PHILIPPI, W.Va. — About 25 percent of West Virginians over the age of 24 have some college experience without having a degree.
Alderson Broaddus University is hoping to change that by offering a new program in conjunction with Pierpont Community and Technical College.
The new program is a Bachelor of Science in Professional Leadership and is geared toward those who have some college but no bachelors degree.
Assistant Provost for Extended Learning Dr. James M. Owston said AB is also targeting community college graduates, who already have 60 credit hours toward a bachelor’s degree.
“I think it really goes back to the fact that there’s an underserved population here in West Virginia,” Owston said. “About 25 percent of adults have college but they’ve never finished, so we see this as an opportunity to bring educational programs to their area.”
Though the initial eight-week course will be offered at Pierpont, Owston said AB already plans to extend the program to other colleges in the future.
“Pierpont Community & Technical College is a partner of ours, and we’ve had a long standing relationship with them,” he said. “Their advanced technology center is accessible, and they have offered to allow us to host our classes and degree programs on their site and we’re working in conjunction with them.”
About 35 percent of job openings in the U.S. require at least a bachelor’s degree, making this program a vital need in creating a strong workforce in West Virginia.
“It’s important to help you professionally grow. Many jobs will require a person to have a bachelors degree — and sometimes it doesn’t matter what field it’s in — to be able to advance in the corporation or company they work for,” Owston said. “That bachelor’s degree shows that they’re able to committ to something, able to finish something, and that says a lot to an employer.”
Having that degree in hand provides for growth, both professionally and personally.
“It allows the students to learn how to manage change because that happens in companies all the time,”Owston said. “It helps them to brand themselves professionally and helps them deal with others, so we have some communications classes in this program, both deal professionally and personally with other individuals.”
Though Owston said this is a statewide need, he felt it was important for AB to use their existing resources to help lead the way.
“We are working closely with a number of community and technical colleges in the state with this particular initiative,” he said. “We’ve talked to four so far, and we’re going to expand that to the rest of the schools in the region because they tend to be in central locations and we have the opportunity to do this. I’ve been put in this position to further this agenda to get our name out, as well as help the community and technical graduates to the next level.”
And the great news is that it’s never too late.
Owston said the program is for all working adults, regardless of age.
“I helped a person a couple of years ago, actually probably about five years ago, attain his bachelors degree, and he was in his 60s,” he said.
Classes begin Monday, June 10 and will be held in the evening at Pierpont’s Advanced Technology Center.
An information session will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28 at Muriale’s Italian Kitchen in Fairmont.
To RSVP, call 304.457.6222 or email Alderson Broaddus University at FinishYourDegree@ab.edu.