Potomac State College Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

WVU Governors Approve More Cuts To Academic Programs

The West Virginia University (WVU) Board of Governors voted to discontinue five academic programs at its regular meeting Friday.

Chemistry, mathematics and aviation management will be cut from the offerings at the WVU Institute of Technology in Beckley, while majors in recreation, parks, and tourism resources and wood science and technology will be discontinued at Potomac State College in Keyser.

The preliminary recommendations for the programs at Beckley cited low enrollment as the primary motivations for the cuts. Low enrollment was also cited for cutting the programs at Keyser, as well as their discontinuation at the Morgantown campus.

The vote is the latest part of the university’s academic transformation. That process was accelerated by the announcement of a $45 million budget shortfall last year which resulted in the board cutting nearly 30 majors and hundreds of faculty positions at the Morgantown campus.

The board also approved Friday a budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, including per-semester tuition and fee increases of more than $200 for resident students and $600 for non-resident students. It was noted that the projected budget shortfall has been closed and the university’s cash on hand has increased over the last year.

January 31, 1945: Army Sergeant Jonah Edward Kelley Killed in Action

In the early morning hours of January 31, 1945, Army Sergeant Jonah Edward Kelley died after leading an assault on the German community of Kesternich.

Despite being wounded, Kelley had led his men on a ferocious attack the day before. That night, he refused evacuation to a field hospital and continued leading his men the next day, when he was further wounded and died.

Kelley was initially buried in The Netherlands but later returned to Mineral County for reburial. Because of Kelley’s efforts, Kesternich fell to the Americans, and he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Kelley was a native of Rada in Mineral County. He played football and basketball at Keyser High School and then attended Potomac State College before being drafted.

His military sacrifice has been recognized in many ways. Named for him are the Kelley Barracks near Stuttgart, Germany; a Navy ship; an Army Reserve facility at Fort Dix; and a bridge on Route 46 in Mineral County.

In 1946, Keyser High School established a J. Edward Kelley Society, which awards an annual scholarship to a graduating football or basketball player.

Board Approves Tuition Increases at Three W.Va. Institutions

The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission has approved tuition and fee increases sought by West Virginia University, Potomac State College of WVU and West Virginia State University.

The commission voted on the increases at its regular meeting Monday.

In a news release, the commission said the board voted 5-2 to approve WVU’s plan to increase in-state undergraduate tuition and fees by 9.7 percent for the 2015-2016 academic year. Out-of-state undergraduate costs will increase by 4.9 percent.

The commission voted 6-1 to allow West Virginia State to increase both in-state and out-of-state undergraduate tuition by 7 percent.

By a 5-2 vote, the commission approved Potomac State’s plan to increase in-state undergraduate tuition and fees by 8.1 percent. The school is raising out-of-state undergraduate costs by 5.5 percent.