New River CTC explores expansion options

During the past year, New River Community and Technical College celebrated new campus locations in both Mercer and Raleigh Counties and continues to explore options to meet the needs of students and community members within the College’s nine county service region.
“Whether we’re looking at programs or facility space, we have to be good stewards of the College’s finances,” said New River CTC President Dr. Marshall Washington. “And we want to ensure that we are expanding in ways that serve our students and not passing the cost of improvement projects on to them through tuition and fees.”
Due to the financial cost, New River CTC’s Board of Governors has decided not to approve the lease/purchase agreement regarding the Nicholas County Campus Building Project.
The project would have allowed the College to partner with the Nicholas County Building Commission to construct a new 48,000 square-foot facility at the Glade Creek Business Park, Summersville. Initially, the Building Commission would own the property, and New River CTC would pay approximately $625,000 annually for 38 years to lease the space before ownership was transferred.
When New River CTC began working with the Building Commission on details of the agreement, the College considered state appropriations, increased enrollment, and the current cost of lease space as factors contributing to financing the project. Since that time, public institutions of higher learning across West Virginia have faced budget cuts imposed by the Legislature, and college enrollment has decreased nationally.
“Any projects beneficial to our students, employees, and community are a priority for the College, but such projects also need support from the state or private donors,” said Washington. “New River CTC is committed to developing new programs to meet the regional needs of employers throughout our service area and maintaining our partnerships with the Building Commission, Nicholas County, and the city of Summersville.”