LOGAN, WV (LOOTPRESS) a West Virginia University and Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College have announced a groundbreaking partnership to streamline the pathway from community and technical college to the WVU System.
The new program, WVU Degree Up, is the first of its kind in the state, offering automatic admission for qualifying students and eliminating many traditional transfer barriers.
Unlike existing transfer options that apply only to specific programs, Degree Up provides broad automatic admission to the WVU System for eligible students.
Participants will bypass the need to complete a WVU application or pay admissions fees, simplifying the transfer process.
Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College is the first institution to adopt WVU Degree Up.
On Wednesday, Nov. 13, leaders from both schools signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during a campus event.
The MOU ensures that students enrolled at Southern are automatically admitted to the WVU System as long as they remain in good standing.
WVU President Gordon Gee highlighted the significance of the partnership.
“We are positioning West Virginia’s higher education system for the future by offering more accessible pathways to attain a four-year degree,” Gee said.
“This program offers a unique opportunity for West Virginia students to ‘degree up’ — a decision to continue pursuing higher education that could change the trajectory of their lives for the better through a lifetime of higher earnings, job security, more career options, greater prospects for upward mobility, and financial and personal growth.”
The program includes admission to WVU Morgantown, WVU Institute of Technology, WVU Potomac State College, and WVU Online. While general admission to WVU will be automatic, specific degree programs may still have their own requirements.
The two institutions will work together to create program-specific articulation agreements within the larger Degree Up framework.
A key feature of Degree Up is the establishment of a physical WVU presence on Southern’s campus. This will provide students with direct access to WVU representatives, offering personalized support as they transition.
Southern President Pamela L. Alderman expressed pride in leading the initiative.
“This groundbreaking initiative demonstrates our commitment to making higher education accessible, affordable and achievable for our students,” Alderman said. “By removing barriers in the transfer process and providing personalized support on our campus, Degree Up empowers students to continue their academic journey seamlessly.”
Students will begin enrolling in the Degree Up program for Fall 2025, with an option to opt out if they choose. Through one-on-one coaching, participants will receive academic advising, help with transferring course credits, and assistance in meeting degree requirements.
Bill Alderman, Southern’s executive projects/accreditation liaison officer and professor of business, highlighted the practical benefits of the partnership. “This partnership will simplify the transfer process, improve advising, and encourage the acceptance of equivalent courses and credits,” he said.
The program aligns with workforce demands, as many fast-growing occupations in health care, technology, and business require a bachelor’s degree.
Retired Maj. Gen. James Hoyer, WVU’s vice president for economic innovation, stressed the program’s economic importance.
“We cannot reinforce enough the foundations that support economic growth. An educated workforce and talent base are the pillars to growing and diversifying our economy,” Hoyer said.
“Fostering programs and partnerships like Degree Up are helping both students and the state navigate new pathways toward our shared destination of the most prosperous West Virginia.”
