How West Virginia University and local businesses work together to meet community needs will be among the presentations arranged for WVU faculty when they visit Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, Ohio and Wetzel counties May 12-13 during the West Virginia Country Roads Scholars Tour.

The 20-plus WVU faculty members will find out what it means toput knowledge to workin a community setting. They will also begin looking at new ways to add their skills to the University’s outreach into communities. Faculty will have the opportunity to share insights with legislators, business men and women, and other state educators.

Gerald Lang, WVU provost, and Larry Cote, WVU associate provost and Extension director, will guide the tour.

During the two days, participants will:

  • observe Brooke County High School’s approach to preparing students for the job market and education beyond high school;
  • tour Wheeling-Nisshin’s steel-coating facility and meet with company officials to discuss the steel industry’s impact on West Virginia’s economy;
  • visit West Liberty State College and the Homer Laughlin China Company;- see the Mountaineer Racetrack and Gaming Resort in Chester;
  • tour the former West Virginia State Penitentiary in Moundsville and downtown Wheeling;
  • stay at Oglebay Park’s Wilson Lodge, where they will discuss community issues with area college officials, business owners, and other state and local leaders;
  • visit the New Martinsville Hydroelectric Power Plant, which is owned by the city of New Martinsville.

The tour, which goes to a different part of the state each year, is sponsored by the WVU Provost’s Office and WVU Extension Service. It is part of WVU ’s Faculty Academy Week