WVU-P gets federal stimulus funds

West Virginia University at Parkersburg is the recipient of $250,000 in federal stimulus funds for an energy savings project at its Caperton Center for Applied Technology.

The funds are part of the U.S. Department of Energy's State Energy Program under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The Caperton Center project will involve the replacement of the facility's original heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems. Four air handling units will be replaced with a single unit with hot water pre-heat and chilled water cooling. The project is expected to be completed by the spring of 2010.

The Caperton Center HVAC replacement initiative is one of 18 higher education stimulus projects awarded through the West Virginia Division of Energy. The state projects were selected from "shovel ready" energy efficiency ideas. Institutions submitted the projects to the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and the Council for Community and Technical College Education.

WVU-P gets Green Collar Job grant

West Virginia University at Parkersburg is the recipient of a $250,000 West Virginia Green Collar Job Training Program grant from the West Virginia Division of Energy and the West Virginia Community and Technical College System.

The state program is designed to develop green-collar jobs training programs in the areas of solar, wind, building energy performance and energy codes which lead to high-wage careers and complement economic development efforts of the state.

With the grant, WVU Parkersburg will develop two programs - a Solar Energy Technology Certificate and an SET Associate of Applied Science degree. Both the certificate and degree will feature traditional and blended course formats that include online delivery of content supplemented with hands-on, skills-based lab activities.

WVU-P named MLK

Service Host Campus

West Virginia University at Parkersburg has been named a 2010 Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Host Campus.

The host campus distinction is awarded by the West Virginia Campus Compact and includes a mini-grant, funded by North Carolina Campus Compact and the Corporation for National and Community Service.

WVU Parkersburg's service activity will benefit a local organization. Tom Yencha, director of student activities, said WVU Parkersburg will use its $340 mini-grant to implement a service project on Martin Luther King Jr. Day which will involve painting and cleaning the Parkersburg Boys and Girls Club.

From local reports