Investing in Potomac State College

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1 Investing in Potomac State College

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3 Potomac State College: A State of Minds ccess to higher education is a critical issue facing the United States today. Factors ranging from cost to inadequate preparation to lack of academic, financial, and emotional support keep many low-income, rural, and minority students from attaining college degrees. Potomac State College (PSC), a division of West Virginia University (WVU), is wellpositioned to address these challenges. We offer small classes and one-on-one attention that help students thrive academically. Outside of class, students can take advantage of support services that run the gamut from our Academic Success Center to our honors program. PSC s tuition and fees are significantly lower than our peer institutions for both in-state and out-ofstate students. And our four-year programs bring a college education within reach of students who are place-bound either because of family obligations or job responsibilities. At Potomac State, our objective is to bring together the intellect and ideas of many minds to support promising students and to give them the skills they will need to succeed in higher education and in life. In this way, we help produce the knowledgeable workers that our state and our country need most. 1

4 The Trajectory of Success 2 Realize What s Possible: Potomac State College s tagline says it all. For students from small, rural areas and large, urban settings, PSC is an invaluable stepping-stone: a place to develop the foundation necessary to persevere in college. For all students, Potomac State provides an exceptional education at an affordable cost. PSC is unique in West Virginia and, in many ways, the country. We are the only two-year, in- state school offering residence halls, intercollegiate athletics, and agriculture and forestry programs. And we are the only two-year school directly linked with a major university: WVU. Potomac State College offers a mix of two- and four-year programs. Credits from our associate of arts degree programs transfer directly into corresponding four-year programs on the Morgantown campus. Our two-year applied science career and technical degrees can fasttrack students to the job market. Or students can choose to start and finish at PSC with four-year programs that include criminal justice and business management. At PSC, our faculty is dedicated to teaching and providing students with a supportive learning environment. We are in a very positive position. Over the past decade, enrollment has grown from approximately 1,300 to more than 1,800 students. Private giving also increased with more than $3 million in new gifts received by the WVU Foundation to benefit Potomac State. In addition, more than $25 million in capital improvements have been made to campus, including construction of University Place, a residential complex housing 350 students, two dining venues, a theater, and a fitness center. But we need to do more. For our academic programs to remain viable, we need to continue to increase enrollment. We need to expand and enhance facilities to accommodate more students in order to deliver a better experience. And we need to invest in our outstanding students and faculty. To do this, we need partners, like you, who believe in Potomac State College and want to invest in its future.

5 For students from small, rural areas and large, urban settings, Potomac State College is an invaluable stepping-stone: a place to develop the foundation necessary to persevere in college.

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7 Priorities for Tomorrow State of Minds: The Campaign for West Virginia s University is Potomac State College s way to Realize What s Possible. We ask you to consider supporting the following people, places, and programs that will strengthen PSC s distinct objective. Gymnasium Built in 1928, the Lough Gymnasium is one of the nation s oldest gyms in continuous use. Today, more students and an increasingly competitive intercollegiate athletic program require more room. PSC s intercollegiate athletic teams include men s baseball, basketball, and soccer and women s basketball, soccer, softball, and volleyball. Popular intramural teams include flag football, basketball, volleyball, Frisbee golf, Wiffle ball, indoor soccer, and softball. Through the campaign, we propose to construct a new gymnasium that would meet the needs of both PSC s physical education and athletic programs. A new gymnasium would enhance the College s recruitment efforts; we would then be able to dedicate the Lough Gymnasium to much-needed student recreation. Investment Total: $7 Million Student Scholarships As the cost of attending college rises, families increasingly perceive it to be beyond their means. This is especially acute at Potomac State, where 75 percent of students are the first in their families to attend college. Currently, 92 percent of students receive some form of financial aid, while only 32 percent receive scholarships. Through the campaign, we hope to fund 15 new scholarships, which will allow us to keep a college education within reach of more talented students. Investment Total: $750,000 5

8 6 Student Study/ Travel Abroad Grants International travel and study have become important parts of the college experience, expanding students horizons and providing insight into other cultures. The trend now is for students to participate in these programs sooner, before they re immersed in the demands of their majors. Six years ago, PSC started an initiative to promote study abroad, which has been well received. We now need help providing financial assistance for study abroad programs so more students can take advantage of these opportunities. Investment Total: $100,000 Teaching Professorship Potomac State prides itself on being an institution where knowledgeable and experienced faculty members not graduate students teach courses. Funding a teaching professorship would highlight this commitment; by providing salary enhancement and programmatic support, it would allow us to attract or retain an outstanding teaching-scholar. Investment Total: $500,000 Golden Park Grandstands and Clubhouse The College s baseball program is consistently ranked among the nation s best, with teams frequently appearing in the National Junior College World Series. PSC already has one of the finest baseball fields in the region; constructing grandstands and a clubhouse would enhance the experience, allowing the College to host a greater number of post-season play-offs and other activities to promote both PSC and the athletic program. Investment Total: $500,000

9 What we do works! We help students flourish by combining the personal attention of a small college with the academic benefits of a major university. Leonard A. Colelli, Ph.D., Campus Provost

10 A State of Minds: Creating Thought Leaders for Tomorrow 8 Institutions of higher education are knowledgedriven organizations that can effectively produce the thought leaders for tomorrow depending on the leadership style and educational experiences provided by the institution. Research has shown that thought leaders are best nurtured in an environment with a strong sense of community, healthy decision-making via the acceptance of diverse opinions, and strong shared governance with followers empowered by their leaders (faculty, staff, and administrators). It is my earnest goal to provide this type of leadership model at Potomac State College of WVU. As I begin my tenure as Campus Provost at Potomac State College of WVU, I m pleased to find a strong institution with talented students, faculty, and staff and endless opportunities for growth. Our focus is to provide a quality education at an affordable cost with special attention to challenging academics, student learning, a vibrant campus life, and a direct pathway to WVU for continued growth and development. Teaching is the primary mission of our college. All classes are taught by faculty, and students are able to receive personal attention due to small class sizes and faculty accessibility. What we do works! Students who begin their academic careers at Potomac State College and transfer to WVU do better on average than those who start at WVU as freshmen. We help students flourish by combining the personal attention of a small college with the academic benefits of a major university. During the past 10 years, we have experienced unprecedented growth in enrollment. Our greatest needs at this time are in facilities to support our academic, athletic, and student-life programs; student scholarships; and operating endowments to support our academic mission. I ask you to join me in supporting our track record of success. Your donation of time, talent, and/or treasure will ensure promising students an excellent education at Potomac State College of WVU. Leonard A. Colelli, Ph.D. Campus Provost, Potomac State College

11 WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY West Virginia s healthcare epicenter, its flagship of service, its brain trust. Home to some of the most innovative and forward-thinking minds in the country, WVU serves the world by first serving its state. We have emerged as a leader in solving today s most complex problems, and we are ready to share our State of Minds with the world. A State of Minds: The Campaign for West Virginia s University is about investing in the values, ambition, intellect, and mindset that define one of the most exciting universities in the country. With support from alumni, friends, foundations, and partners, West Virginia University will be in a position to lead the national and global dialogue on energy, health, the environment, the economy and so much more. West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution.

12 Potomac State College of WVU Office of Development 101 Fort Avenue Keyser, WV or One Waterfront Place, 7th Floor P.O. Box 1650 Morgantown, WV or