FAIRMONT, W.Va. – House Bill 2805, the measure to reunify Fairmont State University and Pierpont College of Community and Technical Education is moving to the House Education Committee.
Mon County Delegate Joe Statler is the lead sponsor on the legislation that Fairmont State University Board of Governor’s Chairman, David Goldberg says will better support students at all levels.
“Now we have the opportunity to take two good strong organizations and create the model back to where we started a few years back,” Goldberg said,” Traditional students and non-traditional students having a consistent pathway to success.”
On WAJR’s Talk of the Town, Goldberg said there will be no major staff reorganizations, but there will advantages in economies of scale.
“Take some of the excess money, reinvest it back into the programs,” Goldberg said,” Mechanics for aeronautical to tie in to what’s going on in Harrison County and the airport in Clarksburg.”
Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker is the Chancellor of the West Virginia Community and Technical College System and Chancellor of the Higher Education Policy Commission sets the standards for the technical system and there will be no deviation. Additionally, Goldberg says they want maintain solid systems for traditional and non-traditional students.
“Has requirements for a community technical college and a university- the certificates, the degrees, the two year associates degrees lead by the state-we will follow it,” Goldberg said,” The free tuition for the community college students will continue.”
The Board of Governors for the merged institution will be expanded to include representatives from trades and professional careers from the area.
“Have a better opportunity to advance together rather than fighting for the same resources,” Goldberg said,” And sometimes not, in my opinion, investing in right way to succeed on a greater scale.”
Goldberg says the unified institution will be a benefit to North Central West Virginia, industries and perspective students.
“I think together we can have a model to show a broader way to reduce cost and improve dollars of investment,” Goldberg said.