MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University has launched a new program that will directly admit qualifying high school seniors in Kanawha and Monongalia counties to the university.
WVU Express, which officially launched last week, admits students while eliminating traditional fees hooked to applying to WVU.
“We’ve already had 34 submitted from Kanawha County, four of whom are students we met at Capital High School (Tuesday),” WVU President Michael T. Benson told members of the WVU Board of Governors last Friday.
The eligibility requirements include being on track to graduate from a participating high school, be pursuing a standard high school diploma, have a minimum 3.8 cumulative GPA and meeting several academic core requirements. The student completes an authorization form, gives it to their school counselor, sends in their transcript and then waits for an acceptance offer.
Benson said WVU eventually wants to offer WVU Express to high school seniors in all 55 counties.
“It’s a wonderful way to communicate to these juniors and seniors there’s a place for you at WVU,” Benson said.
WVU Vice President for Enrollment Management Fabrizio D’Aloisio said WVU is committed to meeting prospective students where they are.
“Our hope is that we’ll eventually be able to roll out WVU Express to other West Virginia counties and, in doing so, expand access to the life-changing experiences we offer to our students,” D’Aloisio said in a WVU news release.
The university said students who are not eligible for WVU Express can apply to WVU through the normal application process.
Benson told the BOG launching WVU Express and assisting Lewis County Schools in moving Robert L. Bland Middle School students to WVU Jackson’s Mill for the school year because of flooding in Weston shows how much the university is committed to secondary education.
“We are focused, yes, on our university, but K-12 education is the pipeline into our university and we have to make sure these students are prepared and they have the best possible experience,” Benson said.
School officials in Monongalia and Kanawha counties praised the launch of WVU Express.
“Students come from around the world to experience what WVU has to offer. We are excited that our qualifying students will be recognized by the University for their accomplishments and have the opportunity to work directly with their high school counselors to streamline a path to higher education in their home state,” Monongalia County Schools Superintendent Eddie R. Campbell Jr. said in the WVU release.
Kanawha County Schools Executive Director for Student Support and Assessment Jon Duffy added..
“The WVU Express admissions initiative embodies the University’s commitment to making enrollment simple and accessible, while recognizing the achievements of West Virginia high school graduates who have earned a clear pathway to becoming a Mountaineer.”