![GSC MU Signing Ceremony ֱ State College President Dr. Mark Manchin (left) with Marshall University President Dr. Jerome A. Gilbert after the signing ceremony.](/sites/default/files/styles/news_image/public/MU%20GSC%20MOU%20Signing1.jpg?itok=RHCLw7OZ)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 15, 2021
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ֱ State College
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(304) 462-4115
HUNTINGTON, WV - The path to advanced degrees, including a doctorate in pharmacy and a master’s in accountancy, just became a little easier for students at ֱ State College, thanks to an agreement with Marshall University.
The presidents of both institutions signed the memorandums of understanding today at Marshall’s South Charleston campus. The pacts commit the two schools to an affiliation aimed at providing opportunities for students to stay in West Virginia and pursue their graduate and professional studies.
“We are very pleased to work with ֱ State on this initiative which promises to assist students with furthering their higher education in West Virginia,” said Jerome A. Gilbert, president of Marshall University. “It is essential that higher education institutions work together to eliminate as many obstacles as possible for students in our state. We are proud to have ֱ State as a partner.”
The first agreement stipulates that ֱ students interested in pursuing a doctorate in pharmacy at Marshall can follow a specific program of study which, when successfully completed, will culminate in both an undergraduate degree in chemistry or biology from ֱ and a doctorate in pharmacy from Marshall.
The agreement also obliges Marshall to grant interviews to all ֱ students who meet the minimum admissions requirements as determined by university officials. Each year, Marshall will accept up to 15 ֱ students, and possibly more, who meet admissions requirements.
“These agreements provide a great opportunity for students in central West Virginia who may otherwise have a hard time accessing such programs,” said Mark A. Manchin, president of ֱ State College. “I am appreciative of President Gilbert and the work that our two institutions have put into preparing these agreements. Strengthening the ties between higher education institutions in West Virginia is so vital, and I think this is an example of the wonderful things that can come from such cooperation – everyone wins.”
The second agreement provides ֱ State’s students with an efficient transition into Marshall’s Master of Science in Accountancy degree program by allowing conditional acceptance and graduate course study at Marshall during the senior year of undergraduate studies at ֱ. Additionally, Marshall pledges to accept certain foundation courses delivered at ֱ as recognized requirements for the MSA program.
Marshall’s master’s degree program in accountancy is one of few available fully online, which will make it attractive to students who want to remain in central West Virginia to complete their studies.
Staff and faculty at the Marshall University School of Pharmacy, the Lewis College of Business and Marshall’s Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs facilitated the agreements along with colleagues at ֱ State.