ISSUED: 15 June 2023
MEDIA CONTACT: Dana Costa
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — Shepherd University Regents Bachelor of Arts (RBA) Coordinator Beth Thomas is the recipient of the first-ever WVROCKS Star award from the statewide online higher education learning program WVROCKS. Thomas received the award during the annual WVROCKS Online Learning Forum that took place May 17-19 at Stonewall Resort State Park.
“It’s the first time they’ve ever given the award. It was a totally unexpected honor,” Thomas said.
WVROCKS was launched in 2012 to help students complete their degrees in the four-year RBA program by offering online courses. Thomas said WVROCKS classes are compressed to eight weeks from 16 weeks, so students can take at least two courses each semester.
“It allows them to get more credits faster and also online,” Thomas said. “Between 600 and 800 students a semester from across the state participate in those classes. About 30-40 Shepherd students take the classes each year, which is about half of my advisees. Some of my students exclusively take WVROCKS.”
WVROCKS has lower tuition and no fees, with Shepherd receiving 40 percent of the tuition paid to the program. Thomas said lower cost and flexibility make the classes appealing to students.
“Because the RBA is for adult learners, most of them have lives, they work, and they have children—those kinds of things,” Thomas said. “Having a totally online format works for them because they don’t have to be anywhere at a certain time. If we didn’t have WVROCKS, some of these students either wouldn’t come here or they wouldn’t be able to finish their degree because they couldn’t get the classes, they need in the timeframe they need them.”
Thomas received the award because she is easy to work with, gets everything done in a timely manner, and is a team player.
“We are excited Beth received this prestigious award,” said Dr. Kelly Hart, vice president for Enrollment Management. “It speaks to her commitment to student success, as well as to the outstanding colleague she is. I can’t think of anyone more deserving to be honored in this way. She is one in a million!”
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