Commencement

West Virginia University has released its Spring 2026 Dean’s and President’s lists, as well as the full list of spring semester graduates.

With a focus on investments in the future of West Virginia University, the Board of Governors approved a $1.3 billion operating budget for the coming fiscal year during a Friday meeting (June 19) that opened with the announcement of a first-of-its-kind research partnership with Johns Hopkins University and a celebration of the historic College World Series run for the WVU baseball team.

Accepting a charge from West Virginia University President Michael T. Benson to boldly carry forward the University’s land-grant mission of service and leadership, thousands of graduates crossed the Commencement stage at the Hope Coliseum May 15-17.

Six members of the West Virginia University Class of 2026 and two December 2025 graduates have earned the Order of Augusta, the University’s most prestigious honor for academic excellence, leadership and service. The eight inductees were selected from the 52 WVU Foundation Outstanding Seniors.

Syd Peng, a retired faculty leader at the West Virginia University Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, is honoring his family’s academic legacy with a pledged $3 million in his will to establish endowed chair and professor positions at the WVU Statler College.

Highlighting the importance of exemplary academics and dedicated service, West Virginia University President Michael T. Benson has chosen Syd Peng to be the recipient of the first Presidential Honorary Degree he will bestow. Peng has served as the Charles E. Lawall Chair of Mining Engineering Emeritus in the WVU Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources since his retirement from the University after nearly 40 years of service.

West Virginia University has released its Fall 2025 Dean’s and President’s lists, as well as the full list of graduates for the fall semester.

A new era began inside the Hope Coliseum Saturday (Dec. 20) as West Virginia University President Michael T. Benson spoke from the gold and blue Commencement stage for the first time, and hundreds of August and December graduates took their first steps as Mountaineer alumni.

A day ahead of pomp and circumstance for thousands of West Virginia University graduates at the Hope Coliseum, President Michael T. Benson told members of the Board of Governors Friday (Dec. 19) the University has hit a 10-year high in applications for the next class of Mountaineers.

West Virginia University has released its Spring 2025 Dean’s and President’s lists, along with the complete list of spring semester graduates.