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The West Virginia Encyclopedia
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The West Virginia Encyclopedia
New River Community and Technical College is one of West Virginia’s youngest educational institutions. It was created on July 1, 2003, by the West Virginia Legislature as part of changes intended to provide autonomy for the state’s community colleges. Such colleges had traditionally been administered by host institutions, Bluefield State College in this case. Senate Bill 448, passed by the state legislature in 2004, made New River Community and Technical College essentially independent of Bluefield State.
New River absorbed the community college functions of Bluefield State, as well as Glenville State University’s community college campus at Summersville. Initially accredited as a component of Bluefield State, New River earned its own accreditation in 2005. Accreditation was granted again in 2007.
In addition to the headquarters at Beaver near Beckley, the college has campuses in Lewisburg, Princeton, and Summersville. The college also offers programs at a technology center in Ghent and at a “One Room University” in Marlinton and serves Fayette, Greenbrier, Mercer, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Raleigh, Summers, and Webster counties. New River Community and Technical College offers numerous associate degrees, several certificates, and customized workforce training.
In fall 2021, the total enrollment was 1,042, declining slightly to 1,007 the following year.