Leaders of Eastern, WVU Potomac State College, share collaboration ideas

October 26, 2022

MOOREFIELD, W.Va. – Building on an August meeting in Keyser between leaders of Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College and WVU-Potomac State College, administrators with WVU-PSC traveled to Moorefield on Oct. 25 to return the visit and participate in a session on collaboration projects between the colleges.

A group of people.
The leadership teams of West Virginia University Potomac State College and Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College recently met to discuss ways in which the two institutions can collaborate with one another. Participating in the discussion were: (front, l-r) Taylor Hill, WVU PSC marketing manager; Kimberly Colebank, WVU PSC director of development; and Monica Wilson, Eastern dean of student services; (back) Megan Webb, Eastern dean of advancement and continuing education; Phillip Douthitt, WVU PSC dean of academic affairs; Thomas Striplin, Eastern president; Christopher Gilmer, WVU PSC interim campus president; Scott McVicker, WVU PSC executive director of finance and operations; Beth Little, WVU PSC dean of enrollment management; and Lucas Taylor, WVU PSC dean of student experience.

Thomas Striplin, Ed.D., president of Eastern, and Christopher Gilmer, Ph.D., interim campus president at WVU-PSC, led the discussion. Suggestions for potential joint initiatives were wide-ranging and included the development and streamlining of articulation agreements and dual-enrollment programs, workforce training initiatives, community education projects, and more.

A common refrain during the meeting was a desire to improve educational opportunities for all residents across the Potomac Highlands.

“We are all committed to modeling collaboration toward community enhancement and student success in our shared region of the state,” said Gilmer. “Collaboration matters.”

Two professionally dressed men
The presidents for the two colleges, Thomas Striplin (from left) and Chris Gilmer, initially discussed the potential for joint initiatives between the two institutions in August. The Oct. 25 meeting added more voices to the discussion and led to the development of a list of ideas from which to choose for collaboration projects.

As a next step, the two institutions will review the list of suggestions for effectiveness and feasibility before narrowing down the options and selecting two collaboration projects.

“On behalf of Eastern,” said Striplin, “we look forward to collaborating with PSC on educational partnerships that will help serve the region and our students.”

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