Legislation approved last year by West Virginia lawmakers has led to the first cooperative agreement between business and higher education.

And it's between West Virginia University at Parkersburg and DuPont Washington Works.

The agreement signed Friday by both organizations will allow WVU-P students to receive chemical operator training at the college, while getting work experience at DuPont.

"They can go for a couple of months, working and having education at the same time," said college president Dr. Marie Foster-Gnage. "But it just means another opportunity, another option, that our students will have. And in the end, industry will get a very good product."

The "Learn and Earn" workforce development initiative allows college students to alternate classroom learning with paid, on-the-job training.
DuPont will be reimbursed for half of those student wages by the state.