FAIRMONT, W.Va. — The effort to reunify Pierpont Community and Technical College and Fairmont State University met an abrupt end this week through a memorandum of understanding between the two schools, according to state Senator Bob Beach.
Beach said Senate Education Committee Chair Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson, brought together three representatives from Fairmont State and three from Pierpont. Beach said Senate President Craig Blair “put a $3 million check on the table and told them to fix this today.”
The bill, HB 2805, called for Pierpont to become a division of Fairmont State. The bill was supported by Fairmont State but opposed by Pierpont.
Pierpont President Dr. Anthony Hancock told WAJR Radio News the meeting between school representatives lasted for several hours Wednesday afternoon.
“We came to an agreement that Pierpont would be independent and Fairmont would be independent,” Hancock said.
Part of the deal includes Pierpont taking possession of the Caperton Center in Clarksburg and in turn removing the presence its had on the Fairmont State campus. Hancock said the transition would take place over the next year.
“(Programs like) early childhood studies, the culinary arts as well as a vet tech program,” Hancock said. “By 2022 those programs will no longer be on their campus.”
Fairmont State University officials declined comment Thursday, but did offer a letter that Fairmont State President Mirta Martin sent to the campus community.
In the letter, Martin said the negotiations completed Wednesday “provide a pathway for both institutions to remain separate and sovereign.”
“As we have maintained throughout this process, community and technical college education is a cornerstone of our educational system,” Martin wrote. “Fairmont State respects and honors the path for traditional and non-traditional students and the impacts both institutions have on North Central West Virginia, its industries and students who benefit from an individualized industry response and depth of capabilities.”
Hancock, who took over at Pierpont in January, said having the matter settled will allow his administration to focus on answering questions for the future.
“How do we grow as an institution? How do we provide more relevant workforce training programs? How do we look at long term sustainability for the institution?” Hancock said.
No information has been released about what criteria was used to divide the money between the two institutions.
“Once the MOU is all worked out Pierpont will receive $2.5 million and Fairmont State will keep $500,000,” Sen. Beach said.