The Martinsburg Center will effectively serve the area’s non-traditional students and will deliver Shepherd University’s outstanding academic instruction to adult’s seeking degree completion in the region while offering a convenient location, flexible hours, and affordable price.
What our research about the Eastern Panhandle tells us:
- 10 percent population growth since 2000
- 65 percent employed in white collar jobs
- $37k-$65k is average income range
- 18 percent of the populace has some college
- More than 29,000 adults 25 years and older in the seven-county Eastern Panhandle Region have some college, but no degree
- Shepherd is well known and well liked
- Shepherd tested the highest among other regional institutions
- 39 percent of those surveyed are interested in Shepherd-Martinsburg for themselves or someone else
- 62 percent of those surveyed viewed fees as fair
How is Shepherd University responding?
Developing working-adult education model:
- High-quality academic programs
- Easily accessible location
- Flexible course deliver models
- Convenient and comfortable facilities
- Market-driven program offerings
- Affordable pricing
What will it cost?
- $2.5 million capital investment for renovation and fit out of a new facility
- $1.6 million annual operating budget
What is Return On Investment?
- Serving an additional 500 students by 2021
Building on Recent Success: Cutting student costs, not quality, through reduction in credits:
- Shepherd University was the first in the state to reduce the baccalaureate degree requirements from 128 hours to 120 hours
- Enabled 62 undergraduate seniors to graduate earlier; half by one semester, half by two semesters
- Provided average savings of $4,375 per student in tuition and housing, for an estimated student savings of $271,250