GLENVILLE, WV-Two Tucker County natives, Angela Myers and Wiley Raines both from Parsons, recently received their associate degree at Glenville State College’s first Milestone Ceremony.
While GSC currently marks the beginning of a student’s college experience with Fall Convocation, little has been done to celebrate student accomplishments prior to commencement. “The ‘Milestone Initiative’ is meant to signify important academic events in the life cycle of a student, particularly students that initially intend to complete a baccalaureate degree,” stated Dr. Gary Morris, Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs. Morris further added that creating and encouraging the completion of milestones such as the associate degree has the potential to encourage students to continue on and provides a tangible credential if they opt not to or cannot complete a baccalaureate degree or their next milestone.
“Based on the number of students that transfer or discontinue their studies prior to completing a baccalaureate degree (more than 50% locally and nationally), it makes sense to award students the highest degree or credential possible for which they are eligible,” said Glenville State President Dr. Tracy Pellett. He also asserted that research by the Lumina Foundation supports this stance by reporting that students who earn an associate degree are 30 percent more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree. “I am very heartened by this positive academic initiative to reward and reinforce positive degree progression and student success. Our faculty and staff are committed to seeing students achieve their educational goals and this initiative is a symbolic and tangible way to recognize progress towards that accomplishment,” Pellett added.
According to the 2013 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers with an associate degree earn, on average, $126 more per week than a worker with a high school diploma and $50 more per week than a worker with some college credit but no degree. This initiative is supportive of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission’s Master Plan – Leading the Way.
For more information about the Milestone Ceremony, contact Glenville State College’s Office of Academic Affairs at Academic.Affairs@glenville.
