Happy Holidays from Fairmont State University. The University is closed from 4 p.m. Friday, December 20 through Thursday, January 2. Fairmont State will reopen on Friday, January 3.
Fairmont State University’s Feaster Center was alive with excitement on Dec. 14, as the newest class of Falcons crossed the stage during Commencement.
Fairmont State University is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Mary Sortino as the Dean of Graduate Studies and Professional Education. In this role, Dr. Sortino oversees the university's master’s and continuing education programs, guiding their development and ensuring their alignment with the university’s mission to provide high-quality education and foster strong community relationships.
As a public institution, Fairmont State University is committed to serving the city of Fairmont and communities throughout North Central West Virginia. One way the university fulfills this mission is by preserving Fairmont’s culture and history through volunteerism. Woodlawn Cemetery, a historic landmark in Fairmont for nearly 150 years, relies mostly on volunteers to maintain its legacy. Professor of Healthcare Management, Dr. Raymond Alvarez, serves as Woodlawn’s President and frequently collaborates with university faculty, staff, and students on projects that enhance and support the cemetery.
Fairmont State University, a proud Core Partner of the American Association of Geographers (AAG), proudly announces its robust lineup of events for its year-long initiative, “Geographers Take Action”.
After a highly competitive process, Dr. Julie Reneau has been awarded the Abelina Suarez Professorship, Fairmont State University’s only endowed professorship. Reneau serves as a Professor of Special Education and coordinates the graduate Multi-Categorical Special Education program. Established through a generous bequest from the estate of Abelina Suarez, this prestigious professorship carries Suarez’s name along with that of the honoree’s academic discipline. The title is held in perpetuity by each recipient, with a new faculty member selected every five years.
Fairmont State University’s Bachelor of Arts in English Education and Master of Arts in English Education programs have been nationally recognized by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) for the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Fairmont State University has been awarded $22,825 from the West Virginia Department of Education to offset expenses for cooperating teachers who assist education students with their clinical experience. The funds will serve as stipends for cooperating teachers from local public schools who support students in their final two semesters of the education program.
Fairmont State University, together with partner organizations, has been awarded $1,990,600 from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to initiate a Regional Career Services and Workforce Development Collaborative. This initiative will improve the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce pipeline in North Central West Virginia.
Assistant Professor of Geography Dr. Barb Maclennan and Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Geography faculty, Frank Lafone were selected as judges for this year’s Signal Awards, widely recognized as the Webby Awards of podcasting. Both Maclennan and Lafone, along with geographers Jesse Rouse and Sue Bergeron, co-host the podcast VerySpatial, which explores the intersection of geography and geospatial technologies with our everyday and digital lives.
Fairmont State University’s Board of Governors held their bi-monthly meeting on October 23 at 9 a.m. in the Falcon Center Boardroom and virtually on Teams. Meeting highlights included Board approval of freezing in-state tuition and consolidating out-of-state rates for the 2025-2026 academic year, as well as approval of the 2025-2035 Strategic Vision. The Board also voted to advance the repeal of Policy 50, “Policy on Policies,” and its replacement, Policy 1.1, “Adoption, Amendment, or Repeal of BOG Policies,” to public comment.
Fairmont State University announced on Wednesday that it is freezing in-state tuition and consolidating out-of-state rates for the 2025 academic year, after receiving approval from the Board of Governors at their bi-monthly meeting. A full meeting recap will be released later this week.
As part of President Mike Davis’s vision for Fairmont State University to be a “Great Place to Learn,” the University has established the Presidential Speaker Series. Covering politics, economics, healthcare, science, the environment, and the arts, speakers will address topics that impact the entire Falcon community. The theme for Fall 2024 is Civic Dialogues, exploring the importance of an informed and engaged electorate to American Democracy.
Middle College at Fairmont State University, a program supporting youth in foster care by allowing them to live on campus while completing their high school education and earning an associate degree, will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Sept. 20, at 1:30 p.m. at Prichard Hall. To RSVP email presevents@fairmontstate.edu.
Fairmont State University Abelina Suarez Professor of Chemistry Emerita and Campus Sustainability Consultant Dr. Erica Harvey was a panelist in the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine Climate Crossroads Summit in Washington D.C. on July 16 and 17. Harvey was invited to share her perspective on working with students to engage local communities and improve campus sustainability. Mechanical Engineering major Eliza Keener (Sutton, WV) attended the Summit with Harvey, with encouragement by her internship employer for the summer, Schaeffler, a motion technology company.
Fairmont State University’s Board of Governors held their bi-monthly meeting on August 28 at 9 a.m. in the Falcon Center Board Room. This was the first full Board meeting under the leadership of Chair Jennifer Kinty, Vice Chair Jason Pizatella, and Secretary Kevin Rogers. It was also the inaugural meeting for new Board members Drew Paton, Lance Puccio, and John Schirripa.
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