West Virginia University Institute of Technology
Encyclopedia
West Virginia University Institute of Technology is a four-year college located in Montgomery, West Virginia
, United States
. It is the largest regional campus of West Virginia University
and is separately accredited from the main campus of WVU in Morgantown
. As part of WVU, it is governed by the WVU Board of Trustees
Locals generally call the school WVU Tech, West Virginia Tech, or simply Tech.
level as the New River State School. It became a four-year college as New River State College in 1931 and was renamed the West Virginia Institute of Technology in 1941. It began to grant degrees in engineering
in 1952.
The school added a community college
in 1966 and it began to grant the master's degree
in engineering in 1978.
The "Old Main
" building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1980.
In 1996 the college became a regional campus of West Virginia University. On July 1, 2007, WVU Tech became a full division of WVU. While several departments on campus report directly to WVU, oversight of all academic areas has remained on Tech's main campus.
WVU Tech was previously associated with the Community & Technical College at WVU Tech. , the two are separate institutions but share the same campus. To help differentiate the two schools, a new name of Bridgemont Community and Technical College
was announced for the CTC in May 2009.
In 2011, the state government passed the WVU Tech Revitalization Project law, in response to its declining enrollments and finacial distress.
As a condition of the law, an assessment was conducted over the summer of 2011 and a “revitalization report” was completed by October 2011.
The report recommended that WVU Tech:
The report emphasized the importance of its recommended budgetary appropriation by concluding
“Considering the ways a revitalized WVU-Tech will support West Virginia’s ability to compete industrially and economically, the resources required in this study should be viewed as a prudent investment.” (p. 30)
. Tech unsuccessfully applied twice to return to the NCAA and WVIAC.
On November 17, 2011, WVU tech announced it was leaving the Mid-South Conference effective June 30, 2012. It will become an NAIA-affiliated independent team and apply for admission to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association
.
Montgomery, West Virginia
Montgomery is a city in West Virginia, along the Kanawha River. Most of the city is in Fayette County, with the remainder in Kanawha County. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,942 ....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is the largest regional campus of West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
and is separately accredited from the main campus of WVU in Morgantown
Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown is a city in Monongalia County, West Virginia. It is the county seat of Monongalia County. Placed along the banks of the Monongahela River, Morgantown is the largest city in North-Central West Virginia, and the base of the Morgantown metropolitan area...
. As part of WVU, it is governed by the WVU Board of Trustees
Locals generally call the school WVU Tech, West Virginia Tech, or simply Tech.
History
The school was founded at the sub-college level Montgomery Preparatory School of WVU in 1895. In 1917 it was separated from WVU and renamed the West Virginia Trade School. Next, in 1921, it reached the junior collegeJunior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
level as the New River State School. It became a four-year college as New River State College in 1931 and was renamed the West Virginia Institute of Technology in 1941. It began to grant degrees in engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
in 1952.
The school added a community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
in 1966 and it began to grant the master's degree
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in engineering in 1978.
The "Old Main
Main Building (Montgomery, West Virginia)
Main Building, also known as "Old Main," is a historic building located on the campus of West Virginia University Institute of Technology at Montgomery, Fayette County, West Virginia. It was built in 1895-1897. In 1898 and 1905, two-story wings were attached to each side of the original unit. The...
" building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1980.
In 1996 the college became a regional campus of West Virginia University. On July 1, 2007, WVU Tech became a full division of WVU. While several departments on campus report directly to WVU, oversight of all academic areas has remained on Tech's main campus.
WVU Tech was previously associated with the Community & Technical College at WVU Tech. , the two are separate institutions but share the same campus. To help differentiate the two schools, a new name of Bridgemont Community and Technical College
Bridgemont Community and Technical College
Bridgemont Community and Technical College is a community college serving the upper Kanawha Valley region of West Virginia, United States. It was formerly the community college of the West Virginia University Institute of Technology...
was announced for the CTC in May 2009.
Revitalization
The school had been beset with declining enrollments for many years. Much of this is due to the completion of good highways in the state, which have made attending WVU's main campus, traditionally the only other school to offer engineering programs, more reasonable for people in southern West Virginia.In 2011, the state government passed the WVU Tech Revitalization Project law, in response to its declining enrollments and finacial distress.
As a condition of the law, an assessment was conducted over the summer of 2011 and a “revitalization report” was completed by October 2011.
The report recommended that WVU Tech:
- Establish a co-operative (internship) component for every academic program,
- Eliminate the costly football program.
- Establish a science-focused teacher education program.
- Select a Campus Provost who “must command the confidence of both the Montgomery and main campuses of West Virginia University, as well as having the support of the local community and the State’s higher education and civic leadership.” (p. 31)
- And that state taxpayers spend an additional five to seven million dollars in each of the next five years.
The report emphasized the importance of its recommended budgetary appropriation by concluding
“Considering the ways a revitalized WVU-Tech will support West Virginia’s ability to compete industrially and economically, the resources required in this study should be viewed as a prudent investment.” (p. 30)
Colleges and Academic Programs
WVU Tech offers a variety of baccalaureate degree programs in high-demand fields such as Engineering, Nursing, Printing Management, Business Management, Life Sciences, Computer Science, Health Services Administration and more.Leonard C. Nelson College of Engineering and Sciences
- Chemical Engineering, B.S.
- Civil Engineering, B.S.
- Computer Science, B.S.
- Computer Engineering, B.S.
- Electrical Engineering, B.S.
- Mechanical Engineering, B.S.
- Engineering Technology: Civil, Mechanical, Environmental B.S.
- Electronic Engineering Technology B.S.
- Industrial Technology B.S.
- Biology, B.S.
- Chemistry, B.S.
- Mathematics, B.S.
College of Business, Humanities and Social Studies
- Accounting, B.S.
- Athletic Coaching Education, B.S.
- Business Management, B.S.
- Career & Technical Education, B.S.
- Health Services Administration, B.S.
- History & Government, B.S.
- Industrial Relations & Human Resources, B.S.
- Interdisciplinary Studies, Engineering & Entrepreneurship, B.S.
- Interdisciplinary Studies, Graphic Design, B.A.
- Management Information Systems, B.S.
- Nursing, B.S.N.
- Psychology, B.A.
- Printing Management, B.S.
- Public Service Administration, B.S.
- Regents, B.A.
- Technology Management, B.S.
Athletics
The school's athletic teams are known as the Golden Bears. They were traditionally a member of the WVIAC, an NAIA-level league. After the WVIAC moved to the NCAA Division II, Tech withdrew to rejoin the NAIA as a member of the Mid-South ConferenceMid-South Conference
The Mid-South Conference is an athletic conference affiliated with the NAIA. Member institutions are located in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. It is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky....
. Tech unsuccessfully applied twice to return to the NCAA and WVIAC.
On November 17, 2011, WVU tech announced it was leaving the Mid-South Conference effective June 30, 2012. It will become an NAIA-affiliated independent team and apply for admission to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association
United States Collegiate Athletic Association
The United States Collegiate Athletic Association is a national organization in the USA for the intercollegiate athletic programs of less than 100 small colleges, community collegs and junior colleges. It holds 11 "National Championship" tournaments in seven sports...
.
Football
Football was played at West Virginia Tech since 1907. At the conclusion of the 2011 season the main West Virginia University Board of Trustees agreed with the recommendations of the revitalization committee and directed the end of the football program. The committee noted that football was "a luxury the school could no longer afford" and that "eleven percent of the entire school budget was spent on athletics. The astroturf at the football stadium, designed for replacement every seven to ten years, was over 30 years old.Notable alumni
- Chuck BanksChuck BanksCharles Edward Banks is a former professional American football player who played fullback in the National Football League for the Houston Oilers and the Indianapolis Colts...
- NFL - Squire ParsonsSquire ParsonsSquire Enos Parsons, Jr. , is a Southern Gospel singer and songwriter. He was born in Newton, West Virginia, to Squire and Maysel Parsons, and was introduced to music by his father, who was a choir director and deacon at Newton Baptist Church...
- Christian musicChristian musicChristian music is music that has been written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence, and lament, and its forms vary widely across the world....
soloist and baritone - Sedale ThreattSedale ThreattSedale Eugene Threatt is a retired American basketball player in the NBA. He played college basketball at the West Virginia Institute of Technology from 1979 to 1983...
- NBA - Calvin WallaceCalvin Wallace-Career:Wallace was a member of the Green Bay Packers during the 1987 NFL season. He played at the collegiate level at the West Virginia University Institute of Technology.-References:...
- NFL