Over 1,100 Fairmont State University baccalaureate students have been honored for their academic achievements throughout the Fall 2025 semester.
Fairmont State University is kicking off the new year with an exciting announcement: the Spring 2026 Presidential Speaker Series has a new closer, Chelsea Ruby, Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Tourism! The series brings thought leaders from diverse fields such as politics, business, education, art and more to campus to foster meaningful conversations and intellectual engagement. This semester the series will also feature Dr. Mike Lee, Professor and Director of the Civility Initiative, College of Charleston (SC) and Annick Odom 2025-2026 Artist in Residence, Multi-instrumentalist, Composer, Folk Singer, Crankie Maker, Storyteller, and Square Dance Caller.
The Fairmont State’s Board of Governors met Thursday, December 18, in the Falcon Center Board Room to advance the University’s status as an affordable, accessible, and innovative regional institution. The session highlighted strategic initiatives aimed at advancing academic excellence, supporting student success, and driving economic growth throughout West Virginia. From celebrating recent achievements to approving measures that promote transparency and affordability, the Board reaffirmed Fairmont State’s steadfast commitment to delivering high-quality education and serving as a trusted partner in shaping the state’s future.
Fairmont State University will honor the Fall 2025 graduating class during Commencement on Saturday, Dec. 13 in the Feaster Center. The morning ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. and will recognize graduates from the College of Business & Aviation, the College of Liberal Arts, and the Regents Bachelor of Arts program. The afternoon ceremony, scheduled for 2 p.m., will honor graduates from the College of Education, Health and Human Performance, the College of Nursing, and the College of Science & Technology.
The Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center at Fairmont State University has two upcoming holiday events featuring festive songs, stories, and dancing. Both events are free of charge and open to the public.
Fairmont State University is now offering its Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program in a fully online format, alongside the traditional on-campus option. This new delivery method provides the same academic excellence and personalized mentorship that have defined the program’s 40‑year legacy — all in a format tailored to non‑traditional, working, and place‑bound students.
The Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center will soon feature a new exhibition, Interwoven: The Fiber Arts Legacy of Arthurdale, in partnership with Arthurdale Heritage.
Fairmont State University will kick off its 2025–26 Artist-in-Residence program with a Community Halloween Square Dance at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, at the Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center. The event will be led by Annick Odom, this year’s artist-in-residence.
From eerie shadows in the hills to glowing eyes in the night, West Virginia’s legendary creatures have captured imaginations for generations. Are these monsters real, or just spooky campfire stories passed down through the years?
Fairmont State University’s Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center, in partnership with Dr. Tadashi Kato, Professor of Psychology, will host Dance Meditation with Eastern European Folk Music on Wednesday, September 24, from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. on the second floor of the Folklife Center.
The Fairmont State community lost a valued friend with the passing of JoAnn Lough on Jan. 2, 2024. She was 93. Lough taught theater at Fairmont State University where she introduced countless students to the diverse and colorful world of the performing arts. By insisting on the highest standards, Lough earned respect and admiration from students, many of whom returned to visit long after their graduation.
For more than three decades, Kestrel, Fairmont State University’s literary journal, has served as a cultural and creative outlet for West Virginia and the Appalachian region. It remains the only print literary journal in the state backed by a higher education institution.
A VerySpatial Podcast, co-hosted by Fairmont State University faculty members Dr. Barbara MacLennan and Frank LaFone, GISP along with geographers Dr. Jesse Rouse and Dr. Sue Bergeron at Coastal Caroline University, has been recognized by FeedSpot as one of the Top 15 Geography Podcasts on the web. In addition, the podcast’s companion blog was ranked among the Top 100 GIS Blogs worldwide.
Fairmont State University welcomed faculty and staff back from summer break with its annual Opening Session and Welcome Back Breakfast, celebrating a year of significant accomplishments and setting a course for the flourishing year ahead. Most notably, the University is experiencing prominent growth in both overall enrollment and student retention for the Fall 2025 semester. Specifically, undergraduate enrollment is expected to increase by 9%, retention rates are projected to rise by 8%, and there is an anticipated 18% increase in graduate studies enrollment—bringing approximately 300 additional students to campus altogether.
Fairmont State University is proud to announce that it is the first higher education institution in West Virginia to have lifetime inductees into Gamma Sigma Theta – the National Honor Society for Geospatial Technology. This prestigious honor recognizes students and faculty for excellence in geospatial technology and applied geographic research.
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