In this episode of Our Communiversity Today, Dr. Ramon Stuart, President of West Virginia University Institute of Technology, focuses on expanding access to higher education for West Virginians who started college but never completed a degree. Dr. Stuart opens the conversation by reinforcing the core mission of the program: the belief that the community is the university and the university is the community, and that higher education must play an active role in helping individuals and regions grow and thrive.
Joining the program is Mark Jones, faculty member at WVU Tech and director of the Regents Bachelor of Arts (RBA) program. Mark shares his background, his journey to West Virginia, and his passion for helping adult learners advance their education. Together, he and Dr. Stuart discuss how the RBA program was designed specifically for individuals balancing careers, families, military service, and other life responsibilities, offering a flexible path to earning a bachelor’s degree.
The conversation highlights how the RBA program allows students to earn college credit for prior learning, including work experience, military training, certifications, and professional leadership roles. Mark explains the portfolio review process, GPA forgiveness for past academic struggles, and the ability to tailor degrees through areas of emphasis such as business, sport management, healthcare administration, and emerging fields like construction management and engineering-related disciplines. This approach removes many of the traditional barriers that prevent adult learners from returning to school.
As the episode concludes, Dr. Stuart emphasizes the broader impact of the RBA program on Southern West Virginia’s workforce and economy. By helping individuals finish what they started and earn meaningful credentials, WVU Tech is strengthening communities, retaining talent, and creating new opportunities for personal and professional growth. Listeners are encouraged to take the next step, explore the RBA program, and consider how completing a degree can help them finish strong and build a brighter future for themselves and for Southern West Virginia.
Mark Jones Phone Number (304) 444-1926
