The Senate passed a bill Wednesday evening that would absorb Pierpont Community and Technical College into Fairmont State University.
Senate Bill 653 would reunify Pierpont and Fairmont State, making Pierpont into a “division of Fairmont State.” If the bill completes in the House, Pierpont will become the Fairmont State University Pierpont College of Community and Technical Education.
The bill, and subsequent merger, would add three new members to Fairmont State’s Board of Governors, including two faculty members – at least one of whom would be elected to the position by Pierpont’s faculty – and one new member, appointed by Governor Jim Justice, “who has knowledge and practical experience in community and technical education.”
Also under the bill, the Dean of the Pierpont College of Community and Technical College will be appointed by Fairmont State’s president, and an advisory board on matters related to community and technical college would be appointed by the chairman of the Fairmont State Board of Governors. The chair of the advisory board would also be a voting member of Fairmont State’s Board of Governors.
If the bill completes action, at the time of the unification, all Pierpont employees would become employees of Fairmont State University.
The legislation now moves to the House of Delegates for consideration.
This concludes Crossover Day. The Senate will only consider House bills from this point forward.
The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow at 11 a.m.
Judiciary will continue its meeting from earlier today at 6:30 p.m. in 208W
Education will meet tomorrow at 10 a.m. in 451M.
