News Archive

WVU Tech at the 2010 WV State Fair

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 20:49:00 EST

The weekend of August 13-15, WVU Tech faculty, staff, and students joined WVU in the 2010 WV State Fair festivities. WVU Tech nursing students provided free blood pressure readings to fair spectators, while chemistry professor, Dr. Hasan El-Rifai, discussed renewable fuel alternatives with the audience. Tech volunteers distributed more than 1,200 drawstring bags (stuffed with WVU Tech major information) to students at the fair. The event provided a great opportunity to showcase Tech’s outstanding academic programs and upcoming alumni and athletic events.

WVU Tech receives $1.7 million federal grant to fund Student Support Services

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:12:00 EST

West Virginia University Institute of Technology has once again been selected to receive federal funding from the Department of Education under the Student Support Services Program to provide academic and other support services to low-income, first-generation or disabled students to increase post-secondary educational opportunities.

Thanks to the support of Congressman Nick Rahall, Senator Jay Rockefeller, and the late Senator Robert Byrd, WVU Tech will receive $354,116 to support the on-campus Student Support Services program. These funds are for the period of September 1, 2010 through August 31, 2011 and are anticipated to be renewed for a total of five years totaling more than $1.7 million in support. WVU Tech has received this federal funding consistently since 1971.

“We are excited and grateful to once again be a recipient of this federal grant, which enables us to continue providing critical services such as tutoring, counseling, and career planning for first-generation, low-income, and disabled students – ensuring their future success,” said Patricia Hopkins, WVU Tech’s Interim Director of Student Support Services.

The new grant will enable WVU Tech’s Student Support Services (SSS) unit to serve 185 students each year. These services include: academic counseling, assistance securing federal student financial aid, career counseling, tutoring, and graduate school application assistance. Eligible student participants must be United States citizens, enrolled in a four-year degree program and meet certain federal criteria. Students can apply to the program at any point in their undergraduate career and at any point in the semester.

Richard Carpinelli, Dean of Students at WVU Tech explained, “Our students’ achievements are evidence of the success of our Student Support Services program. In fact, 85% of our students that have participated in the program over the last four years have remained in good academic standing with a persistence rate of 74%.”

WVU Tech to close Friday, July 2, to honor and celebrate the life of the late Senator Robert C. Byrd

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:44:00 EST

Governor Joe Manchin has declared Friday, July 2, as a special day of observance in honor of Sen. Robert C. Byrd, who passed away early Monday at the age of 92.

State employees, including those at the West Virginia University Institute of Technology, will observe the order which provides employees an opportunity to remember and celebrate the life of our state’s senior senator.

Classes, special training events, deadlines for submission of documents and other events and deadlines may be impacted by the unplanned addition of this day of observance. Employees are encouraged to contact their supervisors with any questions as soon as possible.

Employees who requested annual leave Friday will not be charged for the day and should take actions to rescind or cancel the leave request.

Please take this opportunity to join fellow citizens in honoring and celebrating the life and accomplishments of Senator Byrd. A public, formal memorial service honoring his life will take place at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, July 2, at the State Capitol’s North Plaza.

College of BHSS names recipients of the Jack and Constance Robertson Scholarship

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:41:00 EST

The College of Business, Humanities and Social Sciences of the West Virginia University Institute of Technology is pleased to announce the recipients of the Jack and Constance Robertson Scholarship.

Dean of the college, Dr. Stephen Brown, and Jane Dunshie, daughter of Jack and Constance Robertson, were on hand to present the scholarship awards to David Anthony Riggs and Deanna Whitley.

During the meeting, Mrs. Dunshie talked to the students about her late father who was a former dean and professor of economics and sociology at WVU Tech, and told stories about the accomplishments of both her parents. She also took videos of the two recipients as they spoke about their college experiences and future plans to share with her mother, who was unable to attend. Mrs. Dunshie believes that her parents would have enjoyed meeting the two recipients.

“I, too, think that Jack would have enjoyed meeting these remarkable students,” stated Dr. Brown. “David is a senior with a 4.0 GPA who is majoring in history and government, and Deanna is also a senior with a 3.79 GPA who is majoring in psychology. Both are dedicated and creative students who have a bright future ahead.”

Each recipient received a $2,500 scholarship for the 2010 – 2011 academic year.

WVU Tech announces new Director of RBA and Early Enrollment Programs

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 07:45:00 EST

Dr. Stephen Brown, dean of the College of Business, Humanities and Social Sciences, is pleased to announce the recent hiring of Dr. Sandra Angius as Director of RBA and Early Enrollment Programs at the West Virginia University Institute of Technology.

“Dr. Angius brings to this position an outstanding background in education that will benefit our Bachelor of Arts and Early Enrollment programs here at Tech,” states Brown. “After an extensive search, I am confident that Dr. Angius’s distinguished performance though-out her career will enable her to be immediately effective in driving these programs forward.”

“As a proud alumnus of WVU Tech, I am excited to return to the campus in my new role as Director of RBA and Early Enrollment Programs. Supporting youth and adults as they pursue a college education will be a privilege that I will take seriously and will strive to be a positive advocate and resource for them. I look forward to being a part of the WVU Tech community,” says Angius.

Angius comes to Tech from Edvantia, Inc. in Charleston, where she served as Vice President of Programs and as Director of the Center for Education Services. During her thirteen year tenure with Edvantia, Dr. Angius was instrumental in the design and creation of the Center for Education Services; led the design and writing teams in the successful funding of several multi-million dollar grants; directed the start-up, recruitment and training of staff, and designed the infrastructure in support of several significant grant programs.

Angius also played a key role in ensuring the successful launch of Edvantia’s Arlington, VA, office which operated there for the eight-year period, 1997-2005. Most recently, she was West Virginia’s Technical Assistance Coordinator for the Mid-Atlantic Equity Center operated by The George Washington University Center for Equity and Excellence in Education.

Prior to her work with Edvantia, Angius was employed as Director of Research Coordination for the West Virginia Department of Education, and Director of Upward Bound at Marshall University.

In addition to her degree from WVU Tech, Angius also holds an M.A. from Marshall University and an Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration from West Virginia University.

AEP donates $20K to support student programming at WVU Tech

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 12:05:00 EST

American Electric Power has donated $20,000 to support student programming at the West Virginia University Institute of Technology for the 2010 – 2011 academic year.

“The Division of Student Affairs is grateful to AEP for this generous gift and will use it to support provocative and challenging student programming designed to connect classroom learning with opportunities to debate and think critically about real-world issues,” said Dean of Students, Richard Carpinelli.

WVU Tech will use this gift to present a series of AEPower Hot Topic Debates during the 2010-11 academic year. The series will create opportunities to discuss and analyze important national and international issues.

“Through this program, we hope to create awareness and prompt critical thinking about such possible topics as global warming, renewable energy, national health care, social responsibility, mountaintop mining and immigration.”

Individuals who are interested in contributing to the AEPower Hot Topics Debate program are encouraged to contact Mr. Carpinelli at (304) 442.3158.

WVU Tech's campus-wide Strategic Plan for 2015 goes On-line

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 15:03:00 EST

The West Virginia University Institute of Technology’s Campus Provost, Dr. Scott Hurst, is pleased to announce that WVU Tech’s campus-wide strategic plan for 2015 is now available on-line.

“I am proud to say that the entire Tech community was involved in contributing to our strategic planning process. Tech’s faculty, staff, and student organizations have all approved the strategic plan. Part of its success is because we communicated honestly, openly and transparently at all times. The WVU Tech community is fully committed to the hard work ahead to achieve our vision,” states Hurst.

This on-line document is based on months of work that began in December 2009 and January 2010, when WVU Tech’s Cabinet members attended a strategic planning retreat. Following those meetings with key administrators and staff, WVU Tech developed its “2015 Vision Statement.” A series of public meetings presented this vision to the greater WVU Tech community of faculty, staff, students, and others.

“WVU Tech’s Classified Staff Council and Faculty Assembly unanimously approved the “2015 Vision Statement” and our Student Government Association passed a resolution of support for the Strategic Planning Process,” Hurst adds.

He continues, “Seven key initiatives were identified to make the vision and strategic plan a reality. Each initiative was developed in a workgroup that consisted of volunteers from our community and was facilitated by a workgroup leader. These workgroups met this spring to add to and articulate each initiative. The initiatives are interdependent, with the success of one area heavily dependent on the success of the other areas. “

WVU Tech’s on-line document provides an outline of the goals and timetables for each of the seven initiatives to achieve the 2015 vision.

“I look forward with great enthusiasm to collaborating again, and over the long term, with people who are keenly dedicated to making Tech stronger and better than it is today,” says Hurst.

To see WVU Tech’s vision for 2015 and how it will get there click here .

WVU Tech Associate Provost meets welcoming Alumni deep in the heart of Texas

Thu, 27 May 2010 08:48:00 EST

The Texas Leadership Board, from left to right; Derick Meadows, Monjur Rahman, Mary Richmond, Valori Ranson, Alysia Bucci, John Katok, Garth Thomas, WVU Tech Associate Provost

Recently, Associate Provost, Garth Thomas, traveled to Texas to meet and greet some of WVU Tech’s faithful alumni who reside in the Longhorn State.

The Texas Chapter of the WVU Tech Alumni hosted a dinner at Brady’s Landing Restaurant in Houston on April 10. During the event, which had 26 alumni plus their guests in attendance, Thomas presented a certificate of appreciation to Valori Ranson for her work on the WVU Tech Chem E Advisory Board and as the Texas Chapter Alumni president.

Thomas also provided the gathering with an update on events on the Montgomery campus. “I had a great time meeting Tech’s alumni and was honored to be asked to speak. I enjoyed talking with former students who share a passion for this University,” he said.

During the event, Alysia Bucci, alumni chapter secretary, gave an update on the Texas chapter. The group is for alumni and friends of West Virginia Tech or WVU Tech, who are interested in maintaining contact with each other, meeting on a regular basis, promoting WVU Tech, networking, and/or finding old friends. Of the 200 alumni in Texas that the chapter is aware of, 100 alums live in Houston and 50 in the Dallas area.

“I was privileged to be the representative of our University at the dinner,” added Thomas, “It is proof positive that there are friends of Tech out there who care about this institution and it’s continued growth and success.”

WVU Tech history professor, Dr. Paul Rakes, in national spotlight

Tue, 25 May 2010 09:26:00 EST

Dr. Paul Rakes is a humble man. If you ask him, he will say he’s not certain how much of an expert he is, that he’s just an old coal miner who empathizes when disasters happen.

Following the April 5th disaster in the Upper Big Branch Mine, Rakes, associate professor of history at the West Virginia University Institute of Technology, was interviewed by national media to share his expertise and impressions on mining and mine safety.

Rakes was contacted by the Washington Post; was interviewed for the PBS Jim Lehrer News Hour; appeared on the Talk of the Nation call in radio show from Washington D.C.; acted as an advisor to ABC news; was interviewed by and quoted in a Canadian newspaper, The Globe and Mail; and spoke on West Virginia Public Radio prior to the miner’s memorial service in Beckley, WV.

“I know there were several additional newspaper pieces based on interviews with me,” says Rakes, “but it wasn’t crucial for me to make note of them all. It was more important for me to address the tragedy, the perception and reality of the mines, and how these types of disasters can both happen and be prevented.”

Rakes is a third generation coal miner who was born in a West Virginia coal camp and worked in the coal industry for twenty years. He holds a master’s degree in history from Marshall University and a Ph.D. in history from West Virginia University where he specialized in Appalachian history while concentrating on coal politics, technology and disasters in West Virginia.

“To this day I still feel a cultural bond with coal miners and my heart aches for the families and communities who are so devastated when such a tragedy occurs. If my interviews added any insight, or found a way to continue to drive home the necessity of mining safety regulations and strong enforcement, then maybe I have helped in some small way,” Rakes adds.

Following the Sago explosion in 2006, Rakes was also contacted for his expertise. One of his many interviews was for a Lehrer News Hour special report and he was filmed in his office and the hallways of Old Main on WVU Tech’s campus in Montgomery.

New Director of Admissions and Recruitment Named

Mon, 24 May 2010 15:15:00 EST

WVU Tech Campus Provost, Dr. Scott Hurst, is pleased to announce the appointment of Reeta Piirala-Skoglund as Director of Admissions and Recruitment.

“After a national search I am confident that Mrs. Piirala-Skoglund is the right fit for this position and that she will do an exceptional job,” says Hurst. “Reeta brings a depth of knowledge and experience that will enable her to be immediately effective here.”

“I am excited to join the team at WVU Tech and am looking forward to the challenges and opportunities in growing the Montgomery campus. This is the right time to make positive changes and the campus community is poised to grow,” adds Piirala-Skoglund.

Piirala-Skoglund, who begins her position on June 1, comes to WVU Tech from Indiana University Kokomo where she worked in and led the admissions office for the past six years. While there, she created the annual and long-term strategic recruitment plans, developed new policy and implemented successful changes to increase recruitment and retention, and managed the operations of the admissions office.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics and a master’s degree in business administration. Originally from Finland, Piirala-Skoglund has lived in the United States for the past ten years. She and her family are looking forward to living in West Virginia.