Non-profit seeks dialogue with WVU Leaders

READ THE REPORT – Visioning for a Future WVU: A Preliminary Report on Community-driven Transformation

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – After conducting a series of in-person meetings and an online survey, Create West Virginia (CWV) is asking West Virginia University and its Board of Governors to listen to alumni and other WVU supporters who want to see the institution flourish.

CWV is making the request as WVU and the Board of Governors prepare for Friday’s final vote on an academic transformation intended to respond to a projected $45 million deficit. The administration’s proposed transformation targets several academic programs and faculty positions for elimination.

The majority of some 270 respondents who attended an in-person meeting or completed an online survey say they want new leadership at WVU, and ask the administration and Board of Governors to slow down or halt the transformation until it can consider alternative solutions to WVU’s financial shortfall.

CWV, founded in 2007 as a nonprofit organization to promote entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic development through Innovation Economy principles, organized a series of in-person meetings in four regions of the state, starting in Charleston, Tuesday, August 29. Subsequent meetings in Wheeling, Martinsburg, and Morgantown, allowed WVU alumni and stakeholders to express feelings and opinions concerning West Virginia University’s plans announced on August 11.

A total of 241 survey responses from 19 states including West Virginia and four countries came in during a five-day period. The majority of responses were from WVU alumni.

“Our goal in reaching out to WVU alumni and stakeholders is to demonstrate to the Board of Governors and administration that we have valuable experience and ideas,” said Rebecca Kimmons, a WVU School of Journalism alumna and a founding member of Create West Virginia. “We want to open a dialogue that would result in an academic transformation that is positive and allows for growth.

“We are asking the administration and the Board of Governors to open the door to more perspectives and to establish a continuing dialogue,” she said. “We are eager to start now. We want to create a channel for the people of West Virginia, prospective students, secondary school educators, businesses and industry as well as alumni to contribute ideas and alternatives.”

Kimmons continued, “Emotions are high, and many respondents had questions about the process and procedures the administration used to arrive at deep cuts to WVU faculty and programs. Many felt that a broad group of stakeholders were neither informed nor consulted, and that the administration’s decision to cut programs and faculty was precipitous.

“There’s no question that WVU’s financial straits are real,” Kimmons added. “Many alumni feel that a variety of feasible solutions should be considered. The result of this sampling of alumni and stakeholder views is that the process should be slowed down, and that better options should be explored.”

Visioning for a Future WVU: A Preliminary Report on Community-driven Transformation is available at CreateWV.org/WVU-Future-Report .

Contact:
Corey Zinn, Executive Director
[email protected]
304-807-3090
CreateWV.org

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