×

WVUP renews commitment to Downtown PKB

West Virginia University at Parkersburg renewed its membership in Downtown PKB’s Partner Program at a Visionary level. Downtown PKB’s Partner Program is “designed to move our organization forward into the future in terms of financial diversification and serve as a way to connect the community to our mission,” says Wendy Shriver, executive director of Downtown PKB. We took some time to speak with WVUP and talk about their outlook on downtown Parkersburg and its importance to the college’s success.

Q: What appealed to WVU Parkersburg about the Partner Program that could help WVU Parkersburg?

WVU Parkersburg is always interested in partnering with our community organizations whenever possible. As we create a stronger presence in our downtown area with a campus, we want to be able to also show our sponsorship of events – like concerts at the Point and other projects. Downtown PKB’s Partner Program is one of the great ways we are able to help enhance our community.

Q: How does WVU Parkersburg want to impact the community?

WVUP wants to impact the community by making clear our commitment that no institution of higher education will ever be more committed than we are to the communities we serve. We are right here, living, and teaching, and learning, and serving among you, 60 years and going strong. We are entirely driven by the desire to serve our students, to create a positive work environment for our employees, and to be the leader in fulfilling the workforce development, academic, and other relevant needs of the communities we serve.

Q: What does WVU Parkersburg want people to know or future students to know about WVU Parkersburg?

We want our students and future students to know that we are just as highly accredited as the larger institutions and that you can get highly personalized attention from our faculty and from staff that can only be offered at a hometown institution. We also want everyone to recognize that we honor and are proud of our legacy as a community college, but that we are also a bachelor’s degree-granting university, the only one of its kind in West Virginia. You can literally start and finish your higher education right here at WVUP and save a bundle of money in the process.

Q: Why is a vibrant downtown important to WVU Parkersburg?

WVUP is fully committed to helping nurture a vibrant downtown. We demonstrated our tangible, long-term continuing investment by recently opening a downtown Parkersburg location on Market Street which is a direct extension of the Office of the President and which is building a very important service portfolio in conjunction with business and industry leaders, elected officials, and volunteers. In my view, communities are strengthened by their resident universities, and universities are strengthened by vibrant business communities. One feeds and supports the other, and it moves in both directions.

Q: Anything new and exciting coming up in the new year for WVUP?

This is our 60th birthday year, our diamond birthday. Many exciting announcements of new programs and partnerships are forthcoming this year including our partnership with Coplin Health Systems to open a full-service health clinic on our Parkersburg campus to serve all of our students, employees, their families, and the community-at-large. WVUP supports and is a member of the ARTS of the MOV collaborative, headquartered at our campus downtown. This year we have several surprises that we’re bringing to Downtown. We also have some exciting grant applications pending, and we are hoping to be able to further build on our legacy of academic excellence and serving our communities with professionalism. It’s a Season of Love at WVUP, and we hope to continue spreading that season far and wide.

***

Jessica Strickler is the Events and Marketing Manager for Downtown PKB.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today