Implications for Student Affairs throughout a Campus Move The WVU Tech Story: Implications for Student Affairs throughout a Campus Move Introduce all presenters beginning with Rich.

Why move? Montgomery vs. Beckley Location Demographics Ability to recruit and retain (both students, staff and faculty) Town and Gown relationships Niche programs (STEM) Things to do for traditional college student population Campus Condition Discuss the move from Montgomery to Beckley. Declining population, isolated location and lack of economic/community partners in Montgomery area. Discuss aging facilities and lack of ability to raise capital for improvements. Also, the lack of staff and faculty living in community resulted in inability to retain students, faculty and staff.

Implications of Move Political implications Breaking with tradition - University in Montgomery since 1895 Traditions: Maintaining and Creating New Philosophical shift of WVU to have a range of educational opportunities under that banner of WVU Region for growth in Beckley Reaffirming and reshaping our goals as an institution. Including mission, character of who we are, small and family oriented place) Moving the BEAR, maintaining events like Light Up Tech, etc. Assists in fulfilling the land grant mission

Recruitment and Retention Enrollment Fall 2016 – 1347 (headcount) Enrollment Fall 2017 – 1632 (headcount) Retention of First Year Students Fall 2015 – 54.4% Retention of First Year Students Fall 2016 – 67.3%

Getting Campus Ready to Accept the Move Students Tours of facilities Rumor mill Shifting programming to Beckley (WVU Tech vs. WVU game, MLK Day Service Projects, Gold & Blue Weekend, etc.) Developed an office on campus, three full-time SL staff, rotated senior directors Faculty & Staff Regular meetings and updates

WVU Tech Community Group Support Golden Bear Alumni Association Faculty Assembly Classified Staff Student Government Association

Implications for Student Affairs Division Recruit and retain students Recruit and retain high, quality staff Led to reorganization of division New Programs or Program Delivery: Student Activities, Diversity, Accessibility, Service and Learning, Tech Adventures, New Student Orientation, Preventative/Wellness Programming Community Partnerships

Things We Learned Along the Way Be nimble Housing Mental Health Care Facilities for program delivery All hands on deck Registration Days Be supportive of each others efforts Great professional development – at all organizational levels Mindset – positive and engaged in process Discuss partnerships such as the Raleigh Playhouse

Big Takeaways Don’t limit yourself or your department (be willing to accept change, it is okay to scrap what you’ve always done and change things) Finding new ways to use funding effectively Changing expectations and demographics What are you doing to set yourself apart? What are you doing to create programs of excellence in Student Affairs at your institution?

Q&A