infostations

The new president of West Virginia University will bring three decades of academic and administrative experience in higher education to his role leading West Virginia’s flagship, land-grant higher education institution into a new era. Following contract negotiations after the WVU Board of Governors meeting Feb. 20, Michael T. Benson, the current president of Coastal Carolina University, was officially announced Monday (Feb. 24) as the 27th University president.

Generations of alumni and friends will come together on March 26 as West Virginia University holds its eighth Day of Giving, an annual 24-hour fundraising effort organized by the WVU Foundation.

The West Virginia University Mine Rescue Team, based at the WVU Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, won its third world champion crown during the 2025 Intercollegiate Mine Emergency Rescue Development competition Feb. 17-21 at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado.

Right on cue, funding is lined up to complete the first phase of a new practice facility for the West Virginia University Mountaineer Marching Band. The WVU Board of Governors approved approximately $1.6 million for the Pride Practice Field and Facility project during a regular meeting Friday (Feb. 21).

The West Virginia University Board of Governors voted to approve a top candidate to serve as the University’s 27th president during a regular meeting Thursday (Feb. 20) at the Erickson Alumni Center.

Four West Virginia University students vying to become the 71st Mountaineer mascot will wear buckskins, a coonskin cap and carry a rifle as they compete in a cheer-off during the men’s basketball game against TCU at 9 p.m. Tuesday (Feb. 25) in the WVU Coliseum.

Consumers who say they believe in karma are more likely to forgive companies that behave immorally than those who don’t, according to a West Virginia University marketing expert.

West Virginia University Vice President for Research Fred King shared the following message with the University community today (Feb. 17).

West Virginia University was reaffirmed as an R1 university, the highest possible research ranking, in the 2025 rankings by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching released Thursday (Feb. 13). WVU is the only R1 institution in West Virginia and one of 187 colleges and universities nationwide to earn the latest prestigious classification.

West Virginia University is upgrading its Student Media facilities with $100,000 in private support to ensure aspiring radio DJs, music producers, news reporters, sports commentators and more are prepared to use the latest technologies in an ever-evolving media industry. This year’s 36-hour “Pledge Your Love to the Moose” drive begins at noon Thursday (Feb. 13) and continues all day Friday (Feb. 14). Proceeds will go toward equipment for the new studio facilities.