The West Virginia University College of Business and Economics has received this year’s Active Partners in Educational Excellence Award from Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College.

The APEX award was presented during Founders Day Celebration Thursday (March 24) in Moorefield, where the community college is located. The College of Business and Economics was singled out for delivery of its Executive Master of Business Administration program in Moorefield via distance technology.

“This is very positive recognition for WVU and the College of Business and Economics in the Eastern Panhandle,”said Sue Day-Perroots, dean of Extended Learning.”It speaks well to our partnerships in education.”

The Executive Master of Business Administration program provides working professionals throughout the state with a local educational opportunity through interactive distance technology.

Other WVU partners have included Mountain State University in Beckley, Bluefield State College, WVU Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center’s Charleston Division, the Wood Technology Center in Elkins, the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, New River Community and Technical College in Lewisburg, Martinsburg High School, West Virginia Northern Community College in New Martinsville and Wheeling, WVU Parkersburg, Shepherd College, West Liberty State College in Warwood, and Development Dimensions International in Bridgeville, Pa.

These partnerships permit the college to meet the needs of the region’s working professionals as they prepare to become the business leaders of the future.

B&E Dean Jay Coats said the award demonstrates the college’s interest in becoming partners with institutions across the state to provide educational opportunities.

“We’re very honored by this award,”he said.”I think it shows that we are using technology in a major way as an outreach and educational tool.”

Each of the distance learning facilities in the network features fully interactive real-time video and voice. Students participating in classes at remote sites interact in the complete classroom setting with WVU faculty and distance classmates.