News for WVU Potomac State College

Kristin Ruddle, a former Potomac State College graduate from Brandywine, W.Va., has been named to WVU’s Order of Augusta for 2020. 

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Envisioning a return of students to its three campuses in the fall, the West Virginia University Board of Governors announced Friday (May 1) that base tuition and fees will remain unchanged for the academic year beginning in August. 

“We have every hope and expectation of safely resuming in-person education in Morgantown, Beckley and Keyser for the fall semester,” President Gordon Geesaid. “The safety and well-being of students, faculty and staff, as well as the community will drive decisions, but we believe it will be possible to restart classes on campus, albeit with new measures, guidelines and precautions to inhibit the spread of COVID-19.”

Nikki Cannon, a biology major from Fort Ashby, W.Va, was named the Outstanding Student of the Year for 2020 at West Virginia University Potomac State College during the College’s Recognition Day Awards/Whitmore-Gates Scholars’ Wall ceremony.  

West Virginia University Potomac State College recently held its 80th Recognition Day Awards ceremony during which students were recognized and presented with various awards. Additionally, honorees were named to the Whitmore-Gates Scholars’ Wall.  

“The hard work, dedication, progress, and achievements of our students should never go unnoticed, and while we were unable to gather in-person this year, we were still able to share in the joy and excitement of honoring many of our students virtually,” stated Professor Sheri Chisholm, PhD, who also serves as the Honors Program coordinator.  Following is a list of awards and the recipients. 

Written by Potomac State College Student Jason Littleton

WVU Potomac State College Campus President Jennifer Orlikoff provided details regarding student emergency financial assistance in a letter sent to parents and students on Tuesday, April 7. 

West Virginia University Potomac State College will conduct a virtual commencement ceremony this spring as the result of the continued threat of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. The College’s action coincides with that of WVU in Morgantown and its other divisional campus, WVU Institute of Technology, in Beckley, W.Va.

This decision came after WVU in Morgantown and its divisional campuses extended alternative delivery of classes to online learning through the remainder of the spring semester. All employees, except for essential personnel, are working from home and residence halls remain closed. Every event on campus has been cancelled and athletic competitions suspended.  

West Virginia University students, including those on the WVU Potomac State campus, will be able to more easily focus on transitioning to online courses during the COVID-19 outbreak instead of being troubled about maintaining their scholarship eligibility during the end of the spring semester, as the University system has taken steps to continue making higher education affordable.

WVU, including the Potomac State College campus, will reduce the minimum grade point average to 2.75 for all merit-based scholarships, making it easier for students, parents, faculty and staff to know the renewal requirements. However, students will still need to earn 30 hours per academic year.

A WVU student works on a lap top computer (WVU Photo)

Due to ever-growing global concerns regarding COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus, WVU Potomac State College will follow the lead of the Morgantown campus by implementing proactive measures, which means all on-campus events have been canceled through April 9, including, the Mineral County Maple Market (March 21); the STEM Festival (March 28); and the on-stage production of Disney’s High School Musical (March 20-29), among others. 

Refunds to individuals who bought tickets on Eventbrite for the College’s on-stage performance of Disney’s High School Musical have already been requested by the College and people should see their refunds within seven business days.