All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

WVU extends fall payment deadline, provides more details on ‘phased’ Return to Campus plans

West Virginia University has extended the payment deadline for certain fall charges so students have more time to plan after announcing a phased Return to Campus in Morgantown.

The payment deadline for fall charges on July eBills is now September 1 instead of August 1.

The phased approach, announced this week, will result in fewer students on the Morgantown campus for in-person instruction with the hope of bringing more students back as the semester progresses.

After a significant spike in positivity and transmission rates in early July, the University was encouraged by a downward trend in those rates over the past week. This improvement in downward trends was a result of West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice mandating masks indoors and closing bars in Morgantown, in addition to other measures taken by the State, the Morgantown City Council and the Monongalia County Commission. However, there was heightened concern that returning all students to campus at one time could reignite an increased rate of cases and transmission.

“Our Governor has constantly reminded us to keep the health and safety of our students and community at the front of our minds in making our decisions. We appreciate the leadership of our Governor for making the hard decisions that were in the best interest of our campus and local communities,” said Rob Alsop, vice president for strategic initiatives. “We also have worked closely with our local and state public health officials to help mitigate spread in our community.

“This was not an easy decision,” continued Alsop. “We know that changing things at this date disrupted many plans, and we understand and empathize with those frustrations. But we also know the data makes a very strong case for us to take this direction. And, after consulting with Gov. Justice and our partners in public health, we believe this is the right thing to do.”

The plan calls for classes on the Morgantown campus to begin on Wednesday, Aug. 26, a week later than originally scheduled. Classes on the Beckley and Keyser campuses will begin on Wednesday, Aug. 19 as originally scheduled. Additional academic information is available at the Return to Campus website.

Move-in for residence halls is also delayed by one week – from Saturday, Aug. 15 to Saturday, Aug. 22. Additional housing information is available at the Return to Campus website.

COVID-19 testing will be required for those students who will be taking on-campus courses and/or using on-campus resources. Additional testing dates will be made available the week of Aug. 17. The test is free.

A virtual commencement ceremony will be held on Dec. 19 to honor WVU’s August and December graduates. In addition, information regarding an in-person commencement for both the May and December 2020 ceremonies will be posted at a future date.

Additional information, including details of two planned Campus Conversations on Thursday, July 30, is available at the Return to Campus website.

Share this story:

Local Businesses

RECENT Stories

Really Really Free Market and Community Potluck scheduled for Sunday, July 13

A community Really Really Free Market and potluck will be held Sunday, July 13, from 1–3 pm at Walnut and Chestnut streets, featuring free goods, services, food and opportunities to connect and volunteer.

Man arrested for attempted murder after allegedly attempting to run someone over in Walmart parking lot

Rayne Prince Marion Chuma was arrested and charged with attempted murder after allegedly trying to hit a man with his vehicle in the Buckhannon Walmart parking lot before leaving the scene.

Suspect held without bail in Brushy Fork Road robbery case

Bruno Martins Ferreira has been arrested and is being held without bail on felony robbery and conspiracy charges after allegedly participating in an armed robbery at a Brushy Fork Road residence, during which $12,000 was transferred from the victim’s bank account.

Upshur County Board of Education Agenda: July 8, 2025

The Upshur County Board of Education has released the agenda for its upcoming meeting scheduled for July 8, 2025.

City of Buckhannon calendar: July 7-11, 2025

Buckhannon has announced a series of July public meetings, bulky item and yard waste collections, family-friendly events such as Festival Fridays, deadline reminders for firefighter applications, and performances of “Mamma Mia!” at the Colonial Arts Center.

Sherry Esenwein

Sherry Esenwein, a devoted educator, animal lover, and Buckhannon native, passed away peacefully at 71 in Annapolis, remembered for her adventurous spirit, cherished family, and lifelong dedication to teaching and her beloved dogs.

Summer Basketball League kicks off

The Upshur County Summer Basketball League began its season last week, featuring multiple games with standout performances from players such as Josh Trent, Andrew Holcomb, and Sterlin Thropp, while several matches ended in forfeits.

Post 7 falls in twin bill to Charleston

Buckhannon Post 7 suffered two losses to Charleston Post 56 on Sunday, dropping the first game 14-0 by mercy rule and falling 5-2 in the second despite a late rally.

Upshur County Commission partners with development authority, eyes $550k in grants for proposed rec hub

The Upshur County Commission partnered with the Development Authority and authorized applications for $550,000 in grants, as well as a joint property transfer, to support construction of the proposed John C. Allen Regional Hub recreation complex.