BLUEFIELD, W. Va. -The first class of students in the recently reinstituted Mining Engineering Technology Program at Bluefield State University recently began their second semester in the program. Now they’re getting an opportunity for real-world experience, thanks to a partnership with other universities as part of a federally funded initiative.
It’s all through participation in the Virginia Tech’s “Extend Appalachia Project,” that is funded by the Department of Energy. BSU will be partnering with Virginia Tech, as well as West Virginia University, Penn State, and the University of Kentucky, to evaluate “critical minerals” in the Appalachian area.
Keith Olson, the Vice President of Development at BSU, credits their addition in this partnership to the reputation of its alumni and the technologically “hands-on” nature of their program. He says this recognition means more opportunities for the students to engage with the mining industry and shows the community the value of studying mining at Bluefield State University.
“…and this is an opportunity for students who have an engineering propensity, and they want to stay in the area, and they want to be able to provide for their families, or they want to take those skills and they want to follow the industry wherever it may lead, so have the Mining Engineering Technology program here at Bluefield State, it is a real gem for Southern West Virginia and Virginia,” says Olson.
If you would like to join this Mining Engineering Technology Program, Olson encourages you to go to their website to enroll.
Copyright 2025 WVVA. All rights reserved.