[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 31 (Thursday, March 3, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S1215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       50TH ANNIVERSARY OF WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY, PARKERSBURG

 Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, today I recognize and 
celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of West Virginia 
University at Parkersburg. For five decades now, West Virginia 
University at Parkersburg has provided affordable and accessible higher 
education opportunities to the citizens of the Mid-Ohio Valley and the 
State of West Virginia.
  West Virginia University at Parkersburg began with humble roots. In 
1961, the college opened in an abandoned elementary school as the 
Parkersburg Branch of West Virginia University. One hundred and four 
students enrolled that fall.
  West Virginians believed in the ability of West Virginia University 
at Parkersburg to grow and succeed. In 1965, the citizens of Wood 
County passed a bond levy to build the college's campus at its present 
location, making it the only state-supported school to be funded by a 
local initiative. Truly, West Virginia University at Parkersburg is a 
college built by its community.
  In 1971, it became one of the State's first freestanding community 
colleges. It developed a solid reputation--which continues today for--
its quality technical programs and transfer degrees. In 1989, when the 
State legislature restructured higher education in West Virginia, it 
was reestablished as a regional campus of West Virginia University.
  Today, West Virginia University at Parkersburg is a WVU-affiliated 
institution, and is the only community college in West Virginia 
accredited to offer bachelor's degrees. Growing from its modest 
beginnings with 104 students, the commuter campus now has more than 
4,500 area residents enrolled in classes, making it the fourth-largest 
public college in West Virginia.
  Its students are a blend of traditional and nontraditional students 
pursuing more than 40 programs of study. Most are the first in their 
family to attend college. Many juggle classes, work, and often families 
as well. They may ``stop out,'' and later return. Throughout the 
campus, you can see pride in pursuing the dream and the reality of 
completing a college degree.
  And, throughout its growth and many changes, the college has stayed 
true to its mission and reinvented itself to serve changing educational 
needs and deliver workforce-ready graduates prepared to excel in a 
global economy. As it marks its 50th anniversary, West Virginia 
University at Parkersburg remains committed to serving the Mid-Ohio 
Valley region as an accessible, student-centered learning community 
that is recognized as an exceptional place to learn.
  Thousands of West Virginians have started or resumed their college 
educations at West Virginia University at Parkersburg. It truly is 
``the community's college.'' I salute Dr. Marie Gnage and the past 
presidents at West Virginia University at Parkersburg for a half 
century of excellence in education, training, and community 
engagement.

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