In this month’s Presidential Video, President Mike Davis joins Senior Director of First-Year Experience Marion Holmes to talk about what it means to start the academic year strong at Fairmont State. From academic support and peer mentorship to student health and campus engagement, they discuss the many ways the University helps students from all walks of life overcome challenges and achieve their goals.
Fairmont State recently celebrated the formal opening of the Rusty and Kimberly Hutson Family BEACON Simulation Center. Why BEACON? In addition to the symbolism of a beacon guiding the way, it is an acronym for Bridging Education to Advance Clinical Outcomes in Nursing. The Center was built from the ground up to support advanced nursing education through robust, true-to-life clinical experiences.
Fairmont State University will open its 2026-27 Presidential Speaker Series on Sept. 1 with Rajiv Vinnakota, president of the Institute for Citizens & Scholars.
Fairmont State University faculty and staff gathered for the annual Welcome Back Breakfast to kick off the 2026-2027 academic year on August 10. Employees celebrated the accomplishments and people driving the institution forward while reaffirming the university’s commitment to student success and the future of West Virginia.
Fairmont State University students began moving back to campus this week for the 2026-27 school year, which Fairmont State President Dr. Mike Davis hopes will be a success despite challenges facing higher education.
President Mike is joined by Dr. Deb Struth, Dean of the College of Nursing, to discuss how the BEACON Center lives up to its name. The high-fidelity simulation technology and realistic clinical settings allow students to apply their classroom knowledge in lifelike healthcare scenarios. This will help ensure they are confident and career-ready the day they complete their degree program.
This year’s On the Road trip begins with a kickoff event at Twin Falls Resort State Park’s Courtyard on Monday, July 13th at 6 pm. This will be followed by county-wide events, community tours, and meaningful conversations that will strengthen Fairmont State’s relationships, help us identify meaningful partnerships, and show how the University can help move our state forward.
Summer is finally here. It’s a chance to engage in some of our favorite outdoor activities like swimming, camping, gardening and napping in a hammock under the shade tree. I hope you are enjoying the season, and that you get a chance to visit Fairmont State University’s picturesque campus to take in an event or simply to take a leisurely stroll.
Following Fairmont State President Mike Davis’ solo statewide summer tour in 2025, the University is taking its mission on the road to Wyoming, McDowell, and Raleigh counties this July with more than 30 Falcons. On the Road with Fairmont State will bring students, faculty, staff, leaders, and alumni directly into communities across the state to listen, connect, and build lasting partnerships.
Even though classes are out for the summer, campus is still buzzing. President Davis’ June Presidential Update is here, and it’s a good one! Joined by Fairmont City Manager Travis Blosser, he highlights the strong partnership between Fairmont State and the City, and how that connection continues to make a meaningful impact. From supporting the community after the 2025 Father’s Day flood to looking ahead with optimism, this update shows what it means to show up when it matters most.
Just a few weeks ago, our newest alumni, in their caps and gowns, walked across the stage and stopped with me for a photo to commemorate the moment. Is that picture missing from your photo album? Did you or someone you know once dream of earning your college degree? Did you, like so many others in West Virginia and the region, set that dream aside?
In our latest podcast episode, George Wolf, Vice President of Enrollment Management, shares insights on the pride, accomplishment, and aspirations tied to commencement—along with an important conversation about students whose paths were interrupted.
Nearly a year after the Father’s Day flood devastated parts of Fairmont, the city has partnered with Fairmont State University and First Exchange Bank to demolish three Locust Avenue structures that were condemned after the disaster.
Fairmont State University concluded its Spring 2026 Presidential Speaker Series Tuesday with a presentation by Chelsea Ruby, the secretary of the West Virginia Department of Tourism.
With its strategic implementation plans gradually being carried out, Fairmont State University is seeing a rise in student retention and campus participation, although leaders believe the school has much more room to grow.
