FAIRMONT, W.Va. – The Fairmont State Board of Governors has approved curriculum expansion in five additional areas of study for students. The proposals will next be reviewed for approval by the Higher Education Policy Commission.
The proposals include a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care and Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science with concentrations including Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology. Upon approval, Health Information Technology and Administer in Training concentrations will be available to students pursuing a Master of Science in Healthcare Management. A Police Academy concentration, minor and certificate to be offered through the College of Liberal Arts were also among the curricula presented.
In addition to the proposals pending approval from the HEPC, Fairmont State has introduced 10 new programs within the past three years. New partnerships and academic opportunities are expected as Pierpont Community and Technical College continues to move away from Fairmont State campuses.
“The mutual agreement to separate Fairmont State and Pierpont will provide positive outcomes as we move forward. We’ll now be able to utilize more of our spaces on campus to increase instruction capabilities,” said Rusty Hutson Jr., Fairmont State University Board of Governors Vice Chair. “This will afford us opportunities to improve existing programs. As Pierpont vacates Fairmont State’s campus, we will also look to President Mirta M. Martin’s leadership to expand our academic programs and the one-of-a-kind opportunities offered to Fairmont State students.”
The Memorandum of Understanding written and signed by representatives from both Fairmont State and Pierpont was established with full support of West Virginia Governor Jim Justice and the HEPC. The document outlines plans for the transfer of assets from Fairmont State to Pierpont, along with an agreement upon an exit of Pierpont from all Locust Avenue Campus spaces by June 30, 2022. The document also details the transfer of ownership of the Gaston Caperton Center in Clarksburg and all adjacent land, along with the Braxton Campus from Fairmont State to Pierpont.
In addition to Fairmont State’s Locust Avenue Campus facilities, Pierpont will vacate the Robert C. Byrd National Aerospace Education Center to construct a new hangar with 2.5 million dollars in funds provided by the state for its Aviation Maintenance Program. The new facility will allow the university to grow student program offerings through the Aviation Center of Excellence. The Aviation Center of Excellence will welcome the inaugural class of cadets to the summer 2021 U.S. Air Force Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corps Flight Academy. Fairmont State is one of 25 universities throughout the nation that has partnered with the U.S. Air Force to provide opportunities to JROTC cadets.
“We are sharply focused on providing quality, transformative educational opportunities at Fairmont State University, and continuously seeking ways to ensure we are best serving our students,” said David Goldberg, Fairmont State University Board of Governors Chairman. “As Pierpont vacates our campuses and develops their programs in their own facilities as a sovereign academic organization, we look forward to increased capacities for instruction and the expansion of programs, further enhancing the high-touch Fairmont State experience. We look forward to ongoing collaboration with Pierpont to find ways to enhance the workforce and grow talent right here in our community to benefit our growth and viability for the region we serve.”