West Virginia University’s Board of Governors on Friday (Dec. 19) approved two new master’s degree programs in education on the main campus and a unique new undergraduate degree program in aviation management at the WVU Institute of Technology.

The master of arts in education will go into effect in summer 2015, replacing the master of arts in elementary education and the master of arts in secondary education with a degree that more accurately and succinctly represents the College of Education and Human Services offerings.

A new master of arts in higher education administration, also to be offered in summer 2015, differentiates it from the master of arts in education leadership which focuses on the study of K-12.

WVU Tech’s new degree program will allow student pilots to pursue flight training and professional pilots to continue working while completing a college degree.

Mountain State Agreement
During an executive session, the Board also received an update on the due diligence agreement to explore the purchase of Mountain State University in Beckley.

“We continue to evaluate Mountain State in a very positive fashion,” Chairman James W. Dailey II said when the board reconvened in open session. “It presents opportunities for West Virginia students located in the southern part of the state. We will likely have more information concerning the Mountain State situation in the very near future.”

An agreement to analyze the financial and academic factors associated with acquiring another campus was recently extended to Dec. 22.

Other News
In other news, Dailey congratulated BOG member Lisa DiBartolomeo, world languages, literature and linguistics professor, for being named a finalist in the Faculty Merit Foundation of West Virginia 2014 Professor of the Year competition. Powsiri Klinkhachorn, a WVU computer science and electrical engineering professor, is also among the finalists. The winner will be announced in March.

During the audit committee meeting, Tom Flaharty noted that Bryan Shaver, director and vice president of Internal Audit with Federated Mutual Insurance, will soon join the University as internal auditor. Shaver received his undergraduate degree in business from WVU in 1985 and is a native of Fairmont. He replaces Bill Quigley, who recently retired.

Provost’s Report
As part of a “Top 10” list of accomplishments in the Academic Affairs area over the past year, Provost Joyce McConnell cited a grant from the National Math and Science Initiative to establish a highly regarded UTeach program, a unique teacher-training program for secondary science, technology, engineering and math teachers, noted two faculty members from the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources who won prestigious National Science Foundation CAREER awards and ended with the No. 1 success – President Gordon Gee coming home to lead West Virginia University.

The Board approved the following items on the consent agenda:

  • Increases in apartment-style housing rates for the 2015-2016 academic year, ranging from $10-35 per month depending on the location.
  • 2014 financial statements and auditor’s report.
  • County Extension committee appointment.s

The next regular meeting of the Board is Feb. 20 in Morgantown.

-WVU-

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