A historically Black university in Institute, W.Va., has signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Mid-Atlantic Region that will help promote partnerships and opportunities to enhance the enviromental science curriculum.
West Virginia State University’s MOU was signed Sept. 14 by the university President Ericke Cage and EPA Region 3 Administrator Adam Ortiz, according to an EPA news release. A goal is to “further the success of WVSU, its students and the broader community, in alignment with the EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment.”
“The most significant gains we make in environmental protection come from partnerships like these,” Ortiz said in the release.
According to the release, the MOU’s objectives are to “support student learning, internships, career development and employment in environmental sciences and related fields” [at the EPA and with organizations and communities], “promote faculty and EPA employee professional development, provide technical assistance support to the university’s faculty and staff, increase the university’s participation in federal programs and identify community and regional partnership opportunities in support of environmental stewardship, with a focus on environmental justice.”
“As a historically Black land grant institution, West Virginia State University is committed to the work of transforming our students lives through excellence in education and improving our community through research and innovation,” Cage said in the release.
“This exciting partnership helps to further this work by providing our students, faculty and staff with access to the vast expertise, resources and career opportunities offered by the EPA," he added. "I want to thank Administrator Ortiz and the entire EPA Region 3 team for making this partnership a reality.”
