HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Competition among higher education institutions is becoming more like collaboration, with more efforts to lower costs and add opportunities for students of all ages.
Marshall University and Fairmont State University say they’ve established a new partnership that will expand opportunities and give more graduates reasons to stay in the Mountain State.
Marshall University President Brad Smith said the partnership is the product of the current relationship with West Virginia University and following several meetings with Fairmont State President Mike Davis, they reached an agreement that Smith said will deliver expanded opportunities in 21st-century disciplines to give those students the chance to stay in their home state.
“We have spent a lot of time on panels, fireside chats, collaborating with our academic teams, and looking for ways to grow the economy and raise the tide for all boats in the state of West Virginia,” Smith said last week on WAJR’s “Talk of the Town.”
The partnership will focus on six pillars to improve education and business opportunities in the state—cybersecurity, health care, manufacturing and energy.
“We’re now trying to create job opportunities by attracting industries through things like cyber security and aviation so those amazing students that scored an honorable mention at the Model United Nations Conference can choose a job right here in their home state, make an impact on the world, and never leave the place they love.”
Smith said many students, the cost of a college education has become a significant barrier. In response, both institutions have lowered some rates and offered some special rates to encourage some out-of-state residents to attend one of the two institutions.
“That has really driven not only awareness and interest in attending a university in the state, but it has also grown our enrollment,” Smith said. “So together with Fairmont State University, we’re looking at how we capture those students who have aspirations in the state of West Virginia and also in the Appalachian region.”
The two schools have programs in cyber security, aviation, and the medical field that can allow students to earn anything from a certificate to an undergraduate or postgraduate degree. The availability gives in-state students more reasons to stay in the state and could show industry enough economic benefits to move here for the workforce.
“They can easily matriculate from Fairmont State University to Marshall—everything will transfer over, and they can continue to get more advanced experience that will move them up the pay grade,” Smith said. “It’s a really solid, seamless process.”
The schools have worked with business and industry and plan real-world schoolwork models for students to gain experience in their field while continuing to work toward a degree, Smith said.
“We have leaned in aggressively to ensure every student is experiencing a co-op, a work-study program, or a paid internship,” Smith said. “Mike and the team at Fairmont State University are equally committed to that, and we are working with industry around the state and the country to provide those opportunities for our students.”