Fairmont State University Geography faculty member, Dr. Frank LaFone, has been honored with the West Virginia Association of Geospatial Professionals (WVAGP) Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his outstanding career-long contributions to the advancement of geographic information systems (GIS) and geospatial technology throughout West Virginia.
Fairmont State University has been awarded $16,000 through the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (WVHEPC) First-Generation Student Success Grant to continue, strengthen, and expand upon first-generation programming that was established last academic year. This funding was secured with the assistance of Fairmont State University’s Office of Sponsored Programs.
Fairmont State University's Board of Governors met on August 20 for their regularly scheduled bi-monthly meeting, receiving updates on strategic planning, enrollment, student success, housing, and financial stewardship as the University begins the 2026-27 academic year.
Fairmont State University has announced the lineup for its 2026-2027 Presidential Speaker Series, continuing a campus tradition of bringing thought leaders to Fairmont State for meaningful conversations on issues shaping society today. The series will launch on September 1 at 6 p.m. in Wallman Hall Theater, with Rajiv Vinnakota, President of the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, presenting on Higher Education’s Civic Responsibility.
Pierpont Community & Technical College and Fairmont State University signed a memorandum of agreement Monday creating a new educational path that allows eligible Pierpont employees to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Fairmont State at a tuition rate comparable to Pierpont’s community college tuition.
Fairmont State University will celebrate the opening of the Rusty and Kimberly Hutson Family BEACON Simulation Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, August 27, at 1 p.m. in the first floor lobby of the Education Building.
From August 12-15, Fairmont State University will launch two new campus initiatives: Fall Welcome and First Flight. Fall Welcome, formerly known as Welcome Week, has been reimagined to place a greater emphasis on student success through programming that supports students' academic, personal, and social development while fostering meaningful connections with peers, faculty, and staff.
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.
The Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center will host their annual Awards Ceremony on August 23 at 2:00 pm. The awards honor local artists, scholars, and performers who are stewards of traditional culture. Following the awards ceremony will be an open house from 3:00-4:00 pm. This event is free and open to the public. It will take place at the Folklife Center located on Squibb Wilson Boulevard on Fairmont State University’s campus.
Fairmont State University received grant funding totaling $20,000 from the FirstEnergy Foundation and $10,000 from the EQT Foundation to support student-focused initiatives on campus. These grants were obtained with the assistance of Fairmont State University’s Office of Sponsored Programs.
The Department of Humanities at Fairmont State University has awarded Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships to Alexis Gray of Newell, WV and Kaden Lhotsky of Bridgeport, WV.
Fairmont State University is proud to announce its latest lifetime inductees into Gamma Sigma Theta, the National Honor Society for Geospatial Technology, in West Virginia. This prestigious honor recognizes both students and faculty for excellence in geospatial technology and applied geographic research.
Band submissions are now officially open for Rock the Roost 2027, a full-day Appalachian music festival and battle of the bands set for June 12, 2027, on the campus of Fairmont State University. Bands from across West Virginia are invited to apply between July 1, 2026, and October 30, 2026 for a chance to perform and compete in this statewide showcase of original music.
Fairmont State University is proud to announce that our episode of The College Tour is now streaming and available to audiences nationwide. Hosted by Amazing Race winner Alex Boylan, The College Tour offers high school students and their families an engaging, inside look at colleges and universities across the country. Each episode provides prospective students with a deeper understanding of campus life beyond traditional brochures or websites.
Fairmont State University’s Chief of Staff, Dr. Brian Selmeski, has been selected, through a competitive process, to join higher education leaders from across the country at the Executive Leadership Academy (ELA). This year’s cohort includes 36 executive leaders, from a diverse range of academic institutions, who are preparing to advance into presidential roles.
If you have written a news release and would like to have it posted on the news site or sent to media outlets, please send the release to news@fairmontstate.edu 7-10 days in advance of your targeted release date. Please include a photo when possible.
