West Virginia University Restores In-Person Orientation

The institution is bringing back face-to-face onboarding for new employees after the pandemic caused a multi-year shift.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Job Fairs

West Virginia University Restores In-Person Orientation

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West Virginia University has reinstated its in-person orientation program for new staff members, an initiative spearheaded in 2024. The university aims to restore the traditional onboarding experience that was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic starting in 2020.

Why it matters

The move to restore in-person onboarding serves to better integrate new hires into the university community after several years of reliance on remote or virtual processes. By engaging leaders across the campus to facilitate these sessions, the institution is looking to strengthen its organizational culture.

Amy Metz, a senior training and development specialist at the university, joined the Learning and Organizational Development team in 2024. Metz originally began her academic journey at West Virginia University in 1993.

The players

Amy Metz

She is a senior training and development specialist at West Virginia University who previously worked as a reading specialist for elementary students.

West Virginia University

It is a public research university in West Virginia that employs a large faculty and staff base.

The details

The university's Learning and Organizational Development team now utilizes rotating facilitators from various departments to lead orientation sessions. In addition to in-person events, the institution offers a virtual training curriculum known as the New Employee Journey, which remains accessible to all university staff.

1993: Amy Metz began her studies at West Virginia University.
2020: The university suspended in-person orientation due to the pandemic.
2024: Amy Metz joined the Learning and Organizational Development team.

Market Landscape

This transition reflects a broader trend among large institutions seeking to revitalize workplace culture by moving away from strictly digital onboarding. The shift positions the university to better compete for talent by offering a more personal and collaborative integration process than purely virtual alternatives.

New hires at the university can now expect a more interactive and face-to-face onboarding process compared to the virtual-only models used in recent years. This change facilitates more direct networking opportunities with campus leaders and colleagues.

The takeaway

Organizations often find that returning to in-person training can bridge communication gaps that develop during extended periods of remote work. Employers looking to improve retention should prioritize building these interpersonal connections early in the new-hire experience.