The School of Social Work at West Virginia University and West Virginia Northern Community College in Wheeling have agreed to terms on a collaboration that will allow the two schools to better serve the people of the northern panhandle.

Through this project, the master’s of social work program at the Wheeling campus of WVU will officially be housed on the campus of WVNCC beginning this August.

The relocation of the program has many people in the School of Social Work hoping to inspire the students at WVNCC to continue their education.

“The partnership allows WVU to visibly influence students beginning their higher education journey by demonstrating our accessibility and enriching their undergraduate experience with our partnerships,” said Rhonda Hayes, site coordinator for the Wheeling campus.

The program was previously housed on the campus of the Ohio Valley Medical Center, but many in the college believe the move will better help both the students and members of the community.

“We were really looking to be in an academic institution so that we could provide the necessary amenities to our students that we believe are important to succeed,” said Helen Hartnett, interim director of the School of Social Work.

WVNCC currently offers a 2+2 program in social work with WVU. Students can receive their associate’s degree from West Virginia Northern in two years, then transfer to WVU in Morgantown to complete two more years of study and receive a bachelor’s degree. The master’s of social work program held on the Wheeling campus allows students with a bachelor’s degree to stay in the area and further their education.

“There are several bachelor’s programs in that area, but no master’s programs, so we are able to provide that level of education to students coming out of their undergraduate programs,” Hartnett said.

Members of the program are finishing the last touches, including moving into office spaces and classrooms, before their open house on August 5.

Both WVU Wheeling and WVNCC are very active in the Wheeling area. Graduates of both colleges’ social work programs find work in areas that allow them to give back to the community.

“The partnership allows WVNCC to partner with our graduate students in providing rich field placement experiences and partnerships for community projects in our local area,” said Hayes. “Previously, WVU and WVNCC have worked separately with our local homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and community gardens. In the future, we will be able to do that together.”

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CONTACT: Devon Copeland, Director of Marketing and Communication, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, West Virginia University, 304-293-6867, Devon.Copeland@mail.wvu.edu

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