Campus
Communicator
AUGUST • 2015
Annual All-College Day
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Taking the pledge at the end of the day to offer the best customer service to our students that we can.
The Weirton, Wheeling and New Martinsville campuses were closed on Tuesday,
Aug. 18, so that the College could hold internal meetings during its annual All-College Day event. Faculty and staff gathered on the Wheeling campus for a full day of
informational and training sessions.
After new employees were introduced by Peggy Carmichael, chief human resources
officer, and a short video was presented by Bob DeFrancis, dean of community relations, colleagues were given the State of the College by Presi­dent Riley. In addition,
updates were given by Drs. Carry DeAtley on academic affairs and David Shahan on
economic and workforce development.
Those gathered also were briefed on safety and security issues at the College and on
the new plans for orientation for students by CJ Farnsworth. Budget information was
presented by CFO Steve Lippiello and more than a dozen College employees presented a detailed look at issues involving how to deal with interpersonal violence on
and off campus. Accomplishments relating to the Higher Learning Commission visit,
1. The IT and IR crew pose for a quick pic, from left, Jason Woods, Shelley DeLuca, John
Mehaffey, Chris Corbin and Matt Starkey.
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2. The New Martinsville gang grabs coffee at snack break, from left, Dennis Bills, photobombers Barb Coburn and Margaret DeCola, Ina Robinson and Bob Gibb.
3. Our chefs, from left, Gene Evans and Chris Kefauver.
4. Faculty members strike a pose, from left, Rita Berry, Debbie Fitzgerald, photobomber
Margaret DeCola, Richelle Brinkley, Bonnie Peterman and Jeanne Ann VanFossan.
Continued next page...
the Enrollments Management Council, and the WVOASIS project were
discussed.
The day ended with a customer service training exercise facilitated by
Kelli Jo McNemar, West Virginia Campus Compact director.
5. Strategizing ideas, clockwise from left, Darryl Clausell, Russell Edwards, Curt Hippensteel, Joe Remias, Dr. Shahan, David Raveaux
and Karri Mulhern.
6. Brainstorming during the end of day training session, from left,
Natalie Taylor, Dawn Barcus, Debbie Wayt, Jenna Derrico and
Kimmy Locy.
7. Working on the group project during the training session, from
left, Tami Becker and Ida Williams.
8. Faculty come up with their training session plans, clockwise from
left, Crystal Harbert, Pam Sharma, Jennifer Kriechbaum, Charles
Rogerson, Chana Baker, Jennifer Lantz, Meredith Wycherley, Rita
Berry, Missy Stephens, Misty Kahl and Delilah Ryan.
Welcome Back
A Message from the President
The beginning of a new academic year is
a cause for celebration, and I always look
forward to welcoming new and returning
students to West Virginia Northern’s three
campuses. All of our students are important
to us and faculty and staff at WVNCC have
been working diligently to provide excellence in the classroom and assistance in becoming acclimated to college life.
I know a college career can be fraught with
uncertainties, but our students need to know
there are programs and procedures in place to
help them. Our tutoring center is committed to
Dr. Vicki L. Riley
assisting students in countless ways. We will aid students in sharpening study
skills and will provide tips for test-taking. Our counselors and faculty advisors
are pledged to guide students in scheduling and financial aid; we have people
dedicated to working with veterans as well as those in career services. Students
with disabilities can receive information to help them in their academic
endeavors. Student government opportunities abound.
These things are important aspects of a college student’s environment. But, please students don’t forget to have some
fun as well. Our student activities department has a year’s worth of entertaining, engaging, and stimulating events
planned so that your time beyond the classroom is enjoyable.
I urge our students to pay close attention to their email, text messages, and the website and its student portal so that
they can take advantage of a well-rounded education at West Virginia Northern. Welcome to the 2015-16 Fall semester!
others, after Serig determined such a
need existed at Northern.
Dr. Joe Martin talks to WVNCC faculty at Faculty Enrichment Day.
After a decade of service, Serig left
West Virginia Vocational Rehabilitation Services two years ago to take the
counselor position at Northern. He
said he came to WVNCC no stranger
to the needs of students in the Ohio
Valley but, he explained, he did not
expect to see the volume of students
whose mental health issues led them
to his office door.
Faculty Enrichment Day
Following All-College Day, Faculty Enrichment Day was held Aug.
19. The morning was spent in the
B&O Building with faculty attending workshops taught by WVNCC
employees; Social Media / Webpage:
Hilary Curto; Advising/Early Alert:
CJ Farnsworth and an introduction to
the new TEAL Lab: Lucy Kefauver.
Faculty then were treated to lunch
with nationally known speaker Dr. Joe
Martin. Dr. Martin provides a powerful and practical message to encourage teachers to be great and inspire
students.
The afternoon followed with more
workshops in the EC building. Getting to Know Your Students: Marian
Grubor. Veterans / Early Entrance:
Natalie Taylor and Dawn Barcus.
WVNCC & Northwood
Partner
Northern and Northwood Health
Systems have partnered to provide
WVNCC students in need with services to put them back on the path to
mental wellness.
The partnership was developed by
Kevin Serig, student disabilities
counselor, working with Northwood’s
Ed Nolan, director of operations, and
Kevin Serig, student disabilities counselor at the College, left, discusses
the new partnership with Ed Nolan,
director of operations at Northwood
Health Systems.
CJ Farnsworth, WVNCC’s director
of academic student support services,
who is Serig’s supervisor, said, “Kevin
was quick to connect student retention and success with mental health
and wellness. The complicated lives
and diverse social dynamics of college
students today make it difficult for
many students to cope with the competing demands, tough decisions and
personal challenges they face while
pursuing a college degree.”
Farnsworth added, “Gone are the days
when high school graduates scooted
off to a liberal arts college to become
well-rounded individuals and ‘sow
their oats’ on mom and dad’s dime.
Changes in the economy and workforce are redefining post-secondary
education,” she said.
Serig said, “Unfortunately, these
changes are taking a toll on students.”
He said research confirms one in four
young adults between the ages of
18 and 24 has a diagnosable mental
illness. According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, more than 25
percent of college students have been
diagnosed or treated by a professional
for a mental health condition within
the past year. It is expected these
numbers will continue to rise, Serig
said.
Alarmed by these statistics and the
students showing up at his office door,
Serig decided something needed to
be done. With the problem identified,
he focused on formulating a solution.
After reaching out to social work colleagues at Northwood Health Systems,
the partnership was developed and
details formulated on exactly how
WVNCC students could be referred,
seamlessly, to NHS regardless of
insurance coverage or financial hardship.
In addition, the partnership with
Northwood led to awarding of a
WVNCC Foundation grant that will
allow students suffering from mental
health issues to have immediate access
to intervention, deterring the kind of
escalation and exacerbation that could
interfere with degree completion,
Serig explained.
“I want our students to know, when
things get tough, they are not alone,”
Serig said. There is someone they can
go to who will support them without
judgment.”
WVNCC Receives
Southwestern Grant
The foundations at Northern and
Pierpont Community and Technical College, Fairmont, recently were
awarded $250,000 each from TexasContinued next page...
WVNCC Ranked Again
For the fourth consecutive year,
Northern has been cited by the federal
government as one of the most affordable colleges in America. WVNCC’s
net price is the second lowest among
the four two-year institutions from
the state that earned spots on the 2015
list.
Northern President Riley, center, accepts a donation for Petroleum Technology program scholarships from
Bill Way, president and chief operating officer of Southwestern Energy,
while Robert J. Krall, president of the
WVNCC Foundation, looks on.
based Southwestern Energy Co. to
support scholarships for students specializing in the Petroleum Technology
programs at both campuses.
The announcement was made by West
Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin at a
June 22 meeting of the Rotary Club
of Wheeling. He was joined by Bill
Way, president and chief operating
officer of Southwestern Energy, who
later toured West Virginia Northern’s
Applied Technology Center where the
program is conducted.
“Training our local workforce is vital,
and so we are happy to make these
gifts,” Way said. “The schools have
built strong petroleum technology
programs and so it makes sense to be
financially supportive but more than
that, to hire the graduates. We have
just hired three of the graduates and
six student interns from the program,
who join the more than 100 West
Virginians we have hired since late
December.”
Northern President Riley expressed
appreciation for the scholarship commitment and noted the funds will be
set up in an endowment through the
WVNCC Foundation.
list ranked Eastern at number 42 with
a net price of $3,321; Southern at 68
with a net price of $3,905 and Bridgemont, at the very bottom of the list at
95, with a net price of $4,287. These
numbers compare to the 2015 national average of a $7,316 net price.
Janet Fike, vice president of student
services at Northern, said the lists are
WVNCC once again made the nation- generated with the following criteal College Affordability and Transpar- ria: tuition includes the tuition and
ency Center list compiled by the Inte- required fees as reported to IPEDS by
grated Postsecondary Education Data the institution and net prices includes
the cost of attendance minus grant
System used by the U.S. Department
of Education. Northern’s ranking was and scholarship aid as reported to and
calculated by IPEDS. Fike said the
on the list of public, two-year institutions of higher learning with the low- lists that show the highest are the top
est net prices. A total of 95 institutions 5 percent while the lists for the lowest
are the bottom 10 percent.
from throughout the U.S. were listed.
The 2015 list was announced July 1.
“Northern colleagues are very pleased
The other West Virginia two-year
that our institution has been so concolleges on the lowest list were Eastsistent that it has been cited for four
ern West Virginia Community and
years in a row,” Fike said, explaining
Technical College, Moorefield; South- the most affordable listings shows
ern West Virginia Community and
“the college clearly is maintaining and
Technical College, Williamson; and
strengthening the processes that help
Bridgemont Community and Techni- our students with financial aid, grants
cal College in Montgomery.
and scholarships.”
“The value of a West Virginia Northern education is in our quality programs offered with great flexibility
for the student but affordability has
been and always will be a top priority,”
Dr. Riley, Northern’s president, said.
“Our Board of Governors and administration for many years have worked
together diligently to keep costs as low
as possible and this recognition bears
that out,” Dr. Riley added.
Institutions with the highest tuition
and highest net price and those with
the lowest tuition and lowest net price
are detailed on the 2015 list. WVNCC
ranked as number 50, with a net price
of $3,546 on the list of 95 institutions
with the lowest net prices. Last year,
WVNCC was listed at number 66
with a net price of $3,727. The new
Dr. Sharma Selected as
Facilitator
Dr. Pam Sharma, division chair for
liberal arts, communication, social
sciences and science, and professor for
physics/mathematics, has been selected as one of 10 persons statewide
to serve as a facilitator for an online
teaching and learning program.
Dr. Sharma was selected to be a Statewide Online Quality Matters (QM)
Facilitator for Applying the Quality
Matters Rubric (APPQMR) to online
course design. The QM program is
designed to assure quality in online
course design using a Rubric based on
best practices in online teaching and
learning, current research, and experiContinued next page...
ences of online faculty; faculty development; and peer review process.
The long-time Northern faculty
member will be a part of the statewide
team of 10 facilitators who will conduct APPQMR workshops online for
21 higher education institutions in
West Virginia. She was selected based
on her leadership and professional
development in online education.
Dr. Sharma said, “I have completed
several workshops: APPQMR workshop, Peer Reviewer certification,
Addressing Accessibility in Online
Course Design, Master Reviewer Certification, and APPQMR facilitator
certification offered through the QM
program.”
She explained she serves as Peer
Reviewer, Subject Matter Expert, and
the Team Leader/Master Reviewer for
higher education institutions across
the nation. In addition, she has given
presentations at state, national, and
international conferences on online
teaching and learning. She is scheduled to facilitate APPQMR workshops
in September 2015 and March 2016.
“My interest in online teaching and
learning dates back to 1997 when I
started using the WebCT Learning
Management System (LMS) to deliver online courses,” she said, adding,
“One of my online courses (GSC 100)
is available on the Southern Regional
Electronic Campus since 1997 and to
this date has a much wider student
base.”
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Dr. Sharma said that for her to better
understand the online teaching and
learning environment, “I completed a
doctorate in Instructional Technology
and Distance Education in 2006. In
2004, working as one of the WebCT
training consultants under Title III
Strengthening Institution Programs, I
trained the faculty, staff and students
in LMS based online learning. At the
completion of the grant, I worked as
Instructional Designer and Distance
Education Coordinator and was instrumental in laying the groundwork
for offering courses and programs
online.
She said she continues “to develop
online courses to address the needs of
transient students and our local student, serve as peer reviewer, subject
matter expert, and team leader/master
review on internal and external review
of online courses, and to make contributions to the field of online teaching
and learning by making presentations
at national and international conferences.”
Oct. 1 to Dec. 10, in Room 405, B&O
Building. He said the class is designed
to prepare students to successfully
pass the International Code Council
examination to become a certified
Residential Building Inspector (onetwo family dwellings.)
Shahan said the class will include
lectures, laboratory training and field
trips and is a non-credit class offered
by the Continuing Education department at WVNCC. Instructional
materials needed include the textbook
“International Residential Code Book
(2012) (One-Two Family Dwellings)”
ISBN number 978-160-983-0427 and
a standard calculator.
To register for the class, visit the service center at one of Northern’s three
campuses in Wheeling, Weirton or
New Martinsville. Cost is $400 and
payment must be made when
registering.
Training Class
A 10-week class to prepare students
to become a certified Residential
Building Inspector will be held at the
Wheeling campus.
According to Dr. David Shahan, vice
president of economic and workforce
development at the college, the 60hour class will meet from 6:30-9:30
p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays,
Northern Opens Up to Help Area Workers
Northern personnel responded quickly this past summer when significant layoffs occurred at
area coal mines. With a goal of stimulating the economy through education, the College hosted
information sessions for those miners to consider options available for their grant training funds.
Two information sessions were held, one at 9 a.m. and one at 2 p.m., on June 17 in the Applied
Technology Center on the downtown Wheeling campus. The effort was rewarded by both sessions being well-attended. Participants received academic counseling, financial aid information
and assistance, admissions application assistance and academic support services. The miners’
training funds could be used for courses at WVNCC, including many courses in the fields of
gas and oil technology and industrial/mechanical technology that may be useful to the miners.
Also during the summer, on Aug. 5, an open house was held for the new master’s degree in
social work program, a collaboration of Northern and the West Virginia University School of
Social Work. The master’s classes are being held on the fourth floor of the B&O Building on
the Wheeling campus.
2015 WVNCC Foundation Golf Outing
Just a few of the memories of this yearly successful and fun event!
Thanks to all those who participated!