Profile & History

West Virginia University Institute of Technology was established by the State Legislature in 1895 as Montgomery Preparatory School, a branch of West Virginia University. With the development of local district high schools, it was assigned a vocational education role beginning in 1917 and its name was changed to West Virginia Trade School. In 1921, again responding to changing community needs, it became a junior college, New River State School, with the primary function of training teachers for regional elementary schools. As a result of its growth to baccalaureate degree status, it became New River State College in 1931. By 1941, in response to demands for personnel from industries and businesses, the institution added technical and business programs. Recognizing this new role, the State legislature renamed the College the West Virginia Institute of Technology. In 1952, the College began to offer bachelor degrees in engineering. This marked the first instance in which a West Virginia four-year college had developed a specialized role in providing educational services to its constituencies. In response to regional needs, Tech established community college programming in 1966. A master of engineering program was added in 1978.

By an act of the 1996 Legislature on July 1, 1996 the college became a regional campus of West Virginia University and was renamed West Virginia University Institute of Technology.

WVU Tech is WVU's southernmost regional campus. Since programs offered by WVU Tech are primarily career oriented, the institution acknowledges the primacy of instruction, but it also encourages faculty to research in their respective fields, as a valuable concomitant to good instruction. Within the realm of public service, WVU Tech also stresses the importance of continuing education to serve the needs of the people of the region, including those in the industrial, business, and educational communities. WVU-Morgantown and WVU Tech, along with the other regional campuses, are working together to use technology to expand offerings available to students in the southern part of the state.

Baccalaureate degrees are offered in engineering, the sciences, computer science, business areas, social sciences, nursing, and humanities, and engineering technologies. Associate degrees are offered in engineering and industrial technologies, health, business, and general studies, The College also offers a Regents degree program for nontraditional students as well as extension and continuing education. One graduate degree, the master's of engineering, is offered. Tech maintains a cooperative education program for students majoring in degree programs and remedial education for those admitted to the College hut not eligible for entrance into degree programs. The institution also offers a limited number of certificate programs in business and technology.

Phone: (888)-554-TECH