West Virginia University at Parkersburg Student Government Association President Trista Scarberry signs the paperwork as the newest member of the university’s Board of Governors this week after being sworn in by Judge Timothy L. Sweeney who witnessed her signing the paperwork. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — West Virginia University at Parkersburg is seeing an increase in enrollment as the new academic year gets underway.

WVUP President Torie Jackson said the university is seeing a 3% increase in the actual student headcount with 2,597 students as of Aug. 18 compared to 2,515 students who were enrolled on Aug. 19, 2024, resulting in an increase of 82 students.

The university has a number of students taking a single class or group of classes for specific educational and training purposes and are figured as full time equivalents. Jackson said they have seen an 8% increase in those students with 1,808.80 as of Aug. 18 compared to 1,666.07 for Aug. 19, 2024, an increase of 143.73 FTEs.

Jackson said they could still see an increase of around another 200 students with last minute enrollments and early college enrollments that haven’t been factored in yet.

“We have so many reasons to be thankful,” Jackson told the WVUP Board of Governors Tuesday at the first board meeting of the new academic year. “Increasing enrollment, growing programs, new opportunities. That’s the story of WVUP.”

Jackson detailed the start of classes at the WVUP Innovation and Technology Center at the former campus of Ohio Valley University in Vienna after spending the last couple of years securing the property and beginning renovation work.

“We have the west wing of the first floor of the Innovation and Technology Center open,” she said. “It hasn’t been the easiest journey, and some might even have labeled it aggressive, but we have been able to bring students a state-of-the-art technology facility, and for that I am very grateful.

“Yes, much more needs to be done.”

There were 159 students and several faculty in class Monday at the center.

While other colleges have had to do funding cuts due to market conditions, WVUP is actually been hiring additional people as the university continues to be an economic driver for the community, Jackson said.

Jackson also talked about the university starting the STAND program, a statewide initiative for Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Nontraditional Degree. Officials at the university are starting an Artificial Intelligence Task Force.

The task force, led by Kyle Lancaster, will identify areas across the college where AI can enhance student support, academic delivery, staff productivity, and operational cost efficiency, Jackson said.

“They will prepare recommendations for the president on AI tools and implementation projects,” she said. “They will monitor AI pilots on the campus to document successes and challenges.”

As part of the university’s opening ceremony last week for employees, there was a special presentation by Stephen Lloyd, the director of the WV Office of Drug Control Policy. He shared his own story of addiction and overcoming those obstacles.

“It wasn’t an easy story to hear, but I wanted the campus to hear his powerful story to know that behind every statistic is a real person, with a life, a family, and dreams that matter,” Jackson said. “Stories like Dr. Lloyd’s break down barriers of stigma and replace them with understanding. They challenge us to look beyond the surface and see the whole person, not just the struggle.”

Jackson said Lloyd’s story encourages faculty and staff to keep an open mind as they serve their students.

“Every student walks through our doors carrying a history we may never fully know,” she said. “For some, that history includes challenges like addiction, trauma, or loss.

“When we choose to see through a lens of empathy, we begin to view education not only as the

transfer of knowledge but as an opportunity to offer stability, connection and hope.

“At WVU Parkersburg, we are committed to building that kind of supportive environment.”

The university’s partnership with health care providers ensure that physical and behavioral health services are accessible on their campus.

“Students don’t have to navigate their challenges alone–they can find care in the same place they pursue their education,” Jackson said. “WVU Parkersburg will continue to be a place where education and compassion walk hand in hand, where we treat all with respect, and where every person is given the chance to write their next chapter–no matter where their story began.”

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com.