New River Community and Technical College
Encyclopedia
New River Community and Technical College is West Virginia's newest independently accredited institution of higher education. Founded July 1, 2003, by enactment of the West Virginia Legislature
, the college was independently accredited February 8, 2005, by the Higher Learning Commission of North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
. Although newly founded and named, the college's origins span more than one hundred thirty years of service to West Virginia through its two parent institutions, Bluefield State College
and Glenville State College
.
), as mandated by HB 2224 and later refined by SB 448. Consequently, New River serves an area including Fayette
, Greenbrier
, Mercer
, Monroe
, Nicholas, Pocahontas
, Raleigh
, Summers
, and Webster Webster Counties.
There are currently 5 campuses:
The college's four campus facilities have Inter-Active Network (IVN) technologies through its distance learning labs and through web-based instruction. In addition to the Beckley Campus, a full range of community college programs and services are offered at the Bluefield Campus (co-located on the campus of Bluefield State College), at the Greenbrier Valley Campus (located in Lewisburg), and at the Nicholas County Campus (located in Summersville).
The college's Center for Workforce and Business Development offers a variety of customized training and workforce development programs that address the training needs of employers within the college's designated service district. During the past decade, programs and training have been provided that impact more than 7,000 employees from more than sixty companies. Additionally, in partnership with local vocational centers, the Region 1 Workforce Investment Board, and other educational partners, New River designs customized certificate programs that emphasize industries and skills in which participants can obtain employment quickly and help to alleviate workforce shortages in critical industries that are targeted for growth and economic impact. These programs are designed specifically for adults with little or no postsecondary education, thus increasing adult access to higher education while providing training that is immediately relevant to the adult's employment goal.
to be located on the main floor level. Also included on this level is an easily
accessible, 20000 square feet (1,858.1 m²) technology center that can serve both the
academic and workforce development training needs of the counties served by
the campus. Appropriate space is dedicated to student services including
development education, library and digital resource center, as well as a “front
door” presence for college recruitment, admissions, and marketing services. The
organization of the space along a powerful central axis will establish a sense of
community within the structure, accommodate a continuous series of student and
faculty interaction space, and create a clear connection from the main campus
entrance to the subsequent phases of formal green spaces.
The upper floors of the facility will provide for a variety of general
academic, science and health laboratory, and faculty spaces. The vertical
circulation core, combined with both axial and radial circulation spines, can yield
a broad range of classroom sizes and arrangements, while maintaining close
connectivity with offices and, more importantly, student gathering areas.
Architecturally, the Beckley campus of New River Community and
Technical College should be a dramatic expression of modern collegiate design.
With strong foundations in classic materials, proportions, and details successfully
integrated into a contemporary fabric of form and space, this facility will be
attractive to students and business and industry partners of the region.
While the administration has attempted to obtain funding for this project over the past several years, no funding has been appropriated by the state to allow the facilitation of the "Master Plan". Partially as a result of its separation from Bluefield State College, the institution has recently completed several major projects. A new gigabit network with fiber to each of six locations throughout southern West Virginia was completed in August 2009. An entirely new VoIP phone system was completed in January 2010. And the College completed the transition from WebCT to ANGEL in January 2010 as well.
West Virginia Legislature
The West Virginia Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of West Virginia. A bicameral legislative body, the Legislature is split between the upper Senate and the lower House of Delegates. It was established under Article VI of the West Virginia Constitution following the state's...
, the college was independently accredited February 8, 2005, by the Higher Learning Commission of North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools , also known as the North Central Association, is a membership organization, consisting of colleges, universities, and schools in 19 U.S. states, that is engaged in educational accreditation...
. Although newly founded and named, the college's origins span more than one hundred thirty years of service to West Virginia through its two parent institutions, Bluefield State College
Bluefield State College
Bluefield State College is a historically black college located in Bluefield, West Virginia, United States. It is a part of West Virginia's public education system and offers baccalaureate and associate degrees. The school is not connected in any way with Bluefield College in nearby Bluefield,...
and Glenville State College
Glenville State College
Glenville State College is a public four-year college located in Glenville, a town in the rural north-central part of the U.S. state of West Virginia.-History:...
.
Origins
New River was created by combining the community and technical college component of Bluefield State College with Glenville State College's community and technical college campus in Nicholas County (SummersvilleSummersville, West Virginia
Summersville is a town in Nicholas County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 3,194 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Nicholas County.-Geography:...
), as mandated by HB 2224 and later refined by SB 448. Consequently, New River serves an area including Fayette
Fayette County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 47,579 people, 18,945 households, and 13,128 families residing in the county. The population density was 72 people per square mile . There were 21,616 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile...
, Greenbrier
Greenbrier County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 34,453 people, 14,571 households, and 9,922 families residing in the county. The population density was 34 people per square mile . There were 17,644 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...
, Mercer
Mercer County, West Virginia
-External links:* * * * * * *...
, Monroe
Monroe County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,583 people, 5,447 households, and 3,883 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile . There were 7,267 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
, Nicholas, Pocahontas
Pocahontas County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,131 people, 835 households, and 527 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile . There were 7,594 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile...
, Raleigh
Raleigh County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 79,220 people, 31,793 households, and 22,096 families residing in the county. The population density was 130 people per square mile . There were 35,678 housing units at an average density of 59 per square mile...
, Summers
Summers County, West Virginia
Summers County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 13,927. Its county seat is Hinton. Summers County was created by an act of the West Virginia General Assembly on February 27, 1871 from parts of Fayette, Greenbrier, Mercer and Monroe...
, and Webster Webster Counties.
There are currently 5 campuses:
- Beckley - Main Campus, also houses Central Administration
- Princeton
- Lewisburg
- Summersville
- Beaver - New River Community and Technical College is one of eight West Virginia colleges and universities working together in the new Erma Byrd Public Higher Education Center in Beaver.
Degree programs and curriculum
New River offers ten Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree programs; thirteen Associate in Science (A.S.) degree programs; two Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A.) degrees; Collegiate Certificates; and Collegiate Skill Set Certificates. A number of the A.S. degree programs articulated with and transfer to four-year baccalaureate programs at Bluefield State and Glenville State Colleges, as well as other state-supported institutions. The A.A.S. degree programs, often considered the terminal degree for immediate employment, are offered in the areas of laboratory science, child care practitioner, paraprofessional in education, banking, emergency management, environmental science, and networking operating systems administration. Customized training and workforce development programs are offered as Collegiate Skill Set Certificates and include areas of phlebotomy, medical/dental front office specialist, medical transcriptionist, and industrial maintenance.The college's four campus facilities have Inter-Active Network (IVN) technologies through its distance learning labs and through web-based instruction. In addition to the Beckley Campus, a full range of community college programs and services are offered at the Bluefield Campus (co-located on the campus of Bluefield State College), at the Greenbrier Valley Campus (located in Lewisburg), and at the Nicholas County Campus (located in Summersville).
The college's Center for Workforce and Business Development offers a variety of customized training and workforce development programs that address the training needs of employers within the college's designated service district. During the past decade, programs and training have been provided that impact more than 7,000 employees from more than sixty companies. Additionally, in partnership with local vocational centers, the Region 1 Workforce Investment Board, and other educational partners, New River designs customized certificate programs that emphasize industries and skills in which participants can obtain employment quickly and help to alleviate workforce shortages in critical industries that are targeted for growth and economic impact. These programs are designed specifically for adults with little or no postsecondary education, thus increasing adult access to higher education while providing training that is immediately relevant to the adult's employment goal.
Growth - new master plan
New River's high quality of education and low tuition has caused a rapid increase in enrollment. Because of this, New River has devised a "Master Plan" to rebuild each campus, with the headquarters and largest campus remaining in Beckley. Phase One of the site plan will be the creation of an efficiently designed structure to house multiple functions. The Central Administration suite is plannedto be located on the main floor level. Also included on this level is an easily
accessible, 20000 square feet (1,858.1 m²) technology center that can serve both the
academic and workforce development training needs of the counties served by
the campus. Appropriate space is dedicated to student services including
development education, library and digital resource center, as well as a “front
door” presence for college recruitment, admissions, and marketing services. The
organization of the space along a powerful central axis will establish a sense of
community within the structure, accommodate a continuous series of student and
faculty interaction space, and create a clear connection from the main campus
entrance to the subsequent phases of formal green spaces.
The upper floors of the facility will provide for a variety of general
academic, science and health laboratory, and faculty spaces. The vertical
circulation core, combined with both axial and radial circulation spines, can yield
a broad range of classroom sizes and arrangements, while maintaining close
connectivity with offices and, more importantly, student gathering areas.
Architecturally, the Beckley campus of New River Community and
Technical College should be a dramatic expression of modern collegiate design.
With strong foundations in classic materials, proportions, and details successfully
integrated into a contemporary fabric of form and space, this facility will be
attractive to students and business and industry partners of the region.
While the administration has attempted to obtain funding for this project over the past several years, no funding has been appropriated by the state to allow the facilitation of the "Master Plan". Partially as a result of its separation from Bluefield State College, the institution has recently completed several major projects. A new gigabit network with fiber to each of six locations throughout southern West Virginia was completed in August 2009. An entirely new VoIP phone system was completed in January 2010. And the College completed the transition from WebCT to ANGEL in January 2010 as well.