To the editor:

West Virginia faces a significant challenge: too few students graduate high school and go on to achieve the postsecondary training they need to succeed.

Students in this year’s graduating class face unprecedented economic obstacles. The global economy is lagging, and many jobs once considered a “sure thing” for high school graduates are vanishing — having been made obsolete by technological advances, or cut to secure a company’s new bottom line.

Higher education is the primary vehicle to rise above those barriers, and to help our students, and ultimately our communities, achieve their dreams for a brighter future.

West Virginia — and Mingo County — needs more students enrolled in two-year and four-year programs. We need more workers qualified for 21st century jobs. We need our talented young people to develop their skills, and make use of them right here at home in West Virginia.

Analysis by the National Center for Higher Edu-cation indicates that for every 100 ninth graders in West Virginia, only 73 will graduate high school on time. Of those graduates, only 39 will enroll in college in the next year, and only 16 will earn degrees in a timely manner.

If these statistics remain consistent, only sixteen percent of our upcoming graduating class will earn a postsecondary degree. This is particularly troubling given that, according to the national organization of State Higher Education Executive Officers, 60% of all new jobs will require a college degree.

We can bridge that gap. We can start with this year’s graduating class. It is not too late to talk to a counselor about college programs available for your students. West Virginia offers excellent two-year and four-year programs at several nationally recognized technical schools, colleges and universities.

More importantly, there are state and federal programs to help pay for them.

Students who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can receive scholarships, grants, and loans that can be repaid at a very low interest rate. I encourage you to take advantage of college nights and financial aid workshops available at your schools.

Though West Virginia and Mingo County face tough educational challenges, I am pleased to report that students here will receive extra help. A new grant program, called West Virginia GEAR UP, will help students in Mingo County plan, apply and pay for training beyond high school. The program is federally funded, and is aimed at “Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs.” Look for GEAR UP activities in your area. Take advantage of the services the program offers. Your students can go to college, graduate, and land those higher-paying jobs.

Our community’s future—our state’s and our nation’s future—depends on their success.

For more information about West Virginia GEAR UP, visit www.wvgearup.org.

Sincerely,

Dr. Brian Noland

Chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission