As West Virginia University welcomes its largest freshman class in several years, President Michael T. Benson sees many reasons for optimism — a message he delivered to members of the University’s Board of Governors during a Friday (Sept. 12) meeting that included Gov. Patrick Morrisey.
Drawing on expertise from both inside and outside of West Virginia University, President Michael T. Benson is shaping his core leadership team to work together across the WVU System by incorporating fresh ideas with institutional knowledge.
West Virginia University President Michael T. Benson announced the start of the search for a provost and vice president for academic affairs — the University’s chief academic officer responsible for the administration of all academic policies, programs, facilities and budgetary matters — on Monday (Aug. 4).
Issuing a call for collaboration focused on the future, West Virginia University President Michael T. Benson gave his first official report during a special meeting for the University’s Board of Governors on Wednesday (July 23). In addition to welcoming Benson, BOG Chair Rusty Hutson introduced several new BOG members who are taking seats ahead of the Aug. 20 start of the academic year.
Michael T. Benson, the 27th president of West Virginia University, never planned on trading beach breezes for the hills of Morgantown. But life — and leadership — has a way of pulling people toward places where they’re most needed. He has already begun to fully immerse himself in campus life, with plans to meet as many members of the WVU community and residents of the Mountain State as possible in his first few weeks on the job.
Making strategic investments while addressing increasing costs, the West Virginia University Board of Governors approved a $1.2 billion financial plan for Fiscal Year 2026 during a Friday meeting (June 13), which was the last for outgoing University President Gordon Gee.
In recognition of their loyalty and service to West Virginia University, five Mountaineers will be inducted into the Order of Vandalia during a Friday (June 6) ceremony. The 2025 inductees are Judge Irene Berger, Dr. John Brick, Tom Jones, Ken Kendrick and Carolyn Long.
Ongoing strategic investments in student success at West Virginia University are continuing to show results with the University’s Fall 2024 to Spring 2025 projected first-time freshmen retention rate setting a record of 93.8%. The rate was reported during the WVU Board of Governors meeting on Friday (April 4).
West Virginia University Board of Governors Chair Rick Pill joined Vice-Chair and Presidential Search Committee Chair Dr. Patrice Harris in submitting the following letter to the WVU community Monday (Feb. 24).
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.