1/7/2011
Charleston, W.Va. - First Lady Joanne Jaeger Tomblin will underscore the importance of college completion during a series of events at each of West Virginia's community and technical colleges beginning this Monday. The First Lady will travel to the institutions and present them with the College Completion Challenge, a call to action developed by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and the Association of Community College Trustees that aims to increase student completion rates nationwide.
"We are seeing more and more West Virginians pursue postsecondary credentials, but we need a stronger emphasis than ever before on college completion," the First Lady said. "West Virginia's future economy will be strong only because of a well-prepared, educated workforce - and increasing the ranks of those with a college degree or certification is the best way to reach that goal."
Over the next five weeks, the First Lady will meet with the president of each institution as they commit to this challenge, signifying a unified statewide effort to realize an additional 16,000 West Virginians with certifications or degrees by 2015. In addition to signing on to, "Accepting the College Completion Challenge: A Call to Action," each president will receive a resolution developed by the Community and Technical College System of West Virginia (WVCTCS) that embraces the commitment of the AACC. Robert Brown, Chairman of the WVCTCS, and James Skidmore, WVCTCS Chancellor, will join the presidents in signing this resolution.
Globally, America is falling short in postsecondary achievement - and by the year 2018, more than 60 percent of jobs will require a college certificate or degree. In West Virginia, at least 20,000 additional citizens will need postsecondary credentials to meet projected workforce needs. During the past three years, enrollment in community and technical colleges has increased 21 percent and tuition has been held to an average increase of $67 per year. Concurrently, the number of college credentials awarded by community and technical colleges has increased by 24 percent.
As part of the college completion tour, the First Lady will visit with college officials, local businesses and industry representatives to discuss their ideas and issues related to community college education in West Virginia.
COLLEGE COMPLETION TOUR SCHEDULE*
Monday, January 10
Bridgemont Community and Technical College
Montgomery
Dr. Jo Harris, President
Friday, January 14
Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College
Institute
Dr. Joseph Badgely, President
New River Community and Technical College
Ghent
Dr. Ted Spring, President
Monday, January 24
West Virginia University at Parkersburg
Dr. Marie Foster Gnage, President
Tuesday, January 25
Pierpont Community and Technical College
Fairmont
Dr. Doreen Larson, President
Friday, January 28
West Virginia Northern Community and Technical College
Wheeling
Dr. Martin Olshinsky, President
Wednesday, February 9
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College
Martinsburg
Dr. Peter Checkovich, President
Thursday, February 10
Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College
Moorefield
Dr. Charles Terrell, President
TBD
Mountwest Community and Technical College
Huntington
Dr. Keith Cotroneo, President
*Logistics and further details will be released prior to each event.
Contact Information
Jacqueline Proctor
304-558-2000