HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall University and Cabell County Schools are joining forces to get more kids to college.
Marshall President Brad Smith and Cabell County School Superintendent Ryan Saxe announced what’s called the ‘Cabell Commitment’ during a ceremony Tuesday morning at Huntington High School.
Under the agreement, Marshall commits to automatically accept a graduating senior from any Cabell County high school that has a 2.5 GPA or better. It’s the first program of its kind in the state.
Saxe told MetroNews the program will help eliminate barriers, like the cost of applying to college and entrance test results, that can keep kids out.
“It eliminates the financial component of having to fill out the application, getting a specific SAT score on what have you,” Saxe said. “It automatically provides an opportunity for these students in Cabell County to become an automatic son or daughter of Marshall University.”
Smith called the agreement transformational.
“This new commitment ensures that deserving students in Cabell County have a direct pathway to a four-year degree without the usual complexities of the application process. Our goal is to make higher education more accessible and to empower local talent,” Smith said. “Ensuring guaranteed college admission is not just an investment in individuals but a commitment to investing in our local community, state, and nation. I commend both teams for their efforts to create this important program.”
Saxe said kids stay away from college for lots of reasons. He said the ‘Cabell Commitment’ will attempt to remove some of those obstacles.
“We want to be able to ensure our students have a path and direction that can help also to keep them right here at home,” Saxe said.
For example, this year 514 students in Cabell County high schools would qualify for the program.
Saxe said he believes the 2.5 GPA requirement is a fair place to land. He said it’s important to get the student into college where all doors are open.
“A specific grade or a defined SAT or ACT score does not define how well you’re going to do in post-secondary instruction. The sky is really the limit,” Saxe said. “We want to continue to inspire students.”
Saxe said it’s another “out of the box” move by Smith and Marshall University which began its ‘Marshall for All’ program nearly two years ago that helps some students get through college debt-free.
“It’s very forward-thinking,” Saxe said. “I am so excited to be able to join Brad Smith in collaborating on this adventure and being the first of our kind (in the state) to be able to provide this kind of partnership between a school district and a flagship university is very special.”