Photo Courtesy of WVU – West Virginia University President E. Gordon Gee delivers his State of the University handle on the College of Law’s Fitzsimmons Event Hall in Morgantown.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – In the controversy over the worth of a school training, West Virginia University President E. Gordon Gee mentioned there isn’t a lot of a debate in any respect.
“I am happy to end that debate today,” Gee mentioned throughout his annual State of the University handle. “The answer to the question of whether college is worth it is an emphatic ‘yes.’ Let me be clear: It is more than worth it.”
Gee spoke to an viewers of West Virginia University college students, college and employees gathered nearly and in particular person Monday, acknowledging whereas the price to attend WVU remains to be decrease than that of many peer establishments — on common by 15% — value is an ongoing concern for college kids and help might be an ongoing precedence for the WVU Foundation.
He emphasised that 41% of WVU’s May 2022 graduates incomes baccalaureate levels graduated with zero debt.
Long-term, in line with the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, these with bachelor’s levels are half as prone to be unemployed as these with out larger training. They additionally earn an extra $1.2 million on common over their lifetimes.
Across the WVU System, packages are creating extra accessibility, bettering affordability and graduating extra college students, Gee famous, together with by way of WVU Tech’s Upward Bound program and a versatile diploma program at Potomac State College.
“Educating our people is our central purpose, and it has never been more critical. An educated citizenry will lift us above our current challenges,” Gee mentioned.
An R1 analysis college, WVU students are additionally serving to to launch West Virginia on a brand new financial trajectory by way of developments in power, training, well being care and quite a lot of different areas such because the West Virginia Dialect Project the place college members are serving to college students perceive the fantastic thing about the Appalachian language, breaking down the stigmas related to it and nurturing respect for the tradition.
“For more than 150 years we have been the land-grant, flagship university of West Virginia and we should be proud – very proud – of that,” Gee mentioned.
Examples of successes embrace the STEAM TAC program increasing its attain throughout its second 12 months to assist lecturers develop their experience in delivering participating science, know-how, engineering, artwork and arithmetic studying experiences and the “visiting neighbor” program the place senior residents in pattern communities obtain coaching to go to aged neighbors, present companionship, educate them on wholesome way of life decisions, and join them to useful assets by way of a collaboration between Extension, well being care professionals, college from the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences and the Schools of Medicine and Nursing.
“We must never question whether we are making a difference. I can say without a doubt that there is no other university that is more committed and deeply rooted in its mission to help the students and the people of its state,” Gee mentioned.
The “visiting neighbor” program was offered throughout WVU’s first Academic Innovation Summit, a part of the University’s overarching tutorial transformation plan. It’s one in all many efforts to remodel the campus expertise, together with a modernization plan within the works together with further assets to deal with psychological well being, variety and security — every underscored with function.
Gee launched the idea of including function to WVU’s present pillars of training, well being care and prosperity throughout his 2021 State of the University remarks. Less than a 12 months later, the campus hosted its inaugural Week of Purpose.
“We believe education is not just about pursuing a major. It is about pursuing the path you want to travel for a lifetime. It is about knowing who you are and using your strengths to their fullest potential,” Gee mentioned.
- Photo Courtesy of WVU – West Virginia University President E. Gordon Gee delivers his State of the University handle on the College of Law’s Fitzsimmons Event Hall in Morgantown.