rest of the population.

“The big cultural shift for us will be, in my opinion, just educating the public on what concealed carry is,” Terry said. “You read the law, it has to be concealed at all times. But if it prints on the shirt, it’s still concealed if it’s underneath that shirt, you know, so we’re, we’re talking about our responses to that.”

That is one of the intangibles that schools will have to address moving forward, especially the perceptions around having firearms on campus and in classrooms. Selmeski said the gap between being safe and feeling safe on campus can create tension.

“Statistically, campus carry does not increase the risk of gun violence on campus,” he said. “That does absolutely nothing to make people feel safe. It’s a number, it’s not their lived reality. So how do we address the lived reality? We, we have open fora, we have robust communication, we make the complex more simple so folks can understand it.”

Whether the school communities are ready or not, the schools themselves have the necessary infrastructure in place.