Oct 06, 2024  
2024-2025 College Catalog 
    
2024-2025 College Catalog

General Information



Message From the President

College President Dr. Daniel Mosser Picture

Welcome to West Virginia Northern Community College! You have come to the right place to make your mark on the world.

Our college has been a valuable community resource for the past 50 years. We serve students of all ages and backgrounds. Whether you are the first in your family to attend college or are from a long line of college graduates, if you are participating in one of our workforce development programs or you are pursuing an associate degree – you belong here.

Many students come to Northern to earn an associate degree. Some enroll in the initial two years of a bachelor’s degree here then transfer to a university to complete the remaining two years. Many others seek a one-year certificate in career training to develop skills and enter the workforce as our community’s skilled energy workers, nurses, first responders, chefs, teachers, accountants, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and more. Many high school juniors and seniors enroll in our early entrance courses earning college credits while in high school - saving money and shortening their path to a degree. Still others take courses for personal enrichment, to learn and to grow personally.

As the compass in our logo indicates, we are here to help you navigate your life’s journey. Is your ultimate goal a bachelor’s degree? Northern is the ideal place to start as we have a number of programs that transfer to four-year colleges and universities. We have many 2+2 agreements with regional institutions that streamline the transfer process and can save you tens of thousands of dollars. By starting at Northern and taking advantage of these transfer opportunities, you can stay home, save money, and possibly continue working while completing your degree at Northern.

If you are seeking workforce training or an industry certification that prepares you for immediate employment or for career advancement, we have that too. Northern has workforce training programs to prepare you for a career in health care like CNA and phlebotomy, business, applied and industrial technology, information technology, cyber security, EMT/paramedic, criminal justice, human services, culinary arts, CDL Class A & Class B, and more.

Affordability is an important consideration when navigating higher education. Northern is listed in the U.S. Department of Education’s List of Top 100 Community Colleges for Lowest Net Tuition in the nation. For the past several years, we have been the most affordable community college in the State of West Virginia. In addition, our Financial Aid Office stands ready to assist you in identifying and applying for federal financial aid, West Virginia Invests, and other private scholarship opportunities. Through our foundation, Northern also offers a variety of privately funded scholarship opportunities.

Looking for classes conveniently located in the Northern Panhandle? Northern has you covered with campuses conveniently located in Weirton, Wheeling, and New Martinsville. All three of our campuses are attractive and equipped with the latest instructional technologies.

Do you have work or family responsibilities requiring flexible scheduling? Northern can help with a wide variety of on-line courses and programs.

As you navigate your college experience, you’ll discover amazing faculty and staff here at Northern who are committed to your success. Northern has excellent faculty who are experts in their fields, and many faculty have years of professional experience that enables them to connect the classroom to the work environment. Our friendly staff on all three campuses care about you and are here to help you succeed.

We are glad you chose Northern, and we look forward to helping you find your direction and achieve your goals.

I look forward to seeing you on one of our campuses soon.

 

Daniel P. Mosser, Ph.D.

WVNCC President

College Snapshot

  • Coeducational, Tri-Campus, Public, Two-Year Comprehensive Community College.
  • Established July 1, 1972, by the West Virginia Board of Regents.
  • Programs in Liberal Arts and Sciences, Career-Technical, Workforce Development, Developmental Education, and Community and Continuing Education.
  • “Open-Door” Admissions Policy for College.

Mission Statement

West Virginia Northern is a comprehensive community college that provides affordable, quality education and training for all who wish to learn. Northern strengthens our community and empowers individuals to pursue fulfilling lives.

Vision Statement

WVNCC will be a trusted and valued community partner in lifelong learning.

We will:

  1. Invest in human capital - Invest in recruiting, onboarding, training, and employee development, cross-training succession planning, and employee satisfaction.
  2. Invest in technology to increase student success - Invest in technology in key areas such as access, recruitment and admission, advising, instruction, increasing student digital literacy, and improving student engagement.
  3. Implement an advising model that supports and improves student success - Implement an advising model that addresses individual student needs, provides clear career pathways, and is adaptable to Early Entrance and nontraditional students.
  4. Expand and improve workforce and economic development in our region and beyond - Expand and improve workforce education programs to prepare students for a regional and global labor market.
  5. Expand student diversity - Enroll a more diverse mix of students.

A Pledge to Students

We, the faculty, staff and administrators of West Virginia Northern Community College, reaffirm our commitment to our common mission:

Excellence in Teaching and Learning.

As members of an academic community, we pledge to unite ourselves to support the success of all who wish to learn.

As faculty, we are a community of scholars who place a top priority on teaching, learning and advising.

As staff, we serve the students and the College by facilitating and enhancing the total educational process.

As administrators, we provide leadership for the development of students, faculty and staff; and we accept the responsibility for quality and accountability for the total development of the Upper Ohio Valley.

At Northern, the values of a college education and service take precedence over the values of wealth and status.

Compliance Process Updates

In keeping with the federal legislation, state of West Virginia legislative changes and regulations, including the Higher Education Opportunity Act, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, as amended, the Clery Act including the Campus SAVE and VAWA regulations, WVNCC is creating and/or updating processes, policies and procedures to comply with these changes. 

For additional details, contact the appropriate area of the College. As the College responds to these changes and mandates, information will be made available on the College’s website and through student notifications, etc., as necessary.