FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 25, 2026

FAIRMONT, W.Va. – As students returned to classrooms Monday for the start of the Fall 2026 semester, Pierpont Community & Technical College begins the academic year with a clear focus on ensuring every student has the support, resources and opportunities needed to persist, complete a credential and move into a successful career.

The focus, “Every Student Forward: Designing the Conditions for Persistence and Success,” was outlined by President Dr. Michael Waide during Professional Development Week and builds upon a year of institutional progress that included enrollment growth, workforce program expansion, strengthened student support services and a significant accreditation milestone.

“The most important question is not simply whether Pierpont is moving forward,” Dr. Waide said. “The question is: Are our students moving forward?”

The college is projecting more than 1,000 degree-seeking students this fall and has exceeded its goal for first-time freshmen, with enrollment among new students increasing by nearly 8.5%. At the same time, dual enrollment continues to create opportunities for high school students across the region to begin their college education early.

From Institutional Momentum to Student Momentum

The Fall 2026 semester begins following a year of significant progress for the institution.

During the 2025-26 academic year, Pierpont awarded 424 credentials to 281 students representing 28 West Virginia counties. Those awards included associate degrees, certificates and workforce skill sets that helped students prepare for transfer opportunities and careers throughout the region. The college also expanded workforce training opportunities, strengthened partnerships with employers and educational institutions, and surpassed $1 million in annual Foundation contributions for the first time.

One of the college’s most significant accomplishments came in June when the Higher Learning Commission removed Pierpont’s Notice designation and determined the institution was no longer at risk of noncompliance with accreditation criteria. The action affirmed years of work focused on governance, planning, assessment, institutional effectiveness and student success.

“What makes this accomplishment significant is not simply the accreditation outcome itself, but the work behind it,” said David Beighley, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs. “Over the past several years, the college strengthened its planning processes, assessment practices and decision-making systems while maintaining a focus on student learning and student success. That foundation will continue to serve our students well moving forward.”

Recently appointed provost after serving in the interim role, Beighley said the institution remains focused on helping students succeed.

“Our work must remain focused on identifying and removing barriers for students, strengthening the systems that support their success and continuing to build clear, flexible pathways that meet students where they are,” Beighley said. “I look forward to building on the progress we have made and continuing to advance programs and partnerships that support student persistence, completion and meaningful workforce outcomes.”

Expanding Capacity for High-Demand Careers

The coming year will also bring progress on one of the college’s largest workforce investments, the new Aviation Maintenance Training Center at North Central West Virginia Airport.

The $23 million facility is expected to significantly expand capacity in one of Pierpont’s most in-demand programs while helping meet workforce needs in West Virginia’s growing aerospace and aviation sectors.

Once completed, the new facility will feature modern laboratories, testing areas and aviation maintenance training space aligned with Federal Aviation Administration standards, while creating expanded opportunities for students pursuing careers in aviation maintenance, welding and advanced manufacturing.

“We hold a capacity of 130 students, but with this expansion, it allows us to apply to the FAA and expand our program to 230 students,” Dr. Waide told MetroNews.

The facility is being developed adjacent to major aerospace employers including Pratt & Whitney, Aurora Flight Sciences and Lockheed Martin, strengthening the connection between classroom instruction and workforce opportunity.

“The real opportunity is creating pathways for students into high-demand, high-wage careers while helping meet workforce needs across the region,” Dr. Waide said. “This project represents an investment in students, employers and the economic future of North Central West Virginia.”

College officials anticipate breaking ground on the facility this fall.

Strengthening Pathways for Students

Academic Affairs continues to focus on aligning programs and workforce opportunities in ways that help students progress from enrollment to completion.

Over the past year, the college advanced new healthcare and workforce-focused initiatives, strengthened academic assessment and program review processes, expanded data-informed decision-making and continued aligning academic offerings with regional workforce needs while supporting broader institutional efforts focused on persistence and completion.

“We know students are more likely to succeed when expectations are clear, support is accessible and pathways are well defined,” Beighley said. “Our goal is to continue strengthening those conditions so more students can achieve the goals that brought them to Pierpont.”

Student Support Beyond the Classroom

While faculty guide learning in the classroom, Student Services teams are helping students navigate the many challenges that can stand between enrollment and completion.

Through advising, financial aid, tutoring, counseling, disability services, career services, student engagement and registrar support, the division works to help students stay connected and continue progressing toward their goals. This year, students will benefit from expanded tutoring resources, updated mental health and accommodation services, and continued investment in career readiness initiatives.

“Student success is rarely the result of one office or one interaction,” said Nancy Parks, Associate Vice President of Student Services. “It happens when students know where to turn for help, feel connected to the college and have people willing to help them navigate challenges as they arise. Our goal is to create connections, reduce barriers and help students stay on track toward their goals.”

Career Services is also expanding the use of Handshake, a career development platform designed to connect students with internships, jobs, employers and career exploration opportunities that align with their academic programs and career goals.

A College-Wide Commitment to Student Persistence

Central to Pierpont’s Fall 2026 priorities is a collaborative effort between Academic Affairs and Student Services aimed at improving student persistence. The college-wide initiative focuses on creating conditions that help more students continue progressing toward their educational goals.

The initiative grew from a cross-functional working group to examine the full student experience and identify opportunities to remove barriers that prevent students from reaching their educational goals. Rather than focusing solely on traditional retention measures, the framework examines the conditions that help students continue making progress from enrollment through graduation.

“Students don’t experience our organizational chart,” Dr. Waide said. “Students experience one Pierpont. That’s why persistence has to be collaborative. Every interaction matters, and every employee has a role in helping students continue moving toward their goals.”

The framework is built around seven pillars: onboarding and early momentum; proactive advising and student navigation; belonging and campus connection; workforce connection and career clarity; academic success and supplemental learning support; financial stability and basic-needs support; and resilience, wellness and student well-being.

Guided by the seven pillars, the college will focus on creating conditions that promote persistence, including stronger connections and more intentional support throughout the student experience.

“Retention statistics only tell part of the story,” Parks said. “Our focus is helping students navigate challenges, connect with resources, build relationships and keep moving forward. Whether a student is attending full time, part time, online or returning after time away, we want them to know there is a network of people committed to their success.”

Looking Ahead

For Dr. Waide, the start of the Fall 2026 semester represents more than the beginning of another academic year. It is an opportunity to align every part of the institution around a common purpose.

“We have built momentum together,” Dr. Waide said. “Now we have the opportunity to focus that momentum. The real measure of our success is whether students are returning, completing courses, earning credentials, transferring, entering careers and building lives that are different because Pierpont was part of their journey.”

He said the theme, “Every Student Forward,” is intended to serve as both a challenge and a guide.

“Our why is still to change lives through education,” Dr. Waide said. “This year, we want our evidence to be simple: students are moving forward.”

For more information about Pierpont Community & Technical College, visit Pierpont.edu.

Pierpont Community & Technical College provides accessible, responsive, and high‑quality education to students and businesses across North Central West Virginia. With a strong focus on career readiness and workforce development, Pierpont offers academic programs and industry‑aligned training that create clear pathways to employment. Through this work, the college helps students discover their path while supporting the region’s economic and workforce needs.

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