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New poll illustrates Shepherd University’s deep roots in the four-state region

By Staff | Nov 23, 2012

A new public opinion poll shows Shepherd University has a strong regional standing in eastern West Virginia and neighboring areas of Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

The survey affirms Shepherd University’s strong position in the region as the most known and most liked college or university in the region. In an open-ended question, 36 percent of adults volunteered Shepherd University as the first college or university that comes to mind three times the share of the second most popular (West Virginia University and Shenandoah University received 12 percent each). Further, half of regional adults (50 percent) have a very favorable impression of Shepherd University and 81 percent have a favorable impression overall while just 2 percent have an unfavorable impression overall. Shepherd University’s level of intense favorability outpaces that of West Virginia University, Shenandoah University, and Shippensburg University.

Shepherd University President Suzanne Shipley said the survey shows that the public recognizes Shepherd’s commitment to provide a quality education through a personalized, hands-on approach. “We are very pleased with the results from the survey, and it shows that a Shepherd University education touches so many families throughout eastern West Virginia and the neighboring areas across Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. As we move forward into this new century, our commitment to the region is stronger than ever.”

Washington-based Widmeyer Communications conducted a regional telephone survey among 900 adults between the ages of 21 and 64. The region included Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan counties of West Virginia; Washington and Frederick counties of Maryland; Clarke and Frederick counties of Virginia; and Franklin County, Pa. The survey was conducted Sept. 20-25, 2012 and has a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points.

The survey shows favorability toward Shepherd is consistently very high across demographic and geographic groups and is particularly high in the West Virginia counties of Jefferson and Berkeley (64 percent and 63 percent very favorable, respectively).

Other data shows Shepherd has touched the lives of many adults across the region including: 59 percent who have a connection to Shepherd through friends and family; 39 percent who have a connection through coworkers and 15 percent of adults who have a connection to Shepherd as an alumnus.