Pierpont CTC continues the message of unity during the commencement ceremony

Aug. 9 — FAIRMONT — Pierpont Community and Technical College is looking to refocus with a fresh start this year.

The Pierpont Center for Advanced Technology was filled with more than 200 incoming students and their families to participate in the university’s Monty Day, which filled the ATC with fun, food and an introduction to the institution.

Pierpont Interim President Kathleen Nelson kicked off the festivities Saturday by welcoming students and families. Nelson was tapped in July as the university’s second interim president in two years and vowed to “hit the reset button” this year to readjust the university after six turbulent months of uncertainty.

“Perhaps the word ‘refocus’ might be a better term than ‘restart,’ as we collectively refocus on our mission and vision by providing more opportunities for students,” Nelson said in an interview. “We are creatively designing ways to flexibly meet the needs of our students so that learning completed at Pierpont is simply another step in people’s lifelong learning journeys.”

Workforce development and building on the university’s strengths was the name of the game at the news conference held for Nelson’s hiring in July. Now that Pierpont is welcoming new students to the first semester that isn’t overshadowed by COVID-19, there’s a lot that needs to be “refocused.”

COVID caused a drop in enrollment at institutions of higher education across the country, and Pierpont was not exempt. COVID forced many normal college practices online or canceled entirely. Chancellor Michael Waide said he and his office have heard those concerns from students and are working to address them this year.

“One of the things we heard students share was how COVID prevented them from coming together in a learning community,” Waide said. “Pierpont has been intentional about creating opportunities for students to reconnect and re-engage. We’ve been using enrollment and registration events that have brought students together as a community.”

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Saturday was one such event. In addition to the usual things that come with a new student orientation, Monty Day included introductions to the resources Pierpont has to offer, engagement with faculty and staff.

There were tons of fun things to do like food trucks and bounce houses and other fun stuff.

“We want to welcome everyone to the Pierpont family, so it’s important that we make sure they feel welcome and know that this is where they belong,” said Jennifer McConnell, Pierpont’s executive director of admissions and student engagement .

But six months ago, inflatables and food trucks were the last thing on the Pierpont administration’s mind. After a battle in the state legislature that put the institution’s fate on the brink of dissolution, the university’s governing board was left scrambling to get the school in shape for the new semester.

Nelson’s addition to the administration appears to do just that, with a unified sense of direction coming from the board, administration and faculty — three parties that were at odds just a few months earlier.

Waide hopes that sense of leadership will be passed on to the students.

“After last spring, we want to move the message forward and make sure our students, employees and community know that we are a vital and sustained presence in our communities and will be here supporting our students,” Waide said.

Contact David Kirk at 304-367-2522 or by email at dkirk@timeswv.com.

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